According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the standing agency of the reserve’s management board, 2025 has delivered positive results, creating an important foundation for the 2026–2030 period.
Across the plateau, more than 480 environmental education and awareness campaigns were held, attracting over 20,000 local residents and students. At Kon Ka Kinh National Park alone, 80 community outreach sessions, 40 awareness classes and 22 mobile communication events were organised in buffer-zone communes.
Biodiversity protection efforts were also stepped up. Authorities rescued 52 wild animals and successfully released 39 back into their natural habitats. More than 80,000 native seedlings were propagated and cared for, while 28 hectares of new forest were planted and certified as established forest.
Scientific research and international cooperation expanded during the year. The Kon Hà Nừng Plateau World Biosphere Reserve welcomed 19 international delegations comprising 67 experts and implemented multiple aid projects with total funding worth tens of billions of dong, helping strengthen management capacity and protect what officials describe as a “green gem” of the Central Highlands.
Despite these gains, challenges remain. Trương Thanh Hà, Acting Director of the Forest Protection Department, said the reserve’s vast area, rugged mountainous terrain and difficult transport conditions continue to hinder conservation efforts. Forest protection forces remain limited in number and are frequently rotated, reducing the effectiveness of monitoring and control.
Investment resources for conservation have yet to meet practical needs, he added. Livelihoods in some buffer-zone communities remain difficult, climate change impacts are becoming more evident, and illegal hunting and forest encroachment continue to pose complex risks. These factors require forest management and protection to be strengthened in a more synchronised and long-term manner.
In response to risks of illegal entry into core and buffer zones, local authorities have clarified responsibilities and strengthened coordination with functional forces to protect ecological boundaries. In Đak Rong commune, officials have increased joint patrols with forest rangers and forest owners. Commune chairman Mã Văn Tình said local authorities are determined to prevent forest encroachment and illegal road construction, while mobilising village elders and respected community members to support grassroots management.
Buffer-zone localities have also proposed reviewing and finalising boundary systems and field markers. Legal communication efforts are expected to be renewed in both content and delivery, helping residents clearly distinguish between areas permitted for production and those under strict protection.
Education authorities have called for biosphere reserve content to be integrated into local curricula and extracurricular activities, using vivid images of landscapes and endemic species to improve students’ understanding and retention. Proposals have also been made to develop a unified Kon Hà Nừng brand identity, including a logo, slogan and communication materials.
In the context of digital transformation, officials from the Department of Science and Technology stressed the need to intensify communication on digital platforms, social networks, short documentaries and mobile photo exhibitions linked to festivals and tourism fairs to promote the reserve’s image.
A consistent orientation for Kon Hà Nừng is to link conservation with livelihood development for buffer-zone residents. Tourism activities will be developed outside the core zone, connecting waterfalls with community cultural experiences and organising sports and tourism events such as fun runs and cycling races along scenic routes. Authorities say this approach will help generate income for local people and reduce dependence on forest resources.
Vũ Ngọc An, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, said the province considers conservation a key task and is actively mobilising domestic and international resources to improve the reserve’s management effectiveness. In the coming period, he said, authorities will continue to focus on communication, forest protection, scientific research, sustainable livelihood models and appropriate ecotourism.