The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment issued a decision on 31/3/2025, announcing the national forest status for 2025. The report indicates that the total forest area nationwide reached over 14.91 million hectares, including approximately 10 million hectares of natural forest.
Lam Dong province emerged as the leader among 34 provinces and cities, with a total forest area exceeding 1.12 million hectares. This comprises over 930,100 hectares of natural forest and nearly 199,000 hectares of planted forest, contributing to a canopy cover of over 45.9%.
 |
Natural forest in Nui Ong Nature Reserve, Lam Dong province. *Photo: Viet Quoc* |
Beyond Lam Dong, two other provinces reported significant forest areas exceeding one million hectares: Nghe An with over 1.06 million hectares and Gia Lai with over 1.03 million hectares. Their respective canopy cover rates were over 59.4% and over 45.9%.
Regarding the highest canopy cover percentages, Lang Son province led the country with over 64.3%, a figure significantly above the national average. Tuyen Quang, Thai Nguyen, Lao Cai, and Quang Tri provinces also achieved impressive coverage rates, each exceeding 60%.
Forests are primarily concentrated in the Northern Central region and the Northern Midlands and Mountains. These areas are characterized by their hilly terrain, lower population density, and rich, diverse ecosystems. In contrast, plains and highly urbanized areas generally exhibit lower forest coverage rates.
 |
Over 100-year-old ironwood forest in My Thanh 1 village, Ham Thanh commune, Lam Dong province. *Photo: Viet Quoc* |
Following this announcement, the Forestry Department and Forest Protection Department are tasked with developing and managing a comprehensive database to monitor forest changes across the nation. At the local level, provincial authorities will delegate responsibility to communes for managing and updating forest data, which will support administrative functions and socio-economic development initiatives.
Provinces experiencing a reduction in natural forest area in 2025 are required to conduct thorough reviews, identify the root causes of the decrease, and address any related responsibilities accordingly.
Viet Quoc
