On November 6, the Dong Nai People's Committee held a ceremony at Cat Tien National Park to announce the Prime Minister's decision to transfer the park to local management.

At the ceremony, the Director of the Dong Nai Department of Home Affairs announced the decision to transfer Cat Tien National Park, a public service unit previously under the Department of Forestry and Forest Protection of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, to the Dong Nai People's Committee.

Under the decision, the transfer took effect on October 27.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is responsible for handing over the park's organizational structure, personnel, forest resources, land, assets, finances, records and documents, along with all associated rights and obligations.

Following the transfer, Dong Nai authorities will assume responsibility for managing Cat Tien National Park in accordance with the law.

They will also coordinate with the Lam Dong provincial People's Committee to ensure unified management of the park's entire area and boundaries, including sections located within Lam Dong Province.

This arrangement will remain in place until competent authorities issue a decision on adjusting the administrative boundaries between the two localities.

Speaking at the ceremony, Nguyen Van Ut, Chairman of the Dong Nai People's Committee, emphasized that taking over Cat Tien National Park meant more than assuming responsibility for a forest area.

More importantly, he said, it represented a commitment to preserving and protecting an invaluable natural asset of the nation.

Preparing a UNESCO World Natural Heritage nomination

Ut called on relevant departments, agencies and organizations to urgently develop a proposal for submission to UNESCO, seeking recognition of Cat Tien National Park as a World Natural Heritage site.

To achieve this goal, Dong Nai will focus on strengthening the park's organizational structure, upgrading facilities and transport infrastructure, and ensuring that forest management and protection activities continue smoothly without interruption following the transfer.

The locality also plans to expand the use of science, technology and digital transformation in monitoring forest resources.

Efforts will be intensified to prevent and combat forest fires, illegal logging, forest land encroachment and wildlife poaching.

Dong Nai will continue implementing biodiversity conservation and sustainable forest management programs while maintaining international standards and commitments associated with its UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve designation, IUCN Green List status and the Bau Sau wetlands.

At the same time, authorities intend to promote scientific research, international cooperation, environmental education and sustainable ecotourism.

These initiatives aim to gradually establish Cat Tien National Park as a leading destination for nature conservation.

During the ceremony, the Dong Nai People's Committee chairman also launched a public campaign encouraging residents to protect wildlife.

The campaign carries the message: "Do not hunt, trade or consume wild animal meat."

As part of activities marking the 330th anniversary of the establishment and development of Dong Nai (1698-2028), local authorities plan to release 330 deer into their natural habitat.

The initiative is intended as a symbolic demonstration of Dong Nai's commitment to biodiversity conservation and its efforts to promote harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.

Covering more than 82,000 hectares, Cat Tien National Park is one of Vietnam's most significant biodiversity areas.

It also forms an important core zone of the Dong Nai World Biosphere Reserve and is home to more than 1,600 plant species and over 1,700 wildlife species.

In 2001, Cat Tien received UNESCO recognition as a World Biosphere Reserve.

In 2005, the Bau Sau wetlands were designated a Ramsar site of international importance.

The national park was subsequently recognized as a Special National Monument in 2012.

In 2024, Cat Tien became the first national park in Vietnam to be included on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Green List.

The recognition acknowledged its achievements in effective management, biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

Hoang Anh