Scale, Distribution and Forest Ownership of Poor Production Natural Evergreen Broadleaf Forest in the Former Gia Lai Province, Vietnam: Implications for Management

Abstract

This study examines the former Gia Lai province as it existed prior to the July 2025 administrative merger with Binh Dinh province; all data and analyses refer exclusively to pre-merger boundaries. The former Gia Lai was located in the northern Central Highlands of Vietnam. With its diverse topography, including mountains, highlands, and valleys, the province holds significant potential for forestry development. This potential contributes to the local economy, creates employment opportunities, and supports social sustainability for ethnic communities in the region. This study provides an overview of the scale, distribution, and ownership of degraded natural evergreen broadleaf forests in the former Gia Lai, based on secondary data from the 2023 Vietnam national forest dataset (Decision No. 861/QD-BNN-KL, March 2024), analysed using descriptive statistical methods. The findings indicate that the total area of degraded natural evergreen broadleaf forests in the province is 90,736.57 hectares, distributed across 10,503 plots spanning all 17 districts. The forest area is allocated to seven categories of ownership: Communities (3,111.83 ha), Commune People's Committees (36,283.67 ha), Protection Forest Management Boards (37,315.75 ha), Forestry Companies (12,832.85 ha), Private Enterprises (143.51 ha), Armed Forces Units  (910.81 ha), and Others (138.15 ha). Plots smaller than 0.5 ha are scattered throughout the province, presenting significant challenges for investment, management, and development efforts. The Commune People's Committees account for 40.00% of the total area of degraded natural evergreen broadleaf forests, despite not being specialised management entities. This institutional mismatch poses substantial difficulties for the effective management and development of these forest areas.