Mr. Vo Van Mot, former Chairman of the Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee, shared: “Dong Nai has excelled in forest protection. Thanks to these efforts, current and future generations continue to possess vast primary forests with rich and diverse flora and fauna. This serves as the 'green lungs'—a massive natural air filtration system for the entire Southeast region—which is increasingly significant as Dong Nai evolves into a modern urban center."

The "Green Treasure" and Administrative Integratio

Nearly 30 years ago, Dong Nai took a pioneering stance by deciding to close all natural forest areas to logging. As one of the key architects of that policy, Mr. Vo Van Mot further noted: “This was a bold and decisive historical policy that initially shocked the timber processing and export industry. However, thanks to that strategic vision, our headwater forests have been strictly protected to this day.”

The historical turning point on July 1, 2025, which integrated the administrative boundaries of the former Binh Phuoc province into Dong Nai, has unified these primary forests into a vast, continuous emerald belt. The seamless connection between Cat Tien National Park, the Dong Nai Nature and Cultural Conservation Reserve, Bu Gia Map National Park, and several protection forests—including Dak Mai, Bu Dop, and Loc Ninh—has created an invaluable "green treasure" of biodiversity for Dong Nai.

With its rich ecosystem, Dong Nai is not only home to hundreds of rare species of flora and fauna but also serves as the "green jewel" at the heart of the Southeast region. It plays an essential role in ecological balance, safeguarding water resources and the living environment for residents throughout the area. As Dong Nai transitions into a city, we expect that the values of nature and cultural history associated with the forest will achieve even more sustainable significance.

Nguyen Hoang Hao, Director of the Dong Nai Nature and Cultural Conservation Reserve

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment, Dong Nai currently possesses over 300,000 hectares of forest, leading the Southeast region. Notably, the flora and fauna of Dong Nai’s natural forests are exceptionally rich and diverse. Cat Tien National Park and the Dong Nai Nature and Cultural Conservation Reserve serve as critical biodiversity research centers, recognized not only in Vietnam but globally. This region is home to numerous rare timber species such as Rosewood (Dalbergia bariensis), Padouk (Pterocarpus macrocarpus), Red Wood (Afzelia xylocarpa), Hopea (Hopea odorata), and Siam Rosewood, alongside precious medicinal herbs like Abelmoschus sagittifolius, Fallopia multiflora, and Amomum. Dong Nai’s forests also support nearly 400 animal species, many of which are listed in the Vietnam and International Red Data Books, including Asian elephants, gaurs, black-shanked doucs, pygmy slow lorises, Edwards's pheasants, and green peafowls.

Crucially, in 2011, the Dong Nai Biosphere Reserve was recognized by UNESCO as the world's 211th Biosphere Reserve. Subsequently, in 2024, Cat Tien National Park was officially recognized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as the 72nd protected area in the world to achieve Green List status. These accolades not only affirm Dong Nai’s commitment to forest protection but also serve as a "brand" to attract tourists and develop a sustainable green tourism industry.

Towards a Modern, Ecological Urban Center

Ms. Le Thi Ngoc Loan, Member of the City Party Committee and Director of the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, stated: Dong Nai’s forests possess immense natural value while encapsulating the entire history of the resilient and heroic Eastern revolutionary struggle. Beneath the ancient forest canopies lie the proud vestiges of a heroic era, featuring legendary landmarks such as the Central Office for South Vietnam Base, the Eastern Regional Party Committee Base, and the Ba Ra Mountain National Historical Site. The convergence of natural landscapes and heroic historical values further compels Dong Nai City to preserve and promote these significant assets, contributing to the development of a high-identity, green, and sustainable urban center.

Ms. Nguyen Bui Kim Anh, a nature enthusiast from Ho Chi Minh City, shared: “Every summer, my family escapes the noise of the city to embark on a forest trek in Dong Nai, traveling from the Dong Nai Nature and Cultural Conservation Reserve (Ma Da Commune) to Cat Tien National Park (Nam Cat Tien Commune). Immersing ourselves in nature with vast green forests, especially the thrilling experience of night-time wildlife watching in Cat Tien National Park, is a fascinating experience—all exhaustion simply vanishes.”

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuat, Vice Principal of Lac Hong Bilingual Primary, Middle, and High School (Tran Bien Ward), stated: The school has been allocated a plot of land by the Dong Nai Nature and Cultural Conservation Reserve for a student reforestation project aimed at educating them on environmental protection. Each academic year, the school organizes field trips into the forest to plant native timber trees, combined with visits to revolutionary historical sites such as the Eastern Regional Party Committee Base and the Central Office for South Vietnam Base. Each trip not only fosters a love for nature in the students but also enhances their awareness of forest protection and the revolutionary historical traditions of the Dong Nai region.

Development practices have proven a profound truth: the more modern and industrialized urban life becomes, the more precious the original values of tropical forest ecosystems become. To transform these invaluable resources into a new growth engine, Dong Nai may even consider more strategic plans, such as selling carbon credits from primary forests to reinvest in development.

Mr. Nguyen Van Ut, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Committee of Dong Nai City, stated: The city is urgently accelerating sustainable forestry development projects integrated with the circular economy model. Planning schemes for dozens of eco-tourism and heritage sites are being systematically implemented, aiming to maximize potential while adhering to the absolute principle of zero environmental impact.

Công Nghĩa

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/