The Department of Forestry and Forest Protection (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) has just requested the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Lam Dong province to review and clarify the fact that the area of natural forest in the area in 2025 decreased by 17,715ha compared to 2024.
Previously, on February 27, 2026, the People's Committee of Lam Dong province announced the current status of forests in 2025. According to the Department of Forestry and Forest Protection, data shows that the area of natural forests has decreased sharply compared to the previous year.
Therefore, the unit requested the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Lam Dong province to specifically identify the location, area, and current status of each forest area that has been reduced. At the same time, clarify the causes and times of fluctuations to each forest lot.
Implementing the request, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Lam Dong province has a report explaining. Accordingly, the total area of natural forest in the province in 2025 (after arrangement) is about 930,156ha, a decrease of 17,715ha compared to 2024.
Notably, most of the reduced area is determined to be due to differences between the map and reality. Specifically, according to the 2024 current status map, these areas are statistically natural forests.
However, through satellite image review and field inspection in 2025, it shows that many areas have been deforested for many years, mainly encroached upon for agricultural production.
In addition, the area of natural forests decreased due to direct causes accounting for a small proportion, including: Illegal deforestation and forest fires 29.12ha; landslides due to natural disasters 62.72ha; conversion of forest use purposes to serve socio-economic development projects 35.27ha.
The Department of Agriculture and Environment of Lam Dong province also admitted that monitoring and updating forest developments in some localities and forest owners was not timely, leading to data discrepancies between years.
Accurately determining the timing and cause of forest loss for the incorrect areas faces many difficulties because it has occurred before.
Faced with this situation, the Department of Forestry and Forest Protection requests localities to continue to review in detail, rectify forest management and protection, and strictly handle violations, especially acts that cause natural forest loss.
