Keep the "heart" of the vast forest beating steadily.

Việt Nam•08/10/2023

Lesson 1: When the Party's will aligns with the people's will

The vast, verdant forests of Chà Nưa border commune are considered treasures by the local ethnic communities. They served as a shield, protecting the Thái and Mông people during wartime and shielding them from harsh natural disasters and floods. Therefore, preserving the greenness of these forests is not only the responsibility of the local Party committee and government, but also a "command from the heart" of every resident.

Residents of Na Su village (Cha Nua commune) participate in building new and repairing patrol roads to protect the forest. *Photo: Sam Phuc*

Working together to pave the way for forest conservation.

From the early morning, while the mist still clung to the forest canopy, the sounds of sledgehammers smashing rocks and the clanging of hoes and shovels, like a "massive construction site," awakened the ancient forest from its slumber. Anyone witnessing this scene would likely think these were workers for some project. But no, these were over 100 villagers, from young to old (representing over 100 households of the White Thai ethnic group in Na In village, Cha Nua commune), united and determined to break rocks, open new roads, and repair the only dirt path winding through mountains, ravines, and steep slopes to patrol and protect the forest. The road is about 7km long, leading from the village center deep into the forest. Everything was done manually by the villagers; they divided into small groups, "those with hoes use hoes, those with shovels use shovels…", working together through sun and rain, carrying rocks and leveling the ground to create a smooth road surface.

Mr. Thung Van Thanh, head of Na In village, enthusiastically recounted: "For generations, our ancestors have always been attached to, loved, and protected the forest, always reminding us younger generations to preserve the forest as if it were our own roots. Before opening the road, the village authorities held a meeting, inviting 100% of the households to participate. All households unanimously agreed, working together wholeheartedly and voluntarily to build the road; to save time, people brought their own rice balls and sesame salt to eat on the spot. Once completed, this road will create favorable conditions for people to go to their fields, transport agricultural products, and for teams to patrol, monitor, and prevent forest fires."

Not only Na In, but with unwavering determination and steadfast will in preserving and protecting nature's "green lungs," especially with a spirit of self-reliance and self-improvement, using human strength to conquer rocky terrain, and not relying on the policies of the Party and the State, all six villages from Na Su, Na Cang to Nam Dich in the remote border region of Cha Nua have now opened nearly 50km of patrol and forest protection roads. Mr. Thung Van Anh, Chairman of the People's Committee of Cha Nua commune, shared: “These roads are designed as single-lane roads, entering and exiting from the same point, following the edge of the forest and tree trunks to facilitate strict inspection and control of the number of people entering and leaving the forest, promptly detecting and preventing illegal timber and forest product transportation. To avoid affecting the vegetation and forest trees, we instruct the people not to use machinery for leveling land or breaking rocks; everything is done manually, using human strength and rudimentary tools (crowbars, hoes, shovels...). Twice a year, the villages hold meetings to agree on and organize repairs, cleaning, and clearing of weeds along the patrol and forest protection routes.”

Under the green forest canopy

As the jungle rain subsided, following the cool Nậm Bai stream and the winding, rocky mountain trails carved out by the locals themselves, we arrived at the ancient forest, the place the White Thai people of Ba Chà affectionately call the "common home" of their village. There, ancient trees still stand tall, their trunks so large that two people couldn't encircle them.

Leading us through the dense forest, Mr. Tao Van Vin from Cau village seemed to know every path, tree, and rock in this forest. Although over 60 years old, Mr. Vin was still strong and healthy, his voice booming, typical of a mountain dweller. He proudly said, “Just a few hundred meters into the forest, you’ll find precious timber trees (such as Dipterocarpus spp., Terminalia catappa, and Dalbergia tonkinensis) stretching out to provide shade. Even in the midday summer sun, the sun seems to be obscured by the green canopy.” In the past, the forest canopy was filled with many types of bamboo shoots and herbaceous plants used as vegetables, medicine, and spices for Thai cuisine. While in the forest, we occasionally encountered wild chickens, squirrels, and various birds frolicking as if they were domestic animals. For generations, the lives of the White Thai people of Cha Nua have depended on and been nourished by the forest. Therefore, they never destroy it.

No one knows when the forest first appeared, but they know that since their birth and upbringing, the forest has always been there, protecting the village. Mr. Thung Van Bun, from Na In village, now over 80 years old, recalls: "The forest here is very sacred! It protects us and provides us with food and water. Therefore, every year after the Lunar New Year, the White Thai people here hold a village worship ceremony – the most important ritual of the year. The ceremony aims to pray to the gods, including the forest god and ancestors, for blessings so that in the new year there will be favorable weather, a bountiful harvest, and good health and peace for all the people." From the moment they are born, the White Thai people are taught by their fathers and grandfathers to preserve and protect the forest, only harvesting the crops they grow, and not cutting down large trees or valuable timber. The forest has nurtured many generations and sheltered the White Thai people of the Ba Cha region throughout the war years and continues to this day, becoming a solid "fortress" that protects the people during heavy rains and strong winds, limits soil erosion and the damage of storms and floods, and brings immense benefits to the lives of the entire community.

"A hundred times easier, but without the people's support, nothing can be achieved; a thousand times harder, but with the people's help, everything can be accomplished" - with the strength of the people, everything is possible. The trails and dirt roads created by the hard work, sweat, and strong bond between the Party committee, the government, and the people of the Chà Nưa ethnic groups will be the driving force for them to "preserve the greenness of the mountains and forests" intact for generations to come.

Lesson 2: Preserving the Greenness of the Mountains and Forests

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