National parks in Nghe An, Lao Cai partner across multiple areas

Recently, at its headquarters, Pu Mat National Park in Nghe An held a working session with a delegation from the Mu Cang Chai Protection Forest Management Board in Lao Cai to exchange experience in forest management, protection, and development.

The delegation from the Mu Cang Chai Protection Forest Management Board said the unit currently manages more than 67,000 hectares of forests and forestry land, including more than 58,000 hectares under protection across eight communes in Lao Cai Province. The unit has 46 civil servants and employees. Since 2020, it has planted more than 1,291 hectares of forest and maintained annual production of approximately 350,000 seedlings to support reforestation efforts.

The delegation expressed interest in learning from Pu Mat National Park's practical experience in developing sustainable forest management and protection plans and conserving biodiversity; coordinating with local authorities and buffer-zone communities; conducting environmental outreach and education and reducing pressure on forest resources; developing ecotourism linked to conservation; appropriately utilizing the landscape, cultural, and ecosystem values of forests; improving the effectiveness of forest environmental services, scientific research, and wildlife rescue and conservation; mobilizing legitimate resources for conservation; and applying digital technology platforms in carrying out professional tasks.

The leadership of Pu Mat National Park introduced the park's functions and responsibilities and highlighted its key achievements in recent years, sharing practical experience with the visiting delegation.

Pu Mat National Park currently manages more than 93,861 hectares of forest. Regarded as a “heritage region” in the highlands of Nghe An, the park is home to a rich and diverse flora, with 2,691 recorded species. Of these, 75 endangered, precious, and rare species are listed in Vietnam's 2007 Red Data Book; 77 endangered, precious, and rare species are included on the 2022 IUCN Red List; 188 species are covered by Decree No. 84/2021/ND-CP; two species are listed in Appendix I of Decree No. 64/2019/ND-CP; and 170 species are included under CITES.

In addition, the park is home to 132 mammal species, 343 bird species, 51 amphibian species, 63 reptile species, 119 fish species, and 1,198 insect species. Notably, 93 species are listed as endangered, precious, and rare species in Vietnam’s 2007 Red Data Book; 135 species are on the 2022 IUCN Red List; 122 species are covered by Decree No. 84/2021/ND-CP; 43 species by Decree No. 64/2019/ND-CP; and 99 species are listed under CITES.

These figures highlight that the professional mandate of Pu Mat National Park goes far beyond simply protecting forests. Its broader mission is to safeguard these “heritage forests,” which preserve valuable genetic resources, habitats, and countless rare and endangered plant and animal species.

The park also shares nearly 70 km of border with Laos. Balancing forest protection with biodiversity research therefore requires stronger cooperation with domestic and international organizations and individuals to build a robust conservation model. The Mu Cang Chai Protection Forest Management Board is one of the partners in this effort.

The working session helped strengthen connections, facilitate the sharing of experience, and open up opportunities for cooperation in forest management and protection, nature conservation, and ecotourism development between the two forest management units.

In the coming period, the two units could strengthen exchanges between professional teams and share data and experience in forest resource monitoring, forest fire prevention and control, conservation of endangered, precious, and rare species, and ecosystem restoration. Joint research, training programs, and field-based learning activities could also help improve staff expertise while creating opportunities to replicate effective models.

Notably, the application of digital technology to forest management and monitoring is becoming increasingly important. From digital maps and forest resource databases to tools for monitoring changes in forest cover, technology can help detect threats to forest resources at an early stage and improve management efficiency across large areas with complex terrain. This could become a practical area of cooperation, contributing to more modern, proactive, and sustainable approaches to forest management.