Innovation in the Forestry sector, improving the quality of forest protection management

Phu Yen forest rangers organize patrols to protect the forest. Photo: NGO NHAT

Regional ranger station highlights

The Provincial Forest Protection Department is a unit under the Department of Agriculture and Environment. Implementing the general policy of the province, this unit has organized and arranged its apparatus in a streamlined manner, operating effectively and efficiently; in accordance with the actual situation, meeting the requirements and roadmap for reducing the number of civil servants. Accordingly, the Provincial Forest Protection Department from 5 professional departments, 9 district-level forest protection units, 2 special-use forest management boards and mobile forest protection and forest fire prevention and fighting (PCCCR) teams, after being fully arranged and consolidated, has become 3 professional departments, 3 regional forest protection units, mobile forest protection and PCCCR teams with a total of 125 civil servants and 25 labor contracts. The two special-use forest management boards have been reorganized into public service units under the Provincial Forest Protection Department.

Currently, the regional forest ranger units have 25-30 civil servants/unit and have come into operation. Specifically, the Regional Forest Ranger Unit 1 was established on the basis of merging the Dong Xuan District Forest Ranger Unit, Song Cau Town Forest Ranger Unit and Tuy An District Forest Ranger Unit. The working headquarters is in La Hai town, Dong Xuan district (Dong Xuan District Forest Ranger Unit). This area has a total forested area of ​​over 113,350ha, and a total forest land area without forest of over 20,104ha.

The Forest Protection Department of Region 2 was established on the basis of merging the Forest Protection Department of Son Hoa District, the Forest Protection Department of Phu Hoa District and the Forest Protection Department of Tuy Hoa City. The working headquarters is in Suoi Bac Commune, Son Hoa District (Son Hoa Forest Protection Department). This area owns a total forested area of ​​nearly 58,083.4 hectares, and a total forest land area without forest of nearly 12,187.6 hectares.

The Forest Protection Department of Region 3 was established on the basis of merging the Forest Protection Department of Song Hinh District, the Forest Protection Department of Tay Hoa District and the Forest Protection Department of Dong Hoa Town. The working headquarters is in Phu Thu Town, Tay Hoa District (Tay Hoa Forest Protection Department). This area has a total forested area of ​​over 89,464.7 hectares, and a total forest land area without forest of over 9,805.8 hectares.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Toan, Deputy Head of the Provincial Forest Protection Department, after merging into a regional forest protection unit, the Forestry sector will create a centralized management space, contiguous forest area and forestry land, facilitating the concentration of resources (people, equipment, machinery) and the application of information technology, advanced science and technology, digital transformation in forest management, protection and development in the new period according to the policies of the Party and State.

Concentrate forces to solve deforestation hotspots

The restructuring of the Forestry sector is a must. This is one of the important contents of Conclusion 01-KLBCĐTKNQ18, dated December 10, 2024 of the Steering Committee summarizing Resolution 18-NQ/TW; Plan 01-PA/TU, dated December 27, 2024 of the Phu Yen Provincial Party Committee to reorganize the provincial political system to be streamlined, effective and efficient.

In the process of restructuring and perfecting the apparatus, the Provincial Forest Protection Department has always received close attention and direction from the Department of Agriculture and Environment; the attention and support of specialized departments under the department, and the consensus of civil servants and employees of the Provincial Forest Protection Department.

The Provincial Forest Protection Department from 5 professional departments, 9 district-level forest protection units, 2 special-use forest management boards, and mobile forest protection and PCCCR teams, after being reorganized into 3 professional departments, 3 regional forest protection units, mobile forest protection and PCCCR teams with a total of 125 civil servants and 25 labor contracts. The two special-use forest management boards were reorganized into public service units under the Provincial Forest Protection Department.

However, due to the large number of arrangements and wide scope of impact, it is inevitable that there will be an impact on the thinking of civil servants and workers. Streamlining the apparatus means cutting down on staff and rearranging the staff. This is a sensitive issue, directly affecting the work, psychology and interests of civil servants.

Faced with difficulties, the Forestry sector has made efforts to implement the instructions of superiors, ensuring that the work goes smoothly, without affecting the assigned tasks. After the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision 42/2025/QD-UBND, dated April 18, 2025, regulating the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Provincial Forestry Sub-Department under the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the unit has quickly completed the personnel work for its affiliated units. Up to now, the regional forest ranger units have operated stably and smoothly.

"The merger of 9 district-level forest ranger units into 3 regional forest ranger units is in line with the industry's policy of reducing focal points, strengthening local forest rangers, overcoming the shortage of staff due to many subordinate focal points, concentrating resources (human and equipment) to prevent and fight forest fires, and concentrating forces to resolve hot spots of deforestation and illegal exploitation of forest products occurring in the area," emphasized Mr. Nguyen Van Toan, Deputy Head of the Provincial Forest Protection Department.

Source: https://baophuyen.vn/kinh-te/202505/doi-moi-nganh-kiem-lam-nang-cao-chat-luong-quan-ly-bao-ve-rung-9e01eef/