Preserving the headwater forests protects the Bé River.

The Bé River, 350km long, originates in Dak Nong and flows through Binh Phuoc, Binh Duong, and Dong Nai provinces. For many years, the strictly protected headwater forests have regulated water resources for hydroelectric power plants; at the same time, they have created abundant aquatic resources and awakened many local ecotourism resources. We arrived in Phu Hai village, Phu Mo commune, Dong Xuan district (Phu Yen province) on an early morning in mid-November, a light drizzle making the weather even chillier. Many adults were still gathered around the fire waiting for the sun to rise so they could go to the fields, while at the schools, students had already arrived in full attendance. Establishing such a learning environment in schools in mountainous areas is not an easy task... On November 20th, Sam Son Ethnic Minority Pre-University School solemnly held the opening ceremony for the 2024-2025 academic year and announced the decision to appoint the school's Vice Principal. The Be River is 350km long, originating in Dak Nong and flowing through Binh Phuoc, Binh Duong, and Dong Nai provinces. For many years, the headwater forests have been strictly protected, regulating water resources for hydroelectric power plants; Simultaneously, it creates a rich source of aquatic resources and awakens many local ecotourism resources. On the morning of November 20th, the Criminal Investigation Agency of the An Giang Provincial Police announced that it had just served the decision to prosecute and the order to temporarily detain suspect Nguyen Van Gioi (born in 1991, Deputy Director of Nam Hao Kiet One-Member Limited Company), residing in Da Phuoc town, An Phu district, An Giang province, for the crime of "Violating regulations on investment in construction projects causing serious consequences". The decisions and orders have been approved by the Provincial People's Procuracy. On November 20th, in the city... In Ha Long, the Quang Ninh Department of Tourism, in coordination with the Quang Ninh Tourism Association and Sun Group, organized the ceremony to announce the cooperation program to stimulate tourism "Quang Ninh - A Four-Season Destination". On November 20th, Colonel Nguyen Triu Men, Provincial Party Committee member, Secretary of the Party Committee, and Political Commissar of the Border Guard Command of Soc Trang province, chaired the conference to review and evaluate the quality of the collective and individual members of the Standing Committee in 2024 and issued a Resolution on leadership tasks for 2025 of the Party Committee of the Border Guard Command of Soc Trang province. Ms. Ho Thi Cam Dao, Permanent Deputy Secretary and Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Council, attended and directed the conference. The conference was also attended by representatives of the Party committees of the Soc Trang Provincial Party Committee. On the morning of November 20th, Lieutenant Colonel Doan Cong Nghiep - Commander of Hon Chuoi Border Guard Station (Ca Mau Border Guard) said that the unit had successfully rescued a crew member drifting at sea. The summary news bulletin of the Ethnic and Development Newspaper, November 19th, included the following noteworthy information: The National Unity Day has profound humanitarian significance. A community cultural experience tour in Op village. A young teacher in the remote Phuoc Son area. Along with other current news in the ethnic minority and mountainous regions. On the morning of November 20th, the 24th International Agricultural Exhibition (AgroViet 2024) opened in Hanoi. On the morning of November 20th, continuing the program of the 8th Session of the 15th National Assembly, the National Assembly held a plenary discussion on the draft Law on Teachers. During the discussion session, many National Assembly delegates expressed concern about policies for teachers, especially in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, and areas facing extreme difficulties. In 2022, Nghe An was recognized as achieving Level 2 literacy standards, which is an important prerequisite for the locality to continue making steady progress in literacy eradication. However, with difficult socio-economic conditions, limited awareness among some people, and geographical isolation, these are obstacles to literacy eradication, requiring Nghe An province to have appropriate solutions. From November 20th to the end of 2024, Quang Ninh province will implement many events to stimulate tourism. With the theme "Quang Ninh - A Four-Season Destination," Quang Ninh province aims to welcome 19 million tourists in 2024. The Ministry of Health has just issued Circular 37 stipulating the principles, criteria for building, updating, recording information, structuring the list, and guiding payment for chemical drugs, biological products, radioactive drugs, and markers covered under health insurance. The Circular takes effect from January 1, 2025.

We arrived at the inter-agency checkpoint in the Can Don reservoir basin, located in Sub-area 52, Dak O commune, Bu Gia Map district, under the management of the Dak Mai Protective Forest Management Board (BQLRPH) of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Binh Phuoc province. The checkpoint, constructed of wood and roofed with corrugated iron, sits by the river and provides shelter from the rain and sun for the forest rangers after their patrols and forest protection duties.

Over the years, the unit has paid special attention to raising awareness about forest protection, and has signed commitments with local households not to destroy the forest, so not an inch of land or tree in the forest is encroached upon or cut down.

Forest ranger Ta Dinh Trung, who has worked in the forestry sector for 36 years, said that he rarely goes home, spending most of his time in the forest, eating, sleeping, and resting at the outpost with three other rangers to protect the headwater forests along the Dak Huyt River. Life revolves around the forest, almost completely isolated from the outside world , with few people passing by, intermittent phone signals, and often shortages of rice, fish sauce, and salt. But he and his colleagues have overcome all difficulties and performed their duty of protecting the forest well.

One of the companions who has been participating in forest conservation alongside the Dak Mai Forest Management Board since 2008 is Mr. Dieu Sa Riu, a Xtieng ethnic minority from Bu Gia Map commune, Bu Gia Map district. Sharing with us, Mr. Sa Riu said: “I am very happy that the Xtieng and Mnong people no longer destroy the forest. My son also loves the forest; he passed the entrance exam to study in the Forestry sector and has returned to work alongside the people and forestry officers to protect the forest.”

The Bu Gia Map National Park, a special-use forest, boasts a rich diversity of wildlife.

Following the forest rangers of Bu Gia Map National Park, we ventured deep into the forest. Vast stretches of pristine forest unfolded before our eyes, filled with large trees, some reaching 30 meters in height, too large for several people to encircle. Upon inquiry, we learned that this area is home to 10 communities comprising over 620 households, mostly ethnic Xtieng and Mnong people from Dak O commune, Bu Gia Map district, Binh Phuoc province, and Quang Truc commune, Tuy Duc district, Dak Nong province, who have been contracted to manage and protect 19,000 hectares of forest. Thanks to the forest, the lives of the local people are more stable than before.

Mr. Dieu Ton, a member of the forest protection contract team in Bu Dot village, Bu Gia Map commune, Bu Gia Map district, said: “Our contract team has 36 people, divided into 3 shifts each day, protecting more than 2,000 hectares of forest. Besides patrolling, the villagers also collect cashew nuts and tap rubber, earning an average income of over 10 million VND per month, so we don't worry about hunger or lack of rice.”

Forest ranger station protecting the forest in the Can Don reservoir basin on the Dak Huyt River.

The forest provides sustenance for the local people.

Looking at the lush, thriving primeval forests, Mr. Dieu Ton further shared that the forest provides sustenance for the Xtieng people, so they must cherish it. During patrols and inspections, in addition to disseminating information and encouraging people to strictly comply with regulations on forest and wildlife protection, the team has repeatedly detected and apprehended individuals who illegally hunted, trapped animals, and destroyed forests, handing them over to the park's leadership for processing.

Bu Gia Map National Park boasts 1,117 plant species, including many rare legumes such as rosewood, red sandalwood, agarwood, and cypress, as well as 278 medicinal plant species. It also has over 400 animal species, 30 of which are listed in the Red Book, contributing to biodiversity conservation, scientific research, environmental education, and ecotourism development. The park is currently in the process of submitting a dossier to UNESCO for recognition as Vietnam's 12th World Biosphere Reserve.

According to Mr. Dieu Long, from Dak A village, Bu Gia Map commune, Bu Gia Map district, at the age of 15, he had to go into the forest to make a living, from hunting wild animals to stealing forest products, and then moving on to clearing forests for farming. After many years as a "forest poacher," he was shocked to realize his mistake when he saw the forest being destroyed, the lives of the people becoming increasingly difficult, and thought, "If each person cuts down one tree, 1,000 people will lose 1,000 trees, and then there will be no forest left."

In 2006, Mr. Dieu Long volunteered to work as a forest protector to repay his debt to the forest. He earned an average income of 2-2.5 million VND per month, receiving 8-10 million VND quarterly. He also encouraged the Xtieng people to abandon the practice of burning forests for slash-and-burn agriculture and hunting wild animals so as not to harm the forest.

Mr. Hoang Anh Tuan, Deputy Director of Bu Gia Map National Park, informed: The National Park, covering over 25,600 hectares, is considered the "green lung" of the Southeast region, protecting the headwaters for the reservoirs of the Thac Mo, Sork Phu Mieng, and Can Don hydroelectric power plants. For more than 22 years, the park's staff and forest rangers have overcome many difficulties to protect the National Park's forests, resulting in a significant reduction in illegal logging and wildlife hunting. In particular, since its establishment, the park has not experienced any cases of deforestation for slash-and-burn agriculture, effectively stopping illegal encroachment on forest land, and preserving the natural forest area intact.

Contributing one tree makes a forest.

Source: https://baodantoc.vn/giu-rung-dau-nguon-bao-ve-dong-song-be-1731033253226.htm