Preserving Phu My forest during the dry season.

The prolonged hot weather has increased the risk of forest fires in the Phu My Species and Habitat Conservation Area, Giang Thanh commune. In response to this situation, forest owners are working closely with relevant agencies and the Forest Protection Force of Region IV to intensify awareness campaigns, deploy firefighting equipment, and conduct patrols to protect the forest.

The Phu My Species and Habitat Conservation Area covers approximately 2,700 hectares, located in Kinh Moi, Tran The, Tra Pho, and Tra Pho hamlets. Of this, the core zone is over 1,066 hectares; the buffer zone is approximately 1,634 hectares, primarily agricultural land. The core zone is a seasonal wetland ecosystem, classified as a special-use forest with vegetation mainly consisting of sedges, mangroves, and regenerating melaleuca forests. This is home to many rare and endangered plant and animal species, especially the red-crowned crane, listed in the World Red List; and plays a crucial role in conserving biodiversity in the southwestern border region.

During the annual dry season, when water levels in the reserve drop, the dry vegetation is highly flammable. Even a small spark can cause a fire to spread rapidly over a large area. Besides natural factors, agricultural activities in the surrounding area also pose a risk of forest fires, especially burning fields after harvest or carelessness in using fire for farming.

The Provincial Steering Committee for Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue inspects the dry season forest conditions at the Phu My Species and Habitat Conservation Area. Photo: THUY TRANG

According to the Giang Thanh Commune General Service Center - the unit directly managing the conservation area - in recent years, several small forest fires have occurred in the area of ​​reeds and regenerating melaleuca grasslands, requiring the mobilization of many personnel to control them. During the 2022-2023 dry season, 110 hectares of the conservation area were affected by fires, mainly burning undergrowth in the reeds and sedges grasslands (about 100 hectares) and regenerating melaleuca trees (about 10 hectares). In early 2026, a melaleuca forest fire in the conservation area was also detected and controlled in time, preventing significant damage to the forest area.

According to the An Giang Meteorological and Hydrological Station's forecast, the peak of the 2026 dry season will fall around April-May, coinciding with the time when people harvest the winter-spring rice crop and carry out field burning and cleaning. This is a period with a high risk of forest fires. Mr. Lam Hong Tuan, Deputy Director of the Giang Thanh Commune General Service Center, said: “The Center has developed a forest fire prevention and control plan, in which public awareness campaigns are identified as a crucial solution to improve people's understanding. Many forms of communication are being implemented, such as broadcasting on the commune's loudspeaker system, distributing leaflets, and posting warning signs about the risk of forest fires in areas prone to fires.”

In addition, the conservation area, in coordination with forest rangers, police, border guards, and other organizations, has intensified patrols and controls in key areas with a high risk of fire. Areas bordering residential land are given special attention to promptly detect and prevent unsafe fire practices. Forest fire prevention and control is implemented according to the "four on-the-spot" principle. Upon detecting a fire, on-site forces will quickly access the scene, use firefighting equipment to contain and extinguish the fire from the outset, minimizing damage.

Currently, the nature reserve is equipped with several resources for forest fire prevention and control, including: drones for observation, two specialized fire-fighting machines, a fire-fighting hose system over 2km long, fire extinguishers, and mobile fire-fighting sprayers. These devices help authorities proactively detect and handle forest fire situations early.

However, forest management and protection still face many difficulties. The workforce directly responsible for management is insufficient, while the forest area is vast, with many areas having complex and difficult-to-access terrain. In addition, the water supply system for firefighting in some areas is incomplete, and the prolonged dry season causes a sharp decrease in water resources within the forest.

According to Danh Minh Hung, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Giang Thanh commune, the locality will continue to strengthen its workforce and equip itself with more specialized vehicles to serve forest fire fighting efforts. At the same time, it will allocate funds to invest in a water supply system, pumping stations, and observation posts to promptly detect and handle fires from their initial stages.

THUY TRANG

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/giu-rung-phu-my-mua-kho-a479831.html