Keep forests for community life

Officers of the Forest Protection Department of Region IX inspect the protective forest.

The Forest Protection Department of Region IX has stepped up propaganda and dissemination of the Forestry Law to the community, especially ethnic minorities living along the forest, both directly at village meetings and broadcast on the loudspeaker system. At the same time, the Department has coordinated with functional forces to organize 24/7 duty during the dry season, patrol and guard key areas, and arrange permanent forces in sub-areas with high risk of forest fires. It has directed local forest rangers to coordinate with village and sub-area chiefs to regularly review and count the existing forest area, and proactively develop appropriate protection plans.

Mr. Le Van Dung, Head of the Forest Protection Department of Region IX, said: Promoting the role of forest management and protection teams in patrolling, controlling, propagating, preventing violations, participating in building and implementing on-site fire prevention and control plans. When a fire occurs, this is also a quick response force in forest protection. The Department has coordinated with communes and wards to strengthen and promote the role of 144 forest management and protection teams; organized 144 conferences to propagate the Forestry Law, forest fire prevention and fighting skills, and the responsibility of each forest owner in protecting the area assigned to 13,200 people of the villages and sub-regions.

Officers of the Forest Protection Department of Region IX and people of Van Son ward cleared a firebreak in the protective forest.

Since the beginning of the year, the Department has detected and handled 28 cases of violations of the Forestry Law; including 22 cases of illegal deforestation, totaling 3.45 hectares; administratively fined nearly 400 million VND and required violators to remedy the situation by planting additional forests. Coordinated with local authorities to monitor to avoid recurrence of forest resource encroachment.

In Tan Yen commune, there are over 6,342 hectares of forests of all kinds; of which, nearly 2,750 hectares are protective forests, with a coverage rate of 32.9%. Every year, the Forest Protection Department of Region IX proactively coordinates with the Commune People's Committee to organize conferences to disseminate forestry laws in all 20 villages and sub-regions.

Mr. Mui Van Thung, Party cell secretary and head of Sao Tua village, shared: The village has 1,113 hectares of forest, which has been assigned to 69 households for protection. Forest rangers regularly propagate and help people understand the importance of forests in preserving water, preserving land, and preserving livelihoods. Many households have voluntarily reported when they discovered acts of illegal logging or burning forests for farming. For many years, there have been no forest fires or forest encroachments in the village.

Militiamen of So Luong village, Chieng Son commune, clear the forest cover in the protective forest.

Forest planting and development is also focused on by the Forest Protection Department of Region IX, coordinating with localities to plant 55.7 hectares of new forest, with tree species such as giổi, macadamia, giang, and tre mai, both to cover bare land and create a sustainable source of income for the people. During the Action Month for the Environment, the Department coordinated with volunteer organizations to plant 300 ban trees at Mountain 77, Thao Nguyen Ward. Coordinated with the Forest Protection and Development Fund Branch in Moc Chau - Van Ho area to establish records of payment for forest environmental services (DVMTR) for 15 communes and wards, in accordance with regulations.

With the goal of preserving forests for development, the Forest Protection Department of Region IX continues to strengthen inspection and handling of violations; develop and implement a plan for forest fire prevention and fighting in the dry season of 2025-2026. At the same time, coordinate to implement the plan for planting new forests in the right season; closely advise the People's Committees of communes and wards on plans to use forest environmental service fees, sustainable forest product management, and promote the role of community forest protection teams at the grassroots level.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/xa-hoi/giu-rung-vi-cuoc-song-cong-dong-V9S1FqyHg.html