Cao Son proactively takes measures to prevent wildfires.

In the early days of summer, when the hot, dry winds from Laos begin to blow fiercely and the sun blazes down on the forests of Cao Son commune, the local authorities and relevant agencies place forest fire prevention and control efforts on "high alert." With the motto "prevention is key," Cao Son commune is proactively implementing a comprehensive range of solutions to prevent wildfires during the dry season, protecting the green of the mountains and forests and the peaceful lives of the people.

Forestry officials inspect forest fire prevention work in Sưng hamlet, Cao Sơn commune.

Proactive action from the beginning, starting at the grassroots level.

Accompanying local forest rangers to Sung hamlet during the prolonged hot weather, it's easy to feel the harshness of the dry season when the undergrowth beneath the forest canopy is dry and brittle; even a small spark can cause a large-scale fire. Following the trails into the forest area, local forest rangers, along with the forest protection team and the fire prevention and control team of Sung hamlet, continuously inspect high-risk fire points, reminding residents not to clear undergrowth or burn fields during the intense heat.

The village of Sưng currently has over 860 hectares of production and natural forests. The area has hilly terrain, with many areas bordering cultivated fields, thus posing a high risk of forest fires during the dry season. Given this reality, the Sưng village forest protection team regularly patrols and monitors key areas, especially during prolonged periods of hot weather. Mr. Lý Văn Đông, deputy head of the Sưng village forest protection and fire prevention team, shared: “During the peak of the dry season, the team members take turns inspecting the forest, reminding villagers not to burn undergrowth or bring fire into the forest. Even a slight carelessness can quickly lead to a fire, so we always maintain a high level of vigilance.” Cao Sơn is a locality with a large area of ​​forest and forestry land, with a planned forestry area of ​​10,700.51 hectares. Of this, 3,791.62 hectares are protection forests and 6,908.89 hectares are production forests. The commune has a forest cover rate of 59%. The commune comprises 17 villages with 9,133 inhabitants. The people still face many difficulties in their lives, and the use of fire in production activities such as slash-and-burn agriculture, clearing vegetation, and collecting honey still poses a high risk of forest fires, especially during the dry season from November to May of the following year.

From the beginning of this year's dry season, the commune has strengthened the Steering Committee for the Sustainable Forestry Development Program, developed a forest fire prevention and control plan to respond to each level of fire; and assigned tasks to each member responsible for a specific area. At the same time, it organized the signing of commitments to protect forests and prevent forest fires with 100% of households living near the forest. Along the roads leading to the forest area, many warning signs about the risk of forest fires have been erected with easy-to-understand and easy-to-remember content. 17 forest protection and fire prevention and control teams in 17 villages with 172 members regularly patrol, monitor, and remind people not to burn fields or indiscriminately clear vegetation during the intense heat. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, a forest ranger in charge of the area, said: “The main causes of forest fires stem from human negligence such as improper clearing of undergrowth, burning beehives, and unsafe use of fire in the forest. To proactively respond, the commune has prepared all necessary firefighting equipment such as blowers, machetes, fire extinguishers, and undergrowth cutters; and has deployed personnel on duty 24/7 during peak hot weather days. Areas with a high risk of fire are surveyed, and firebreaks are cleared to limit the spread of fire if an incident occurs.”

Forestry officials inspect the forest fire fighting equipment warehouse in Cao Son commune.

Strengthen public awareness campaigns and improve people's understanding.

Patrol and guard forces are maintained regularly, especially during peak periods. When the forest fire risk forecast is high, the commune organizes a 24/7 forest fire prevention and control team, assigning personnel to monitor and update forest fire information from official channels and social media, promptly detecting and handling potential forest fire risks. The dissemination of laws and regulations on forest fire prevention and control is intensified through various forms such as the public address system, village meetings, signing forest protection commitments, establishing community regulations, and direct communication to individual households living near forests. Inspection and coordination efforts are strengthened; the commune People's Committee has directed local forest rangers, police, and military personnel to conduct inspections in high-risk areas, especially border areas and areas with shifting cultivation activities. Training and guidance on forest fire prevention and control skills are integrated into awareness campaigns, contributing to improving the capacity of local forces.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Tuan, Vice Chairman of the Cao Son Commune People's Committee, said: “In recent years, extreme weather patterns and prolonged heatwaves have kept the risk of forest fires at a high level. The commune has identified forest fire prevention and control as a key task during the dry season, so it has mobilized the entire political system to participate, promoting the role of local people to promptly detect and handle fire risks from the very beginning. In addition, the commune has proposed that the competent authorities provide financial support to invest in forest fire prevention and control equipment such as water pumps, blowers, and specialized tools; support the construction of forest fire prevention and control facilities such as water tanks, fire watchtowers, and firebreaks. We are also strengthening training and drills on forest fire prevention and control for local forces; providing financial support for forest rangers to cooperate with the locality in disseminating information, patrolling, protecting forests, and preventing and controlling forest fires. At the same time, we are implementing policies and projects to develop the forestry economy and support livelihoods for local people to reduce pressure on forest resources.” "Reduce the risks of forest fires."

Thanks to the proactive and coordinated implementation of various solutions, no forest fires have occurred in the commune in recent years. The awareness of forest protection among the people has gradually improved, with many households voluntarily participating in patrols and clearing undergrowth alongside the authorities. With the proactive efforts of the local government, the involvement of the forest rangers, and the sense of responsibility of the people, Cao Son commune is creating a solid "shield" against the threat of forest fires, contributing to the protection of forest resources in this mountainous region.

Dinh Thang

Source: https://baophutho.vn/cao-son-chu-dong-phong-giac-lua-254607.htm