Community joins hands to protect Kon Chu Rang forest

Join hands to keep the forest green

This year’s rainy season, the special-use forests in the Dam stream area (sub-area 35) seem to be covered in a layer of mist. In the rain and wind, officers and staff of the Trai Dam Forest Management and Protection Station and Bahnar households in Kon Von 2 village (Dak Rong commune) still persistently patrol each forest area, observing each ancient tree reaching high among the dense forest canopy.

In the patrol team, Mr. Dinh Brong (48 years old, in Kon Von 2 village) has been involved in forest protection for nearly 30 years. His family is assigned more than 20 hectares of forest in sub-region 38. To him, the green forests of Kon Chu Rang are as close as flesh and blood. Regardless of rain or darkness, as soon as he hears of signs of illegal forest encroachment, he immediately goes with officers and employees of Trai Dam Forest Management and Protection Station to inspect.

“Forest protection is not only an assigned task for me but also a responsibility. Every time I go on patrol, seeing the forest still green and each old tree still standing, I feel at ease. The villagers always remind each other to preserve the forest sustainably for future generations,” Mr. Bron shared.

Staff of Trai Dam Forest Management and Protection Station propagate the Forestry Law to households in Kon Von 2 village. **Photo: Duy Dang**

Trai Dam Forest Management and Protection Station is managing more than 4,000 hectares of forest in sub-zones 32, 33, 35, 38. Thanks to increased propaganda, 63 households in Kon Von 2 village have been contracted to protect more than 320 hectares of forest.

Mr. Thai Doan Duy - Head of Trai Dam Forest Management and Protection Station - shared: "Forest protection is not only the unit's task but also the responsibility of the whole community. I believe that with the unanimous contribution of the villagers, the forest will always be sustainably protected."

Ha Lam village (Son Lang commune) has 78 households contracted to protect 1,555.35 hectares of forest. Mr. Dinh Uy - Secretary of Ha Lam village Party Cell - said: The village's forest protection covenant was discussed and agreed upon by the villagers based on the provisions of the Forestry Law, recorded in writing with the participation of the commune, local forest rangers and the Kon Chu Rang Nature Reserve Management Board. Therefore, the villagers always comply with the covenant and actively participate in forest protection.

Towards sustainable forest protection

Kon Chu Rang Nature Reserve currently has more than 15,546 hectares of special-use forest in 14 sub-areas. This is considered the "green lung" of Gia Lai and is part of the Kon Ha Nung Plateau World Biosphere Reserve, with a coverage of 98.5%.

According to Mr. Nguyen Hong Quan - Acting Director of Kon Chu Rang Nature Reserve: After 5 years of implementing the forest protection contract scheme under the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development of Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas for the period 2021-2025, the results have been very positive. The program has helped maintain the natural forest area and create livelihoods for people in the buffer zone.

Currently, the total forest area assigned for protection is 2,038.53 hectares for 17 household groups and 1 community of 330 households, mostly Bahnar people in Kon Von 2 village (Dak Rong commune) and the villages: Dien Bien , Tram Lap, Ha Lam, Dak To Nglong (Son Lang commune). The contract level of 600 thousand VND/ha/year helps people have more income, encouraging them to actively participate in forest protection.

In 2025, Kon Chu Rang Nature Reserve staff will regularly coordinate with contracted teams to organize patrols and exchange information on violations of the Forestry Law in border areas to promptly prevent deforestation, illegal logging and transportation of timber, and illegal hunting of wildlife...

On the other hand, Kon Chu Rang Nature Reserve also organized 5 propaganda sessions on forest protection for 240 people in 5 villages and buffer zones; organized dialogues, mobilized people and household groups to sign commitments to protect forests, not to destroy forests or encroach on forests; deployed 2 propaganda sessions for 200 students, contributing to raising awareness about forest protection... Thanks to that, special-use forests are protected; many endemic animals such as grey-shanked douc langur, white pheasant, Java pangolin, red-cheeked gibbon... are maintained and preserved very well.

“For the Bahnar people, the forest is like a second home, closely connected to the life and culture of the community. Therefore, they always cherish the forest. Thanks to the close and regular coordination between the people and the forest protection force, many primeval forests are still protected intact.

In the coming time, Kon Chu Rang Nature Reserve will continue to expand the area of forest protection contracted to 4,000 hectares for more than 300 households; strengthen patrolling and forest fire prevention and fighting; support people in developing agricultural and forestry economy , promote socialization of forestry, aiming at the goal of sustainable forest protection and creating a stable source of income for people" - Mr. Quan shared.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/cong-dong-chung-suc-giu-rung-kon-chu-rang-post574259.html