Forest environmental resources: Unexploited potential

Experimental tourism in forest under the Tan Phu Protection Forest Management Board

In order to efficiently exploit forest resources, create jobs for local people and increase revenue for re-serving forest protection, the province has a policy of leasing forest environment (MTR) to develop services and tourism. However, up to now, there have not been any forest environment leasing projects approved, the development of this service is still exploited by forest owners, but the efficiency is not high.

 Many advantages of leasing forest land

According to the environmental status report in 2020, forests in Dong Nai are characterized by a diverse flora and fauna ecosystem, which is controlled and conserved according to the national general mechanism of conservation of natural resources, convenient for ecotourism development.

The forest with the most diverse ecosystems, with the biggest advantage of exploiting forest environmental services in the province is Dong Nai Nature - Cultural Reserve (TN-VH). This area has more than 100 thousand hectares, of which forest land area is 68 thousand hectares. In order to promote the effectiveness of forest tourism, the province has invested in many works and assigned to the  Center of Culture, Ecology and History War Zone D (belongs to Dong Nai Nature - Culture Reserve).

 Mrs. Dinh Thi Lan Huong, Deputy Director of Dong Nai Nature-Cultural Reserve, Director of the Center for Culture, Ecology and History War Zone D said, forests belongs to Dong Nai Nature - Cultural Reserve with advantages of service exploitation. In the natural landscape, there are rock park, Rang waterfall; large lakes and islands in the lake, especially Tri An lake; wild animals and forest plants. In addition, the forest also has 3 national-level historic sites including: the South East Party Committee Base, the Southern Central Department Base and Suoi Linh Tunnel.

 Currently, many tourist routes have been formed, facilities are available, but only tourism in terms of sources and research of flora and fauna are exploited. “At present, there are not any private units exploiting forest environment within Dong Nai Nature - Cultural Reserve. The exploitation of forest environment is done by the Center of Culture, Ecology, and History War Zone D on the basis of protecting and promoting the advantages of the forest environment ”- Ms. Huong shared.

 The areas of Mai waterfall and Nuoc Soi pond (Dinh Quan district) have both a waterfall, a natural warm water pond, and a canopy of trees, which are convenient for tourism. In many years, Tan Phu Protection Forest Management Board has invested in and exploited tourism at Thac Mai and Nuoc Soi pond. However, because of the accompanying services (food, local specialties, gifts) are not available, there are no accommodations in the forest, so they are for rent for film premises only, property rent for food and drink business, and selling bath tickets. The revenue from the above activities is only about 2 billion VND per year.

Director of Tan Phu Protection Forest Management Board Nguyen Le Anh Tuan said that in 5 years (2014-2019), there were about 198,000 visitors came to visit and brought revenue about VND 5.6 billion. In 2018, the province invested in an asphalt road connecting two tourist destinations in the forest, the People's Committee of Dinh Quan district and the Tan Phu Protection Forest Management Board also implemented many infrastructure works for tourism exploitation such as: overnight camp, standard toilet system, food and drink stops, sand-soaked area, mud baths. In 2019, the province approved the tourism, ecology and resort development project in the area. The Tan Phu Protection Forest Management Board then widely announced the forest environment leasing program and had an investment proposal. "Nuoc Soi pond, Thac Mai are located in the protective forest, so the tourism exploitation of the unit emphasizes protection rather than the development of forest services" - Mr. Tuan said.

 There have not been any approved leasing forest land projects​

Tourists visit Chua Chan Mountain Tourist Area (Xuan Loc District)

 Dong Nai has advantages in leasing Forest Environment for forest tourism services and development. In order to efficiently exploit natural resources, create more jobs for local people and increase revenue for re-serving forest development, the province has planned tourism development areas, invested in infrastructure, connecting roads as well as invited businesses to invest in developing forest tourism. Many large scale Forest Environment rental projects have been conceptualized, registered for implementation but there have not any projects approved so far.

 Mr. Le Van Goi, Deputy director of Agriculture and Rural Development Department said that, most of the forestry land in the province has the potential to lease the Forest Environment. The business and exploitation of forest environment services are currently carried out by forest owners as ecotourism, space renting, property rental, with low efficiency. Recently, a number of units have registered to rent forest land for tourism exploitation. However, as this is a new content for the province, the Department has to consult relevant agencies about the lease contract, feasibility of projects, area and location, and service development project of Forest Environment of the investor. "Currently, the province assigns the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to advise the outline of the project on leasing the forest Environment in tourism development to serve as a basis for inviting investors " - Mr. Le Van Goi said.

Mr. Le Minh Tuan, General Director of The Coi Joint Stock Company said that, the enterprise registered a project to hire the Forest Environment for tourism with an area of ​​100 hectares of forest land in Dinh Quan district that managed by the Tan Phu Forest Management Board since 2017. Since then, it has not been approved after meetings with provincial leaders, departments, agencies, and branches of the province and district. “The province agreed to the policy. We prepared project documents, completed legal documents according to the requirements of the province, district and forest owners but it arised new requirements after meetings. Up to now, the two sides have not yet reached an agreement ”- Mr. Tuan said.

The Coi tourism project is considered the first registered forest environment rental project in the province. The investor registers to rent the Forest Environment to develop tourism under the canopy of the forest, bathing in boiling water pond service and entertainment. The project with total estimated investment capital of 1.9 trillion and it is divided into two phases: phase 1 invests 400 billion dong, phase 2 is about 1.5 trillion dong. The investor said that the project could be implemented this year if legal procedures were completed.

A project to lease forest land for tourism development has also been unanimously advocated by the province as the Vuon Xoai 2 Ecotourism and Safari Zone of Vuon Xoai Ecotourism Company Limited. The project has an area nearly 413 hectares, belongs to the production forest planning area of ​​the Nature Reserve.

Nature – Culture of Dong Nai. Currently, the investor has been granted a land use right certificate for the project, the forest owner is waiting for the province to approve the sustainable forest management plan of Dong Nai Nature-Cultural Reserve for the contract of two parties.

Regarding the sustainable forest management plan, the Provincial People's Committee has now approved the sustainable forest management plan for the period 2021-2030 of the Long Thanh Protection Forest Management Board.

According to Mr. Le Thuan Thanh, Director of Long Thanh Protection Forest Management Board, the mangrove forest welcomes more than tens thousands of tourists each year, but they mainly go free without any units make tours. In 2019, we collaborated with the consultant to complete the Long Thanh - Nhon Trach protection forest eco-tourism development project by 2025 and a vision to 2030 with many categories of tourism like cruises while visiting the forest. The approval of the sustainable forest management plan for the period 2021-2030 by the Provincial People's Committee is a condition for Long Thanh Protection Forest Management Board to invite investors to develop tourism in a methodical way.

Dong Nai is a province with a large and diverse forest area (special-use, primary, planted forests; forest on mountains, islands, mangroves forests). Most forests in the province have the advantages of exploiting services and tourism, but have not been exploited effectively. Currently, there are many projects on forest environment leasing that have been approved for investment policy and they are being studied such as: The Coi (Dinh Quan district), Safari (Vinh Cuu district), Da Ton lake ... but there have not been any projects approved. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is working with the departments, branches of the province, district and forest owners to develop an outline for forest environment leasing project on the basis of biodiversity protection and effective exploitation of forest resources, protect forestry land.​​