Applying digital platforms in forest fire hotspots

PV: Could you tell us about the number of forest fires that occurred during that time and the specific causes?

Mr. Nguyen Viet Ha: According to statistics from the Lao Cai Provincial Forest Protection Department, from the beginning of 2024 to now, there have been 12 forest fires in Lao Cai province, causing damage to 36.35 hectares of forest. Meanwhile, in 2023, there were 15 fires, causing damage to 40.58 hectares of forest. This is sad because the number of fires has increased compared to the same period last year and the situation is more complicated.

The cause of the above forest fires is that although people's sense of responsibility has been raised, some people are still negligent. Secondly, carelessness in using fire and lack of high sense of responsibility lead to the emergence of fire spots.

In addition to the above objective factors, this year, the number of forest fires occurring is also due to a number of subjective reasons, some local authorities are still not proactive in forest fire prevention.

Since the beginning of the year, there have been 12 forest fires in the province, causing damage to nearly 40 hectares.

PV: What are the current difficulties in forest protection of Lao Cai forestry sector?

Mr. Nguyen Viet Ha: The forest area is large, not concentrated, the terrain is fragmented, rugged, complex, with rugged mountains and hills, many forest areas are located in remote areas, making it difficult to patrol, control and monitor the forest.

Investment resources for forest management and protection such as human resources, finance, and equipment of the forest rangers are still rudimentary and limited, not meeting the actual needs in forest management and protection.

In addition, some local Party committees and authorities have not strictly directed the implementation of forest management and protection; there are still phenomena of illegal exploitation, cutting down, trading and selling of timber and forest products; illegal use of forest plant and animal products on the list of endangered, precious and rare species, increasing pressure on forest management, protection and biodiversity protection...

The awareness of a part of the people about the role and significance of forest protection is still limited, leading to low participation and support for forest protection work. They still think that forest protection is the task of the Forest Rangers and local authorities, but they do not realize the responsibility of the people and the community for this task. Forest owners have not fully promoted their role and responsibility in forest protection management; land overlap, disputes, and encroachment have not been thoroughly resolved.

Record forest status to serve forest management and protection.

The handling of violations of the law on forest management and protection is still lenient, so it has not had the effect of deterring and educating violators, leading to some subjects exploiting and destroying forests showing contempt for the law, challenging public authorities and continuing to resist people performing their duties.

Reporter: Could you please tell us about the measures to improve the effectiveness of forest management and protection in Lao Cai province?

Mr. Nguyen Viet Ha: The Provincial Forest Protection Department always identifies the work of propaganda, dissemination and education of forestry law as an important task in the work of forest management, protection and development. Therefore, the unit has constantly innovated, diversified and improved the effectiveness of propaganda, mobilization, education, raising awareness and responsibility for forest management, protection and sustainable forest development.

In 2023, the Sub-Department organized 21 training courses, training, and professional development for forest rangers, officials of district-level units, forest protection teams/groups, and communities assigned to protect forests; 18 conferences to disseminate professional knowledge on legal regulations in forest protection and development, forest fire prevention and fighting.

Lao Cai forest rangers coordinate with local people to patrol and protect the forest.

In particular, the main focus is on popularizing and promoting propaganda on digital platforms, grassroots information systems and new media widely among all classes of people such as Zalo, Facebook, etc. Prioritizing solutions to reach people in border areas, mountainous areas, ethnic minority areas, and areas with particularly difficult socio-economic conditions.

Innovate and improve the quality and duration of radio and television programs and publications in ethnic minority languages to bring information to people in remote, mountainous and border areas; Train and improve the capacity and professional qualifications of cadres working in grassroots communication and information.

In addition, promote propaganda and dissemination of knowledge and skills on forest fire prevention and fighting to the community; organize well the work of forecasting and warning of forest fire risks; be ready and attentive to forest fire prevention and fighting according to the "4 on-site" motto, respond promptly when situations occur; organize zoning of fire risk points to strengthen inspection and supervision; promote the application of information technology in forest fire prevention and fighting.

PV: Do you have any suggestions or recommendations to help improve forest management and protection in the future?

Mr. Nguyen Viet Ha : Along with drastic solutions from the locality, the Department also requested functional sectors and local leaders to increase investment in financial resources, human resources and equipment for the forest rangers. Promote close inter-sectoral coordination between relevant sectors such as Forest Rangers, Police, Army and local authorities in forest protection, in order to increase the effectiveness of management and handling of violations.

In particular, promote propaganda and education of laws on forest protection for local people; especially not to assist or conceal criminal acts. Strengthen patrolling, controlling, preventing and strictly handling violations in the forestry sector; assign responsibility to forest owners when violations of the law occur in the area assigned for management.

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