Preserving forests during droughts

As the dry season peaks, the Project Management Board of Forestry Station 422 (Division 4) coordinates with relevant authorities to intensify patrols and surveillance, and proactively implements fire prevention and control plans to ensure the safety of the forest area under its management.

The Project Management Board of Forestry Station 422 identifies the key area where fires are likely to occur. Photo: THUY TRANG

Under the intense March sun, water levels in the forests evaporate rapidly, drying up in many areas. The prolonged heat causes the vegetation to dry out, making it easily flammable; even a small oversight can lead to a forest fire. Therefore, along the roads leading into the forest areas managed by the Project Management Board of Forestry Enterprise 422 - Division 4, forest protection forces regularly patrol and monitor to promptly detect and prevent potential fire hazards.

Currently, the total forest area managed by the Project Management Board of Forestry Station 422 - Division 4 is approximately 2,881 hectares, allocated to subordinate units. Of this, Division 4 manages nearly 1,988 hectares, Forestry Station 422 manages over 263 hectares, and Division 330 manages nearly 630 hectares in Vinh Dieu commune. This area has a fairly large forest area, with many places bordering agricultural land owned by local people, thus posing a potential risk of forest fires during the dry season.

Through on-site inspections, the unit identified three high-risk fire areas for focused management. These include a 162-hectare area managed by Regiment 30, where local people frequently enter the forest to collect honey and catch fish, thus posing a potential fire hazard. Another location, managed by Regiment 2, covers over 929 hectares and is situated near agricultural land; during the dry season, burning fields could cause fires to spread into the forest. Additionally, a 263-hectare area managed by Forestry Unit 422, with approximately 20-year-old forest and bordering local rice paddies, was also identified as a high-risk fire zone.

According to Colonel Vo Van Nam, Deputy Commander of the 4th Division and Head of the 422nd Forestry Project Management Board, after the Provincial People's Committee approved the forest fire prevention and control plan for 2026, the unit implemented many comprehensive solutions. Among them, supplementing water into the canal and ditch system within the forest was carried out to maintain a water source for firefighting when necessary.

The Project Management Board of Forestry Station 422 - 4th Division also coordinated with forest rangers and local authorities to strengthen propaganda and mobilize people to raise awareness of forest fire prevention. People entering the forest to harvest honey, fish, or engage in agricultural production are reminded to comply with safety regulations and not to use fire indiscriminately in the forest and surrounding areas.

Simultaneously, forest protection forces are deployed on duty 24/7 at stations, checkpoints, and fire watchtowers to promptly detect smoke and fire from the outset. Currently, the 4th Division has organized 18 fire watchtowers, coordinating with Forestry Unit 422 and the 330th Division to patrol the forest areas under its management. At the watchtowers, officers and soldiers are on duty from early morning to late evening to observe and detect early signs of forest fires.

The unit has also fully prepared the necessary equipment and supplies for firefighting, including 30 fire engines, 332 fire hoses, 32 generators, 10 aluminum pipes, and various hand tools. In addition, there is a communication system, blowers, and other support equipment ready for use in case of an emergency.

According to Mr. Le Thanh Cong, Deputy Head of the Provincial Forest Protection Department, the proactive and comprehensive implementation of solutions from the beginning of the dry season has ensured the safety of the forest area managed by the 422nd Forest Project Management Board - 4th Division. However, with the peak of the dry season just beginning, the risk of forest fires remains. The Provincial Forest Protection Department continues to direct regional forest protection units to strengthen coordination with forest management units to control and prevent people from illegally entering the forest; strictly prohibiting the use of unsafe fire in the forest and surrounding areas. “Forest management units need to regularly update fire prevention and control plans to suit the actual conditions of each area, deploy standby forces, and strengthen control during peak periods of forest fire risk. This will contribute to protecting the forest area and maintaining the greenness of the forests in the province,” said Mr. Le Thanh Cong.

THUY TRANG

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/giu-rung-trong-nang-han-a479076.html