Pu Mat National Park receives ASEAN Heritage Park

On 8 December, in Con Cuong commune, Nghe An province, Pu Mat National Park proudly received the ASEAN Heritage Park designation while also celebrating its 30th anniversary.

The event was attended by Tran Quang Bao, Director General of the VNFOREST; representatives of the Department of Heritage; representatives from the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Bolykhamxay province, Laos; representatives of national parks, heritage parks, and nature reserves across the country; as well as partner organizations.

Pu Mat Nature Reserve was officially upgraded to Pu Mat National Park under Decision No. 174/2001/QĐ-TTg of the Prime Minister on 8 November 2001. The Park carries out the functions of protecting and developing special-use forests; conserving and promoting biodiversity values and genetic resources; conserving nature, cultural, historical, and landscape values; conducting scientific research, international cooperation, and wildlife rescue and development; providing environmental education and forest environmental services; and developing ecotourism.

Pu Mat National Park is regarded as one of Viet Nam’s special-use forests with the highest levels of biodiversity. It is home to numerous rare and valuable plant and animal species of both national and international significance. Notably, several highly endangered species at risk of disappearing such as elephants, the Truong Son muntjac, Annamite striped rabbit, Owston’s civet, sun bear, and Asiatic black bear are being conserved and showing stable development within the Park.

Throughout the past 30 years, Pu Mat National Park has identified forest management and protection as its most critical political mandate and has therefore devoted its full commitment and effort to fulfilling this noble responsibility.

Following the strategic directions of the central government, the provincial People’s Committee, and the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the Park’s leadership proactively develops annual technical plans. Based on these plans, the forest protection force is directed to maintain close field presence, conduct regular patrols, and closely monitor local conditions to detect violations early and ensure timely intervention.

Pu Mat National Park is also a pioneer in applying information technology, introducing smart devices to support forest rangers in their professional duties, especially in the effort to "protect the forest at its roots."

Protecting forests is an arduous mission, full of pressure; safeguarding these “heritage forests” in the sun-scorched, wind-swept region of Pu Mat is even more challenging. It is nearly impossible to shoulder this burden alone.

From practical needs, Pu Mat National Park has proactively cooperated with numerous domestic and international organizations and individuals to share responsibilities. These partnerships have served as a foundation for improving the effectiveness of forest protection, wildlife rescue, scientific research, environmental education, and livelihood development for communities in the buffer zone.

Key long-term partners of the park include Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, the Wildlife Conservation Society in Vietnam, and Fauna and Flora International. Since 2017, Pu Mat National Park has welcomed 64 delegations from 26 countries for biodiversity research collaboration.

Pu Mat National Park shares nearly 70 kilometers of its boundary with the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. For the past 15 years, the park has maintained a close cross-border biodiversity conservation agreement with the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Bolikhamxay Province and other relevant partners. Through this cooperation, the two sides take turns hosting conferences to exchange practical experience and strengthen joint forest protection efforts.

Before being recognized as an ASEAN Heritage Park, Pu Mat National Park had received numerous prestigious titles and awards throughout its 30-year journey of establishment and development. Notable honors include two Certificates of Merit from the Prime Minister, the Government’s Emulation Flag, and the Second-Class Labor Order awarded by the President in 2023.

The Park’s Party Committee has for many years been recognized as Exemplarily Clean and Strong. The Park also received the Viet Nam Environment Award for the 2010–2015 period and again in 2021; eight Certificates of Merit from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment; and 28 Certificates of Merit from the People’s Committee of Nghe An province.