Gio Linh district focuses on planting, protecting, and developing forests.

Recognizing the role and importance of forest planting, care, management, and protection, Gio Linh district has implemented a comprehensive set of solutions to effectively carry out these tasks. Simultaneously, it has directed relevant departments and localities to improve forest planting and protection; intensified efforts to combat forest encroachment; and promoted, encouraged, and supported people in planting, caring for, and protecting forests. As a result, forest protection and development in Gio Linh district has improved significantly.

Leaders of Gio Linh district plant trees at the launching ceremony of the "Tree Planting Festival to Forever Remember Uncle Ho" in the spring of the Year of the Dragon - Photo: HN

Gio Linh District has a forested area of 19,720.84 hectares (natural forest: 3,663.54 hectares; planted forest: 16,057.30 hectares); and 1,083.99 hectares of land without forest cover planned for forestry. According to Nguyen Van Cung, Head of the Gio Linh District Forest Protection Department, following the district's directives, the department has proactively developed and implemented numerous plans to strengthen efforts to combat and prevent violations of the Forestry Law. Local forest rangers in the communes regularly coordinate with the commune police, military , and forest owners to intensify forest inspections and prevent violations of forestry laws. The district's mobile forest ranger and forest fire prevention and control team regularly inspects key roads and areas.

In 2023, five administrative violations were detected and recorded, specifically: illegal deforestation (for slash-and-burn farming): 1 case, covering an area of 286 m2; illegal logging with unidentified perpetrators: 1 case (0.654 m3 of ordinary round timber seized).

The District Forest Protection Department directed local forest rangers to advise the People's Committees of 9 communes on developing forest fire prevention and control plans; guided 44 households and individuals in developing forest fire prevention and control plans; advised on the establishment of 12 Steering Committees for the Sustainable Forestry Development Program at the commune level, consolidating 49 groups and 11 teams of people protecting forests and preventing and controlling forest fires; advised the People's Committees of communes to issue 14 official documents to strengthen forest fire prevention and control work; local forest rangers regularly provide forest fire forecast bulletins to local authorities to inform forest owners and people.

Over the past year, there have been two forest fires in planted forests under the management of the Ben Hai River Basin Protection Forest Management Board. One fire occurred in a production forest in Sub-areas 592A and 592B, causing damage to 5.64 hectares with an estimated value of 390 million VND; the other fire occurred in a protection forest in Sub-area 596, affecting 5.44 hectares, with no forest damage.

In addition, the District Forest Protection Department, in coordination with specialized departments of the Forest Protection Sub-Department, forest owners, and local authorities, organized and completed key tasks of the Forest Protection Sub-Department deployed in the area, such as: inspecting forest fire prevention and control work, disseminating information on forest protection and wildlife protection, and providing training on forest fire prevention and control...

In 2023, forest care, protection, and fire prevention and control work in Gio Linh district was implemented comprehensively; forest development received attention. Forest owners planted and replanted more than 755 hectares of concentrated forest plantations; maintained the area of FSC-certified planted forests, and forest cover reached 54%. The District Forest Protection Department inspected and supervised the harvesting of concentrated planted forests: 803.08 hectares, volume: 86,627 m3, estimated in monetary value of approximately 82.16 billion VND; and the harvesting of scattered planted trees: 4,250 m3.

Monitoring and inspection of thinning activities in protective forest plantations: 86.6 hectares. Inspection of the operations of forestry seedling production and trading establishments, the number of seedlings sown and imported from other locations, totaling approximately 3.96 million seedlings. The green spaces along roads, public areas, offices, and schools have been newly planted, increasing shade, purifying the environment, and improving the landscape.

According to Phan Van Hoa, Vice Chairman of the Gio Linh District People's Committee, on February 15, 2024, the district organized a ceremony to launch the "Tree Planting Festival in memory of President Ho Chi Minh" at the beginning of the Year of the Dragon. On this occasion, he urged all levels, sectors, and localities to continue to promote and encourage all segments of the population to actively participate in afforestation, forest protection, and forest development.

Strengthen propaganda and education on the meaning and benefits of the "Tree Planting Festival" initiated by President Ho Chi Minh, in response to the program to plant 1 billion new trees launched by the Prime Minister. Guide the people in rationally exploiting and utilizing planted forest resources, combining exploitation with replanting in an intensive manner to improve efficiency.

Strengthen concentrated afforestation and protect natural forests and protective plantations, ensuring socio -economic development is linked to environmental protection; increase investment in the application of biotechnology in selecting and creating new, high-quality varieties to enhance the value of production forests, expand the area of FSC-certified plantations, and large-timber plantations. Continue to effectively organize the planting and care of ornamental trees, shade trees, and lawns to create a greener, cooler, and more beautiful landscape.

Regularly inspect key areas prone to deforestation and illegal logging to take timely preventive measures, deter and strictly punish violations of laws on forest protection and development; resolutely deal with organizations and individuals who are irresponsible, cover up, or abet violations.

In addition, the district is paying more attention to organizing and guiding localities and forest owners to effectively implement forest fire prevention and control: strengthening the forest fire prevention and control force at the grassroots level, developing and implementing plans, programs, and directives on forest fire prevention and control; proactively deploying, detecting, and promptly and effectively handling forest fires, preventing forest fires from getting out of control, and minimizing damage caused by forest fires.

Upholding the spirit of determination to act effectively and achieve the goals set for 2024, including: effectively carrying out inspection and close supervision of concentrated forest plantation exploitation activities, with a projected exploitation of 500 hectares of forest yielding 45,000 m3; guiding the replanting of 500 hectares of concentrated forest, maintaining stable forest cover in the district; closely inspecting and supervising the production and business of plant seeds, ensuring that 100% of production and business establishments are monitored and inspected...

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