Protecting the "green lungs" of the capital during the hot season

Faced with the task of effectively protecting the "green lungs" of the capital, especially in the upcoming hot season, Hanoi Moi Newspaper reporters had an interview with Deputy Head of the Hanoi Forest Protection Department (Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment) Nguyen Tien Lam about solutions to prevent and combat forest fires.

Proactively prevent forest fires

- Summer 2025 is forecasted to have many severe heat waves. To deal with the risk of forest fires, what plans has the Hanoi Forest Protection Department prepared to prevent and respond, sir?

Deputy Head of Hanoi Forest Protection Department Nguyen Tien Lam. Photo: Duc Duy

- Hanoi City has more than 27,000 hectares of forest and forestry planning land, concentrated in 7 districts and towns: Son Tay, Ba Vi, Thach That, Quoc Oai, Chuong My, My Duc and Soc Son. Of these, the forested area is about 18,342 hectares, the coverage rate is 5.52%, including 7,593 hectares of natural forest and 10,749 hectares of planted forest. The area that has not become forest is more than 8,732 hectares; of which the area that has been planted but has not met the criteria to become forest is 1,022 hectares; the area for regeneration is nearly 316 hectares and other areas are about 7,394 hectares.

This year’s hot season is forecast to be long and severe. Therefore, the Hanoi Forest Protection Department considers forest fire prevention and control as one of the urgent tasks, especially in the context of increasingly complex climate change. Accordingly, the Department has advised the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment to deploy plans to limit the risk of forest fires.

Specifically, the Department will review all forest fire prevention and fighting plans in key areas such as Soc Son, Ba Vi, My Duc and in forests bordering the provinces of Hoa Binh, Vinh Phuc, Ha Nam, Thai Nguyen to proactively coordinate in handling forest fire incidents. The Department also directs forest rangers to continuously monitor and check the weather situation, as well as changes in factors that can increase the risk of fire.

In addition, the Department also requires 100% of forest owners and commune-level People's Committees to issue plans for forest management, protection, and forest fire prevention and fighting; and be ready to mobilize forces to respond promptly when a forest fire occurs according to the "four on-site" motto.

- Can you share more details about the specific solutions that Hanoi is implementing to prevent and fight forest fires during the hot season of 2025?

- The solutions that Hanoi has implemented are all aimed at proactively preventing forest fires. Specifically, the Department has been coordinating with media agencies and authorities at all levels to propagate the risk of forest fires during the hot season. Propaganda sessions are organized directly in residential areas, schools, especially in areas bordering key forests in Soc Son, Ba Vi, My Duc districts and areas with high risk of forest fires. The goal is to raise public awareness about forest protection, not burning fields, and not treating vegetation with fire during the hot season.

The Hanoi Forest Protection Department has also built a forest monitoring and management system through a smart forest fire early warning camera system in Soc Son district. The camera has high resolution, 360-degree rotation, supporting day and night forest monitoring within a radius of about 10km. At the same time, the Department directs forest rangers managing forest areas to regularly monitor forest fire warnings on the Forest Protection Department's early fire warning information system at the website: kiemlam.org.vn to promptly handle and prevent forest fires from occurring. In addition, the Department also uses mobile phone warning systems and technology applications to help people and authorities respond promptly when incidents occur.

One of the important factors in forest fire prevention and control is the coordination between functional forces. The Hanoi Forest Protection Department also organizes drills and coordination between forest rangers, police, military and relevant agencies, in order to best prepare for response when forest fires occur. Accordingly, units are always ready to deploy fire fighting plans as soon as forest fires are detected, in order to minimize damage.

In particular, in areas where forest fires are forecast at level IV (dangerous level) and level V (extremely dangerous level), the Hanoi Forest Protection Department directs forest ranger stations and forest protection posts to operate 24/7 during the hot season. These stations are responsible for regular inspection and monitoring to promptly detect and handle signs of forest fires, preventing fires from spreading and causing large fires.

Raising public awareness about forest protection

- In recent years, forest fires have often occurred due to human carelessness. So, what measures have the authorities of Hanoi city taken to prevent this situation, sir?

- Yes, one of the main causes of forest fires is human carelessness. For example, slash-and-burn farming, beekeeping, tourists cooking in the forest or not complying with fire prevention and fighting regulations. To prevent this situation, forest rangers and local authorities with forests regularly organize propaganda and educate the community about the harmful effects of slash-and-burn farming and the use of fire in the forest. Just a little carelessness from humans can cause serious forest fires. At that time, not only does it cause damage to forest resources and environmental pollution, but it also affects socio-economic development and people's lives.

The Department also closely inspects and monitors areas at high risk of forest fires. Coordination with local authorities and authorities will help strengthen inspection and monitoring of violations by people. Those who intentionally violate will be strictly punished according to the law, in order to deter and prevent acts of causing forest fires.

Hanoi forest rangers propagate to people to protect forests in border areas in Ba Vi district.

- Just a small mistake can cause a fire, burning down a forest in a short period of time. But for trees to turn into forests, it takes decades. As the leader of the Hanoi Forestry Department, what advice do you have for people in forest fire prevention and control?

- Every citizen needs to raise awareness of forest protection, not only during the hot season, but throughout the year. Forest protection is the responsibility of all of us and every small action, such as not littering cigarette butts, contributes to protecting precious forest resources. In particular, during the hot season, people absolutely must not burn fields, treat vegetation with fire and not carry out activities that risk harming the forest. If signs of fire or acts that harm the forest are detected, people must immediately report to the authorities for timely handling.

We also encourage people to participate in training classes and courses on fire prevention and fighting to effectively respond to forest fires. Only when the community works together to protect the forest can we reduce the risk of forest fires and protect the green forests, bringing long-term benefits to the capital and each citizen.

- On your side, what other key tasks does the Hanoi Forestry Department carry out?

- Forest management, protection and forest fire prevention and fighting are key tasks. Therefore, the Department has advised many documents for the Department of Agriculture and Environment and the City People's Committee to effectively carry out state management of forestry. The Department strengthens discipline and administrative discipline in performing public duties at its affiliated units; coordinates with forest rangers in neighboring provinces to protect bordering forest areas; continues to promote propaganda, dissemination and extensive legal education among the people on forest protection; is on duty 24/7 to prevent and fight forest fires during the peak of drought and heat...

The Hanoi Forest Protection Department also recommended that the Hanoi People's Committee direct districts and towns with forests to support forest rangers in investigating and handling violations of forestry laws; complete the review of the current status of forests and forestry land according to Plan No. 57/KH-UBND dated February 18, 2022 of the Hanoi People's Committee. At the same time, the Department recommended that the City People's Committee direct relevant departments and branches to complete the work of land allocation associated with forest allocation; adjust the planning of 3 types of forests (special-use, protection, production) and organize the marking of forest boundaries in the field in districts and towns with forests.

Thank you very much!

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/bao-ve-la-phoi-xanh-cua-thu-do-trong-mua-nang-nong-700517.html