On October 17, USAID, in partnership with Vietnam’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's Forest Protection Department, began implementing the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) in Dong Nai province to improve forest management. SMART is a software platform used in conservation to help manage and protect wildlife and natural habitats, improve monitoring biodiversity, assess risks, and make informed decisions to better manage conservation efforts and combat illegal activities like poaching. USAID convened representatives from five protected areas in Dong Nai to plan for implementing SMART in all forest ranger stations by 2026.
Since 2021, USAID has supported the use of SMART in 23 protected areas, covering over 3,100 square miles (827,000 hectares). Including Dong Nai in this work expands the impact of SMART, strengthening Vietnam’s ability to protect and conserve its biodiversity. [Sustainable Wildlife Conservation]