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CMR_2.0 Description of the AHP

2.1 Synopsis

CMRNP is an area of globally significant biodiversity. It is an internationally recognised Important Bird Area and has very high level of habitat and species diversity and endemism. The rugged topography has created unique habitats occupied by species with very small ecological envelopes. Historical circumstances and socio-political events have resulted in a diverse ethnic and cultural make-up of surrounding communities. Access to services and development opportunities and is not uniform, with some groups less able to benefit from development schemes and being more disadvantaged.

The AHP provides a number of life-sustaining and irreplaceable ecosystem goods and services ranging from its genetic reserves, water provisioning, micro-climate stabilisation through to carbon capture and sequestration and recreation.

The AHP has a management structure and an approved plan of management (the SFMP). Financing of the AHP is through a mix of government subvention and PFES. Forecast park expenditures according to the SFMP exceed the annual budget allocation.

CMRNP faces numerous challenges due to climate change, anthropogenic pressures, insufficient resources for management and historical events. Local social and development plans promote intensive agriculture outside the AHP. These factors place increasing pressures on the natural values of the CMRNP. Internal roads and tourism development combined with areas of intensive agriculture surrounding the park have created a very hard border in many areas, fragmenting and isolating ecosystems and habitats creating a high risk of species loss from the AHP itself. The AHP faces genetic isolation, hard boundaries, higher risk of species extinction and increased vulnerability to stochastic and catastrophic events, a process which will be exacerbated by climate change.

The role of modern protected areas is evolving rapidly. Traditional staff capacities, often drawn from a forestry background, struggle to keep abreast of the increasingly complex challenges of park management, adding a multiplicity of tasks and skill requirements ranging from law enforcement through biodiversity and ecosystem monitoring to visitor management. Matching human resources to changing job roles is challenging and often requires a range of approaches from re-skilling existing staff, in-service training, diversifying employment backgrounds to investing in long term education.

The policy and planning framework, which provides the rationale for the trade-offs between ecosystem resilience and economic development (the SFMP), leans towards investment in economic development, often at the expense of biodiversity conservation. As such, there is a risk that development of CMRNP is focused on investment opportunities and not necessarily on the AHP’s ability to continue functioning as a coherent and resilient system, providing a wide range of ecosystem goods and services.

While the policy and regulatory framework is developed, it still requires adjustments to balance the costs and benefits, responsibilities and authorities and develop effective common pool resources management. Some of the challenges to management such as the functional efficiency of PES schemes to finance forest protection lie outside the influence of the AHP management.

CMRNP also faces considerable financial challenges. There is an underfinancing of operational and development aspects of the SFMP due to low forecasting of cost involved compared to actual cost. Furthermore, the financial constraints combined with the pressures to generate its own revenues makes the park vulnerable to inappropriate development and diminishes their powers of negotiation with external interests with regards to concessionary fees and rents.

The SGP packages (general park management, wildlife research and monitoring) are designed to support this process of adapting or fine-tuning existing policies and plans towards an agreed AHP goal by:

2.2 Location and Area

CMRNP is located in the West of Kon Tum province in Central Highlands. The Park is about 30 km from Kon Tum city. The Park and its buffer zone are in the administrative area of 2 districts including Sa Thay (5 communes and 1 town) and Ngoc Hoi (3 communes).

In 2020, Chu Mom Ray National Park (140 18′ to 140 38′ North latitude, 1070 29′ to 107 o 47′ East longitude) has a total area of 56,257.2 ha and is divided into 3 subdivisions including (1) strictly protected subdivision, (2) ecological restoration subdivision, and (3) administrative service and tourism subdivision (SFMP, 2021)

Figure 1. Chu Mom Ray National Park and its buffer zone

The buffer zone of CMRNP covers an area of 88,925.6 ha in 8 communes and 1 town, including Bo Y, Sa Loong and Đak Kan (Ngoc Hoi district); Ro Koi, Sa Nhon, Sa Son, Mo Rai, Ya Xier and Sa Thay town (Sa Thay district) (Figure 1).

2.3 AHP Management Regime

2.3.1 Establishment, Mandate and Responsibility of AHP

Chu Mom Ray National Park was established in 2002 under the Decision No. 103/2002/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister of the Vietnamese Government dated July 30, 2002 on the basis of re-classification from Chu Mom Ray Nature Reserve because of its high biodiversity and conservation values.  The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) recognized the park as an ASEAN Heritage Park in 2003.

The Management Board of Chu Mom Ray National Park was established under the Decision No. 79/2002/QD-UBND of Kon Tum Provincial People’s Committee dated December 23, 2002. The Management Board is under the direct management of the Provincial People’s Committee (PPC) and at the same time under the direction of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD). Based on the Forestry Law (2017), Kon Tum Provincial People’s Committee issued Decision No. 635/2020/QD-UBND dated August 27, 2020 to reorganize the Management Board of Chu Mom Ray National Park.

Duties and jurisdiction of the Management Board of Chu Mom Ray National Park are defined in the Decision No. 27/2011/QD-UBND of Kon Tum Provincial People’s Committee dated September 7, 2011 on regulations on organization and operation of the Management Board (Annex 1).

2.3.2 Governance, Organization Structure and Forest Management

The Management Board of Chu Mom Ray National Park includes the following components (Figure 2).

Key leaders01 Director and 02 Deputy Director
General Administration Department
Department of Science and International Cooperation
Center for Biodiversity Conservation and Ecotourism
Specialized forest protection forces
14 Forest Protection Stations
Figure 2. Organizational diagram of administration in Chu Mom Ray National Park

The organizational structure of the Management Board is organised and established to fulfill the assigned functions and tasks. In 2019, according to “Decree No 01/2019/ND-CP on forest rangers and specialized forest protection forces dated January 01, 2019”, the forest rangers of the park were restructured and transformed to the specialized forest protection forces. The park has faced many difficulties in the forest management and protection activities, because the specialized forest protection forces have less jurisdiction in handing violations, compared to forest rangers.

In 2021, the total number of employees is 108 people including 64 officials and 44 labour contracts. The overturn in personnel of the park from 2010 to now is relatively large (average 3 people/year; about 2.7%). 

In the CMRNP, the trained employees accounts for a relatively high proportion (75.9%) in the total number of employees. The number of employees with university degrees is quite high (62.2%), thus the implementation of specialized activities is quite well. However, because of difficult and complex working condition, high work pressure and low remuneration, the park still faces many difficulties in keeping employees working stable and long-term. In order to meet the developmental needs and strategies of the park and the forestry sector on sustainable forest development, the Management Board will focus on training staffs in terms of professional expertise, community relation and foreign language skills, and recruit high-qualified employees.

The total area managed by ​​Chu Mom Ray National Park is 56,257.2 ha, of which the area of ​​forest and forestry land is 56,249.2 ha. The land of the Park’s headquarters and forest protection stations is 7.93 ha. The management of natural forests is the key task of the park. 

Up to 2021, the CMRNP has about 193.5 ha of planted forests and 106.38 ha of planting area that has not yet become forests. The main species for forest plantation are native species such as Dalbergia cochinchinensis, Hopea odorata and Senna siamea. In the park, forest plantation activity must be based on suitable silvicultural practices such as planting area, density, species and seedling standard. Due to relatively suitable soil and climate conditions, and effective management, most the planted forests of the park are well developed (survival rate > 85%). 

Every year, CMRNP develops and implements a forest fire prevention and fighting (FFPF) plan, assigns specific tasks and areas to each forest protection station and involved staffs in order to proactively implement well forest fire prevention and fighting activities.

Up to 2021, the park has built up 11 fire lookout towers, made a system of firebreaks to prevent fire, set up hundreds of signs for banning fire, banning animal hunting, grazing and deforestation. The Park regularly maintains and repairs fire prevention and fighting equipment. The Park has organized annual forest fire prevention and fighting drills such as organizing fire fighting forces and using fire-fighting equipment.

The Management Board of Chu Mom Ray National Park periodically coordinates with local authorities, involved organizations and departments to organize dissemination and communication activity on legal regulations and policies relating to the forest protection and fire prevention in order to raise people’s awareness. Advocating local people and communities to sign the commitments on not exploiting forest products, illegally hunting animals, not violating forest protection and fire prevention regulations.

The Park has assigned specialized staffs to regularly coordinate with forest protection stations for inspection and control of pests and diseases, and regularly cooperates with the district and provincial Forest Protection Department and Plant Protection Department to get information on the occurrence of forest pests and diseases, by which implementing timely suitable handling measures. However, there is limited information available on the measures of invasive species control.

The Park has carried out surveys on status, distribution and productivity of main non-timber forest products (e.g., medicinal plants) in order to develop a suitable plan for conservation, development and sustainable exploitation. Developing regulations on sustainable harvest of non-timber forest products (e.g., Calamus sp., Bambusa sp andScaphium macropodum) in the ecological restoration and administrative services subdivions.

2.4 Finance

Total funding for the actual activities of Chu Mom Ray National Park is mainly from the following sources:

The operational funds in the park during the period of 2016-2020 are summarized in Table 2 below.

Table 2. Investment capital of programs and projects in CMRNP in the period of 2016-2020

Unit: million VND

ID Financial sources Total From 2016 to 2020
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
1 Forest protection and development projects (2011-2015); Residual capital 849 689 160      
2 Investment project to build the park (2013-2015) 28,408 14,000   14,408    
3 Sustainable forestry development program 29,253   8048 1,970 11,164 8071
4 Project of crucial constructions for forest fire prevention and fighting  3,113         3,113
5 PFES sources 26,528 2,690 4,062 7,472 7,120 5,184
6 Planting activity of alternative forests 5,650 1,830 864 1,040 412 1,504
7 Support 49 villages/hamlets in the buffer zone  2,821 1,957 864      
8 Develop sustainable forest management plant (2020) 1,860         1,860
9 In total 98,482 21.166 13,998 24,890 18,696 19,732

Total investment capital of programs and projects in the park in the period 2016-2020 is 98,482 million VND (4,333,208 USD) with annual average amount of 19,696 million VND/year (866,624 USD/year). The actual investment capital accounted only about 28.2% of the approved investment capital (349,055 million VND or 15,358,420 USD) of the park in the period of 2016-2020 (Decision No. 747/QD-UBND dated July 25, 2014).

Actual investment capital was low because two main activities, including (1) ecological restoration and (2) infrastructure development for forest management and forest fire prevention and fighting needed a large amount of capital but not properly invested (just about 15%). Financial sources in the period of 2016-2020 mainly depennded on state budget while funding sources and support from international organization were still limited.

2.5 Natural Values

2.5.1 Biodiversity Characteristics

The natural forests accounting for most of the area of ​​Chu Mom Ray National Park with diverse forest ecosystems that are suitable for the conservation of endangered and endemic flora and fauna species and a great potential in providing forest environmental services.

The area of ​​poor/ degraded forests account for a high proportion (15.9%) in natural forest area of the park. In the future, it is therefore necessary to protect, nurture and develop forests of the park.  Endemic and endangered species in the park are at risk of habitat loss due to forest disturbance (e.g., forest encroachment, forest fires).

2.5.1.1 Flora

Chu Mom Ray National Park has 1,895 terrestrial vascular plants belonging to 184 plant families (Table 3). In the park, most of the plant species belong to the Magnoliophyta phylum with 150 families (81.5%) and 1,685 species (88.9%).

Table 3. Plant species composition in Chu Mom Ray National Park

TT Phylum Number of families Number of species Proportion (%)
1 Psilotophyta 1 1 0.05
2 Lycopodiophyta 2 15 0.79
3 Equisetophyta 1 2 0.11
4 Pteridophyta 30 192 10.13
5 Magnoliophyta 150 1.685 88.92
  Total 184 1.895 100

Endangered and endemic species

Flora of CMRNP are typically characterized for the flora in southern Truong Son mountain range (Annamite mountain range).  There are 33 endemic species recorded in the forest flora of the park Some endemic species have narrow habitat such as Wrightia kontumensis Lyand Polygala tonkinensis Chodat. Among 1,895 vascular plants, there are 192 endangered species with high economic and conservation values (SFMP, 2021). In which, some species that are in danger of being lost such as Decussocarpus fleuryi and Dipterocarpus grandifloras (Figure 3).

The status of some endangered plant species is showed as follows (Annex 2):

Wrightia kontumensis Ly
http://www.plantsofasia.com/index/wrightia_dubia/0-513 
Polygala tonkinensis Chodat
http://www.epharmacognosy.com/2021/10/polygala-toankinensis-chodat.html
Decussocarpus fleuryi
https://tracuuduoclieu.vn/nageia-fleuryi-hickel-de-laub.html 
Dipterocarpus grandifloras
http://cayhoacanh.com/cay-dau-dot-tim-cay-quy-can-duoc-bao-ton/.html
Figure 3. Endemic and endangered plants in CMRNP

2.5.1.2 Fauna

Chu Mom Ray National Park has 1,001 animal species belonging to 6 different classes (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and insects) (SFMP, 2021). Among animal classes, insect class has the largest number of species (41.5%), followed by birds (29.0%), mammals (12.0%), fish (10, 8%), reptiles (4.2%) and amphibians (2.5%) (Table 4). The information other taxa such as Gastropods and Annelids is very limited, and thus researches on these animals are highly needed.

Table 4. Animal composition in Chu Mom Ray National Park

ID Class Number of orders Number of families Number of species
1 Mammals 10 28 120
2 Bird 17 57 290
3 Reptile 2 13 42
4 Amphibians 2 5 25
5 Fish 10 25 108
6 Insect 9 48 416
          Total 50 176 1,001
Muntiacus muntjack 
http://www.vacne.org.vn/muntjac-deer-found-in-truong-son-mountains-e32127.html
Cuon alpinus
http://www.vncreatures.net/chitiet.php?page=2&loai=1&ID=5529
https://en.cand.com.vn/Law-Society/Meet-Vietnam-s-endangered-primates-i415939/l
Pygathrix nemaeus 
Figure 4. Endemic and endangered mammals in CMRNP

Khỉ đuôi lợn (M. leonine) tại VQG Chư Mom Ray (Nguồn ảnh: VQG Chư Mom Ray)

Macaca leonina  
VQG Chư Mom Ray

The Park has recorded 290 bird species belonging to 57 families and 17 orders. In which, the Passeriformes order has the largest number of families and species with 153 species, accounting for 52.7% of the total bird species, and 28 families, accounting for 49.1% of the total number of bird families in the park.  The Park has high diversity of bird resources in terms of order, family and species composition, compared with the bird resources of the whole country; and it is recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA).

Of the 1,001 animal species recorded in CMRNP, there are 112 endangered species listed in the Vietnam Red Book and IUCN that need to prioritize for conservation, such as Canninmuntiacus truongsonenis, Bubalus bubalis, Bos javanicus, Prionailurus bengalensis, Selerctos thibetanus, Panthera tigris, Pavo muticus, Rheinardia ocellata and Polyplectron germaini (Figure 5).

Varanus nebulosus 
Photographs by D. Jestr-zemski 
Ingerophrynus galeatus 
Photographs by D. Jestr-zemski 
Photographs by D. Jestr-zemski 
Thereuopoda longicornis 
http://www.birdwatchingvietnam.net/vietnamese-name/germains-peacock-pheasant-198 
Polyplectron germaini 
Figure 5. Some bird, amphibian, reptile and insect species in CMRNP

2.5.2 Ecosystem Processes

In CMRNP, the area of 9,683.76 hectares (accounting for 17.9% of the total forest area in the park) are paid for PFES with functions of soil protection and erosion control and water resource retention. The Park has great potential to provide other types of forest environmental services:

2.5.3 Social and Cultural characteristics

In 2020, the total population in the buffer zone communes of CMRNP (8 communes and 1 town) was about 52,880 people, of which Sa Thay town has the largest population (11,082 people), while Sa Nhon commune has the least population (2,256 people). The average population density in the buffer zone is 59 people/km2, the lowest density is in Mo Rai commune (20 people/km2) and the highest one is in Sa Thay town (598 people/km2).

The buffer zone of Chu Mom Ray National Park was formerly an area of ​​the New Economic Zones program. In part of this program, people from the northern Vietnam  (e.g., Tay, Nung, Thai, Mường, Mông, Dao) migrated to the South and Central region, therefore the ethnic composition in the buffer zone is diverse.

There are 23 ​​ethnic groups living in the buffer zone, in which the majority are Kinh (37.8%), Xo Dang (23.1%), Gia Rai (14.6%) and Muong (8.5%).  Proportions of ethnic minorities are different between buffer zone communes. Ya Xier commune has the highest proportion of ethnic minorities (89.4%), followed by Sa Son (84.0%) and Mo Rai (79.2%) communes (Figure 6).

Ethnic minorities all have their own characteristics in terms of customs, festivals, community activities and they still continue to maintain their own activities and customs. Some ethnic minorities such as Ro Mam, H’Lang and Brau have the smallest population in the Vietnamese ethnic community with unique cultural traditions. These unique characteristics will be a great potential for community tourism development (Figure 7 and Figure 8).

Figure 6. Proportion of ethnic minority groups in buffer zone communes of CMR NP

 

Figure 8.  Ceremony of opening paddy grain warehouse of Ro Mam community
https://bazantravel.com/le-hoi-mo-cua-kho-lua-cua-nguoi-ro-mam-o-kon-tum/ 
Figure 7. Rice field god-worshipping ceremony (Jamuchuoi) of Brau community
https://baobinhphuoc.com.vn/news/19/94576/le-tria-lua-doc-dao-cua-dan-toc-brau

 

The working-age population in the buffer zone is at an average level, accounting for 55.4% of the total population of the whole region. Currently, only about 75 – 80% of the labours are employed in the cultivation months, while in other months, about 30% of the labour are unemployed. Local labour resources play an extremely important role in the activities of the park such as forest protection and ecotourism development. However, if there are no reasonable plans use labour forces, this will greatly affect local socio-economic development and forest resource management and protection.

2.5.4 Geological, Topography and Landscape

Soil in CMRNP area is formed mainly from acid magmatic rock and shale and is classified into the following soil groups:

Topography of CMRNP has many common features of Kon Tum massif, including the following terrain types.

CMRNP has 5 main types of forest vegetations as follows (SFMP, 2021): 

1. Mid-mountain tropical evergreen forest: Distributed mainly in the areas with high elevation (1,000 – 1,700 m) in the slopes of the mountains of Ngoc To Lum (1,483 m), Ngoc Ia Dron (1,570 m), Ngoc Vin (1,485 m) and Chu Kram Lo (1,018 m). This vertical forest type distributes mainly in the strictly protected zone of the park with the main dominant species such as Syzygium chunianum, Lithocarpus sp, Acer sp., Dendropanax sp., Litsea sp. It was formerly affected by war and is less affected by human activities.

2. Lowland evergreen forest: Distributed mainly in the areas with elevation from 500 to 1,000 m, in the low slopes of CMR mountain range, the connection area between Chu Do and Chu Hinh mountains (729 m), the area of ​​Chu Chok peak (728 m) and in the mountain ranges parallel to the Cambodian border. The main species in canopy layer are Syzygium chunianum, Lithocarpus sp., Acer sp., Dendropanax sp., Litsea sp., which have high value ​​of biodiversity conservation, a food source for primates, carnivores and small mammals (Figure 9).

Figure 9. Lowland evergreen forest in CMRNP

3. Semi-evergreen broad-leaved tropical seasonal rain forest in lowland: Mainly distributed in the in the ecological restoration zone of the park. It covers areas of 300-500 m elevation in the Ya Book region, areas nearby the foothills of Chu Hinh, Chu Chok, Ro Koi, Ngoc To Ba and Ngoc Vin mountains. The emergent layer commonly has some dominant species such as Dialium cochinchinensis, Hopea odorata and Tetrameles nudiflora; and is a very important habitat for large ungulates, ​​monkeys, gibbons, bears and civets due to its proximity to and interspersed with grasslands. It is the corridor connecting with the mountainous evergreen forests in the west and east of the park. 

4.  Bamboo and mixed bamboo-timber forests: It is distributed in the ecological restoration and administrative service and tourism zones, with 300 – 700 m elevation in the Ya Book region, covers the areas nearby the northern and southern foothills of the park. The predominant bamboo species are Dendrocalamus membranaceus and Oxynanthera zollingera. This type of forest is commonly established after disturbances caused by wars and deforestation in the past. The forest type is now strictly protected; thus, many areas have regenerated and recovered well.  

5. Grassland and grassland mixed with shrubs and scattered trees: Mainly distributed in the area of 300 – 700 m elevation in the Ya Book area, the southern foothill of the Chu Kram Lo mountain and the northern foothill of Ngoc Vin mountain. Among the grass species in CMRNP, Imperata cylidrica is dominant, mixed with other grass species. Woody species distributes scatterly in small areas with commonly found species such as Anogeissus acuminatus, Aporusa sp., and Careya sphaerica. Most of these grasslands were formerly heavily sprayed with toxic chemicals in the past. There is limited data of chemical residue. The grasslands are well protected, so many tree species have regenerated leading to the gradual shrinking of ​​grassland area. This is an important habitat for ungulates.

There are secondary moss forests distributing in peaks of ​​​​Ngoc Vin (1,480m) and Chu Mom Ray (1,773m) mountains, and grasslands in Ngoc To Ba (1,030m) and Chu Do peaks. (1,145m). The type of deciduous broadleaf forest (dipterocarp species) has a small area (140 ha) and distributes in ​​Dak Kan commune of Ngoc Hoi district.

2.6 AHP Sustainable Forest Management Plan

2.6.1 Vision

Sustainable forest management plan (SFMP) of CMRNP in the period of 2021-2030 aims to simultaneously and consistently implement activities of forest management and protection, forest ecosystem and biodiversity conservation, especially endangered and endemic and species. The SFMP plan also aims at restoring degraded forests, developing ecotourism and implementing scientific research and human resource training and development. The SFMP plan will contribute to environmental and natural resource protection, socio-economic developmen, towards sustainable development in all three aspects of economy, society and environment.

2.6.2 Management Objectives

The SFMP plan of CMRNP in the period of 2021-2030 includes objectives of environmental, social and economic development (Annex 3). The key objectives are described as follows.

2.6.3 Key Threats to AHP Natural Values

The natural values of CMRNP are facing threats from anthropogenic and natural disturbances, especially (1) the problem of illegal logging and forest encroachment, and (2) forest fires.

In the park, illegal logging and forest encroachment activities have been taking place, causing damages to forest resources and biodiversity. The data of Chu Mom Ray National Park has showed that forest encroachment tended to decrease. For instance, the number of violations to forest resources in 2020 decreased by 86%, compared to 2016 (Table 5).

Table 5. Number of violations on forest protection and biodiversity conservation in CMRNP from 2016-2020

ID Violation Year Total
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
1 Illegal deforestation     1     1
2 Illegal logging of forests 17 27 8 2 4 58
3 Illegal transportation of forest products 13 9 5   1 28
4 Violations against regulations on management and protection of wild animals     1     1
5 Violation of the state’s general regulations on forest protection 1 2   2 1 6
6 Hiding illegal forest products 12 5 2     19
Total 43 43 17 4 6 113
                 

Forest fire is one of the drivers causing negative impacts on forest resources and biodiversity.  Slash-and-burn cultivation and the using fire for vegetation treatment are the two main causes of forest fires in CMRNP. Every year, the park develops a forest fire prevention and fighting plan according to the provisions of Article 45 and the Form No. 2 – Appendix III issued together with Decree 156/2018 / ND-CP. Forest fire prevention and fighting in the park include the following activities.

2.6.4 Key Management Issues

Until 2020, entire forest area of ​​CMRNP (56,249.23 ha) has been allocated land use rights. However, the current status of land use planning in the park still has some shortcomings. For instance, the 317.35-ha forest area was planned as special-use forests, but in fact, it is agricultural and bare land that has been used for a long time by local people  (Bar Goc village area inn Sa Son commune, Lang Re area in Mo Rai commune and Border Guard Station 707) and area for road and border station construction and water body. In addition, agricultural lands of some local households are located in special-use forests, leading to difficulties in forest protection and fire prevention and fighting. In 2018, the swidden area located in the core zone of CMRNP was 386.44 ha. The Management Board of the park has requested to return the agricultural production land to the local management, but has not yet been approved by the competent authorities.

Illegal exploitation of forest products and forest encroachment are threats to forest resources and biodiversity in the Park. Therefore, clearly defining and demarcating the boundary of the park on the map and in the field area very crucial to reduce forest encroachment. The boundary demarcation of the park is being implemted using state investement.

Topographical, climatic and hydrological conditions greatly affect forest management and protection activities. In the rainy season, the system of forest protection patrol roads in many places is divided by streams, causing many difficulties for forest protection activity. In the dry season, the risk of wildfire is likely to occur, especially in the shifting cultivation areas adjacent to the border of the park.

The area of ​​the park is large and the buffer zone is located in an area of ​​8 communes and 1 town of 2 districts (Sa Thay and Ngoc Hoi) and nearly 30 km of the border of the park adjacent to the Cambodian border. Currently, the on-site forest protection forces are living and working in forests about 5-6 days/week. Many forest protection stations are located in remote areas without electricity from the national electricity lines and low phone signal. Living and traveling conditions face many difficulties, especially in the rainy season. The specialized forest protection forces are not fully equipped with equipment, support tools and defencive weapons, and must regularly conduct patrols in forests for a long time, and often directly face violators who use offensive weapons that are life and health threatening. 

The living condition of local people in the buffer zone is still difficult, thus they often go to the forest to collect non-timber products (e.g., burning hives to get honey, picking wild vegetables and catching fish), causing difficulties for fores fire prevention and control.  In addition, the awareness of a part of the local people is still low, leading to difficulties in dissemintign on regulations of forest protection and forest fires prevention and fighting.

2.6.5 Status of the SFMP

The SFMP in the period of 2021 – 2030 of the CMRNP has been approved by the Kon Tum Provincial People’s Committee under Decision No. 746/QD-UBND dated August 16, 2021.

2.6.6 Existing Investment and Support

2.6.6.1 Existing Investment

Up to now, the existing invested infrastructure items of the park include (1) buildings for management activity, (2) buildings for forest fire prevention and fighting, (3) buildings for scientific research, and (4) buildings for ecotourism combined with environmental education (Annex 4). Most of the infrastructure constructions in the park have been built for a long time, so many of them have been degraded and damaged. Therefore, investment in repair and upgrading  them in the near future is needed.

2.6.6.2 Existing capital

In the period of 2016-2020, the total investment capital for programs and projects in CMRNP is 98,482 million VND (4,336,905.62 USD) with an annual average amount of 19,696 million VND/year (867363.5 USD/year) (refer Table 2). Compared with the approved investment capital of CMRNP in the period of 2016-2020 (349,055 million VND or 15,371,525.7 USD), the actual investment capital accounts only about 30%. Investment capital in infrastructure for forest management, fire prevention and ecological restoration is only about 15% of the allocated budget. According to Decision No. 747/QD-UBND (2014), the approved funding mainly comes from the central budget (90.4%). Funds mobilized from socialization and support from international organizations are very limited. 

In the period of 2021-2030, the total investment capital for the SFMP in CMRNP is estimated as 509,934 million VND or 22,329,269 USD (Table 6). Investment capital focuses mainly in plan of forest management and protection, forest use and biodiversity conservation (28.3%), followed by infrastructure construction plan (22.5%), forest protection contract for residential communities (15.2%) and forest development plan (7.1) %). Details of items and investment capital are shown in the Annex 5.

Table 6. Total required investment capital in Chu Mom Ray National Park in the period 2021 – 2030

Unit: million VND

TT Items Total Ratio (%)
  Total investment capital 2021-2030 509,934 100.0%
1 Forest protection contract for residential communities 77,760 15.2%
2 Forest management and protection, forest use and biodivesity conservation 143,920 28.3%
3 Forest development 36,084 7.1%
4 Scientific research, teaching, training 28,550 5.6%
5 Developing eco-tourism and entertainment 35,600 7%
6 Infrastructure construction and development 114,400 22.5%
7 Community service 27,540 5.4%
8 Improving management capacity in PFES, forest environment lease 1,500 0.3%
9 Awareness raising and education on the law of forest protection and fire prevention 17,400 3.4%
10 Monitoring forest resources and biodiversity 3,300 0.6%
11 Equipment purchase 18,030 3.5%
12 Other expenses (Expense for preparing SFMP plan) 5,850 1.1%

In the process of implementing the SFMP and the ecotourism development plan, CMRNP will actively seek investment sources from cooperation and forest environment leasing for ecotourism development. In addition, the park will develop a scheme for new PFES implementation and reinvest in forest protection and forest fire prevention and fighting.

2.7 Existing Arrangements for Access to AHP Resources

The forest area of ​​CMRNP being managed is 56,249.23 ha, of which 9,683.7 ha (17.9% of the total forested area of ​​the park) are paid for forest environmental service. The PFES has been paid by hydropower plants for soil protection and erosion control, sedimentation reduction in lakes, rivers in Nam Sa Thay river basin. In 2020, the forest area to be paid for PFES included (1) the area protected by the park (6,292.7 ha) and (2) the area contracted with 8 local communities for protection (3,391.0 ha).

The payment from PFES has created a stable source of income, contributing to forest management activities the park and increasing income of staffs and local people. This has motivated the park’s employees and PFES contracted communities to better patrol and protect forest resources. Expectedly, the forests with PFES scheme is better managed and violations has been relatively controlled. However, because the area of PFES scheme is not large and it does not include all the areas contracted to residential communities, leading to potential conflicts among communities.

2.8 Existing Measures and Mitigations

2.8.1 Measures on forest management and protection, forest development and biodiversity conservation

Table 7. Plan to contract with local community for forest management and protection in CMRNP in the period of 2021-2030

Period/year Total (ha) Natural forest (ha)
In the PFES area Outside the PFES area
2021-2030 164,000 34,000 130,000
2021 – 2025 82,000 17,000 65,000
2021 16,400 3,400 13,000
2022 16,400 3,400 13,000
2023 16,400 3,400 13,000
2024 16,400 3,400 13,000
2025 16,400 3,400 13,000
2026 – 2030 82,000 17,000 65,000

In addition, CMRNP is carrying out procedures to reduce 337.25 ha out of the currently managed forest area. This adjusted area is the concentrated agricultural production area of ​​the people in Bar Goc village (Sa Son commune) and Re village (Mo Rai commune) located within the boundary of the park. This will make the management activity easier and in line with the reality of the park as well as the production activities of local people.

2.8.2 Measures on management and human resources

The park will consolidate personnel based on the newly reorganized organizational structure according to Decision No. 635/2020/QD-UBND, dated August 27, 2020, of the People’s Committee of Kon Tum Province, especially employees of the Center for Biodiversity Conservation and Ecotourism. The specialized protection force will operate according to the new regulations promulgated in Decree 01/2019/ND-CP of the Government dated January 1, 2019.

Enhancing human resources and improving the professional qualifications of staff are essential requirements to well implement the forest management and protection, and biodiversity conservation. Therefore, the Management Board of CMRNP will implement measures to supplement and develop human resources in the Park (Annex 6).

2.8.3 Measures on coordination with stakeholders

The Management Board will develop a regulation or contract to coordinate with competent agencies such as police and border guards in forest management and protection and handling hot spots of forest encroachment.

The Management Board cooperates with local authorities to sign commitments on forest protection and forest fire prevention and fighting with local people, and at the same time settle disputes relating to forest management and protection activities. However, less attention is paid to attracting the participation of local communities in forest management and protection and ecotourism development.

2.8.4 Measures on science and technology

The Management Board has applied Remote Sensing (RS), Geographic Information System (GIS), Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) and information technology in forest survey, forest resource management to properly assess forest and land-use changes, forest growth and regeneration, and biodiversity monitoring.  They also actively cooperating with specialized research institutes, universities and international organizations in formulating and implementing activities on scientific research, environmental protection and biodiversity conservation.

2.8.5 Measures on capital sources and mobilization of investment capital

The Management Board plan to call for investment in the form of cooperation and forest environment leasing to develop ecotourism. Promoting and seeking funding sources from local and international NGOs to manage and protect forests and conserve biodiversity. The Management Board will develop a plan to implement a new PFES policy to reinvest in forest protection and forest fire prevention and fighting.

2.8.6 Measures to minimize negative impacts on the environment

In order to minimize environmental pollution, the Management Board implements the following solutions:

  • Thua Thien Hue Union of Science and Technology Associations (HUSTA)
  • 06 Phan Boi Chau, Vinh Ninh, Hue city, Thua Thien Hue province, Vietnam
  • hodacthaihoang@husta.vn
  • +84234.3845091 – 3898871
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