On March 29, 2025, at Room 403 of the Vietnam National University of Forestry, a university-level doctoral dissertation defense was held for PhD candidate Quoc Minh Dung, majoring in Silviculture, code 9620205, with the dissertation titled: “Study on the Structure of Evergreen Broadleaf Forests and the Diversity of Woody Plant Species in Phia Oac – Phia Den National Park, Cao Bang Province.” The dissertation was carried out under the scientific supervision of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Quoc Hung and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hong Hai.

Attendees at the defense included: Ms. Nong Thi Thuy Trang, Deputy Chief of Office of the Cao Bang Provincial Party Committee; Prof. Dr. Pham Van Dien, Rector of the Vietnam National University of Forestry; Members of the Dissertation Evaluation Committee; Leaders and lecturers from the Faculty of Forestry;
Scientists, colleagues, and invited guests of the PhD candidate.

The university-level Dissertation Evaluation Committee was established under Decision No. 97/QD-ĐHLN-ĐTSĐH dated January 22, 2025 by the Rector of the Vietnam National University of Forestry, comprising leading experts in the field of forestry, including:

1. Prof. Dr. Pham Van Dien, Vietnam National University of Forestry – Chairperson of the Committee;
2. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Minh Thanh, Vietnam National University of Forestry – Committee Secretary;
3. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Van Thang, Vietnam Academy of Forest Sciences – Reviewer 1;
4. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Thu Ha, Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry – Reviewer 2;
5. Dr. Truong Tat Do, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment – Reviewer 3;
6. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Xuan Truong, Vietnam National University of Forestry – Committee Member;
7. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phi Hong Hai, Vietnam Academy of Forest Sciences – Committee Member.

Dr. Pham Van Dien – Chair of the Committee

During the defense session, PhD candidate Quoc Minh Dung presented the research findings of the dissertation, received comments and suggestions from the reviewers and committee members, and answered questions related to the research content.

PhD candidate Quoc Minh Dung presenting the dissertation to the Committee

The dissertation was highly appreciated by the Committee for its significant contributions to the field. The Committee affirmed that this is a research work of both scientific and practical value and serves as a meaningful reference for forest management in general and for the study area in particular.

Some of the key findings and contributions of the dissertation include:

• Identification of several structural characteristics and structural dynamics of poor and severely degraded evergreen broadleaf forests in Phia Oac – Phia Den National Park.

• Assessment of the diversity of woody plant species in these forest types.

Scientific and practical significance:

• The dissertation identified the structural characteristics, structural dynamics, and species diversity of woody plants in poor and severely degraded secondary evergreen broadleaf forests in Phia Oac – Phia Den National Park.

• It also proposed several silvicultural technical solutions for the restoration of these forest types.

In addition, PhD candidate Quoc Minh Dung, together with the supervisory team and collaborators, has published four scientific articles related to the dissertation results in reputable journals. Specifically, one article was published in the Journal of Forestry Science, and three in the Journal of Forestry Science and Technology, reinforcing the scientific and practical value of the research.

After hearing the presentation of the PhD candidate and the evaluation comments from the committee members, the Committee held a closed session and voted, with the result of 100% unanimous approval. The Chair of the Committee then announced the Committee’s resolution, recommending that the Rector of the Vietnam National University of Forestry confer the Doctorate in Silviculture upon PhD candidate Quoc Minh Dung.

On behalf of the University Leadership, People’s Teacher, Prof. Dr. Pham Van Dien, Rector of the University, expressed sincere thanks to the Dissertation Evaluation Committee and congratulated PhD candidate Quoc Minh Dung on successfully defending the doctoral dissertation at the university level. Prof. Dien acknowledged and highly appreciated the scientific contributions of the dissertation and expressed hope that the new PhD holder would continue to apply the research results into practice, making valuable contributions to scientific research. He also expressed his desire that Dr. Quoc Minh Dung would become a bridge to promote cooperation between Cao Bang Province and the Vietnam National University of Forestry, contributing to enhancing the university’s prestige and reputation nationwide, while fulfilling its political mission and social responsibility.

Prof. Dr. Pham Van Dien – Rector, presenting congratulatory flowers and certificate to the new PhD holder, Quoc Minh Dung

Committee members taking commemorative photos with the PhD candidate

The supervisory team presenting congratulatory flowers to the new PhD holder