Dong Nai has taken control of Cat Tien National Park and is already preparing a UNESCO World Natural Heritage nomination. The move shows how local authorities turn conservation goals into concrete actions that protect biodiversity and promote sustainable tourism.

The Prime Minister decided to move Cat Tien from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to the Dong Nai People’s Committee, and the transfer took effect on 27 October. The hand‑over was announced at a ceremony held by the Dong Nai People’s Committee on 6 November.

Chairman Nguyen Van Ut said that taking over Cat Tien means more than managing a forest; it is a commitment to preserve an invaluable natural asset of the nation. His statement highlights the political will behind the transfer.

Dong Nai officials say the UNESCO nomination will help strengthen biodiversity conservation, upgrade facilities and transport, and expand the use of science, technology and digital tools. They also plan to intensify actions against illegal logging, forest fires and wildlife poaching.

Cat Tien covers more than 82,000 ha, hosts over 1,600 plant species and more than 1,700 wildlife species, and already holds international recognitions such as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, a Ramsar wetland and the IUCN Green List. These achievements underline why the local hand‑over and the heritage bid are so important for Vietnam’s natural heritage.