Closely follow the grassroots to protect and develop forests

LAI CHAU Local forest rangers stick close to the grassroots, step up propaganda so that people can protect and develop forests well, creating a sustainable source of income for people.

Early prevention to limit forest fires

On dry weather days, people also burn fields for agricultural production, increasing the risk of forest fires.

Mr. Lo Van Tuyen, Phong Tho Forest Protection Department, in charge of Phong Tho commune ( Lai Chau ) shared: "I always love the spirit and responsibility, regularly propagate and guide people to build firebreaks so people are much more aware. Areas prone to forest fires will be checked regularly. Up to now, there have been no forest fires in the area."

Lai Chau forest rangers always stay close to the base, working with people to protect and develop forests. Photo: Van Tam.

Phong Tho Forest Protection Department manages over 76,000 hectares of forestry land, of which the forest area is over 46,000 hectares. Since the beginning of the year, the Department has coordinated with communes to deploy measures to protect and prevent forest fires, with the motto "4 on-site".

In areas with large forest areas and high risk of forest fires, the District assigns forest rangers to coordinate with villages to set up checkpoints at forest gates and organize forest patrols.

Along with that, the Department sent forest rangers to monitor each area to detect and strictly handle violations of the law in forest management and protection. It was determined that the cause of forest fires was mainly due to people burning fields, causing fires to spread into the forest. Therefore, propaganda work was given top priority, while at the same time guiding people to handle the ground cover, make scientific slash and burn fields...

"We direct local forest rangers to regularly stay close to the grassroots, advise local Party committees and authorities to propagate so that people comply with forest management and protection regulations, especially forest fire prevention and fighting. Instruct people to burn fields early in the morning, not during times of strong sunlight and strong winds...", said Mr. Nguyen Van Tuan, Head of Phong Tho Forest Protection Department.

In addition, the Forest Protection Department directed specialized forest protection teams in villages to patrol, inspect, and be on duty in key areas at high risk of forest fires to detect and handle them early, preventing fires from spreading into the forest.

Demarcate key areas for protection plans

Muong Te Forest Protection Department is the unit managing the largest forest area in Lai Chau province with over 180,000 hectares, mainly natural forest.

This forest area is assigned to 5 local ranger stations in 5 communes for management. During the implementation of official duties, officers of the local ranger stations have advised the leaders of the People's Committees of the communes to actively propagate to detect and handle fires early. At the same time, they have developed plans and strategies for forest management, protection and development, and propagated and guided people and forest owners to implement measures to prevent forest fires.

Local people's patrols with forest rangers. Photo: Van Tam.

In the dry season, the vegetation layer is thick, while some people still maintain the practice of slash-and-burn agriculture, so the risk of forest fires is high.

Therefore, Muong Te Forest Protection Department determined that fire prevention is the main priority, fire fighting must be timely. Since the beginning of the dry season, the Forest Protection Department has coordinated with the protective forest management station to review and demarcate key forest areas with high risk of fire in the communes of Bum Nua, Ta Tong, Mu Ca, Thu Lum and areas along the Da River.

To prevent forest fires, the Forest Protection Department coordinated with the commune authorities to instruct people on how to burn fields, creating a fire runway of over 50 km. At the same time, they conducted training exercises on forest fire protection and prevention in the face of complex weather conditions...

Mr. Vang Van Thanh, Muong Te Forest Protection Department, said that forests in Muong Te play a particularly important role in regulating water resources and protecting the ecosystem. Therefore, local forest rangers regularly coordinate with localities to propagate the Forestry Law and forest fire prevention and fighting to the people in the villages. From there, people raise awareness and sign commitments to protect forests and prevent forest fires.

Up to now, Muong Te Forest Protection Department has coordinated with communes, through village meetings and party cell meetings, to promote propaganda, strengthen steering committees, especially 110 specialized forest protection teams in villages with 8,000 participants.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/bam-sat-co-so-de-bao-ve-va-phat-trien-rung-d787646.html