Vietnam's Pu Mat National Park Embraces Technology for Forest Protection

Pu Mat National Park in central Vietnam is actively adopting cutting-edge technologies to manage and protect its vast biodiversity. Since its establishment in 1995, forest management and protection have been identified as the most critical tasks. Under the motto "Protecting forests at the root," forest rangers conduct thousands of patrols annually to prevent and address illegal timber harvesting. In 2019, the SMART software was implemented for reporting and monitoring forest patrols, with its application becoming thorough by 2023. According to Mr. Le Anh Tuan, Director of Pu Mat National Park, the adoption of SMART software has led to positive and comprehensive results. Information collected from the field is digitized and linked to specific geographic coordinates, eliminating subjective factors and errors associated with manual methods. This ensures objective and transparent data management. The SMART software helps comprehensively assess the impact on forest areas, allowing for focused management and directives on heavily affected zones. It also aids in analyzing data on biodiversity, contributing to the assessment of wildlife population growth. Furthermore, it enables supervision of activity plans for each management station and the performance of rangers, thereby enhancing on-site efficiency and improving management quality based on accurate analysis. Pu Mat National Park has also installed 12 Poachercam devices to monitor the entry and exit of illegal loggers and poachers. This is particularly helpful in preventing and extinguishing forest fires during dry summer conditions. Flycams are utilized for wide-area patrols and accessing difficult terrain. Camera traps are also deployed for wildlife monitoring. Mr. Nguyen Dien Quang, Head of the Pu Mat National Park Forest Ranger Department, stated that while the park boasts rich flora and fauna, it faces significant pressure from illegal logging, poaching, and land encroachment. In the face of vast areas, rugged terrain, and limited personnel, the integration of IT software, surveillance cameras, and Flycams strongly supports the forest rangers' operations. Alongside technological adoption, the park is enhancing community participation in forest protection. In coordination with village management boards, they organize legal awareness campaigns and establish community forest protection regulations. Currently, 4,792 households are involved in forest protection contracts, providing employment and income to local residents and reducing their impact on the forest. Some former professional hunters now work as forest rangers. As a result, illegal logging within the park's managed areas has not been observed. Scientists have identified over 2,500 plant species and nearly 1,000 vertebrate species, including elephants, leopards, golden langurs, and muntjacs listed in Vietnam's Red Data Book and the IUCN Red List. Some wildlife populations have seen an increase in numbers. Due to these positive outcomes in conserving forest ecosystems and biodiversity, Pu Mat National Park will officially become one of Vietnam's 15 National Parks honored as an ASEAN Heritage Park in 2025. This recognition by the international community signifies the efforts of the park's staff, local authorities, and residents in preserving this highly biodiverse special-use forest, embodying its regional value.