Thai Nguyen Forest Rangers: Silent Footprints

When we arrived at Forest Protection Station No. 1 - Provincial Special-use and Protective Forest Management Board, it was also the time when the staff of the unit were preparing to patrol. Following the stream straight into the forest with them, we felt the fresh, cool air, very pleasant. Although we were equipped with long-sleeved shirts, masks, and boots, the mosquitoes were still buzzing around, waiting for an "opening" to bite. After nearly an hour of climbing, our backs were soaked with sweat, before our eyes appeared towering tree trunks that took dozens of people to hug. Next to them, butterflies were flying around the newly blooming wild banana flowers, bright red in the middle of the forest...

Stopping by a tree, Mr. Ha Mau Hiep, Head of Forest Protection Station No. 1, introduced: This is Khau Nao mountain range, more than 800m above sea level, located in 3 communes: Vu Chan, Nghinh Tuong and Sang Moc of Vo Nhai district. The deeper into the forest, the more complicated the terrain, many steep slopes, outsiders will be scared and want to give up, but we are used to clinging to the forest vines, pulling each other up and not missing any location. Many times when patrolling the forest, encountering heavy rain, flood water rushed over the stream, rising above our heads, we had to go into people's houses and wait for the water to recede before we could return. After each trip to the forest, although tired, we were all happy because the forest still retained its green color, the vegetation and rare animals in the forest were protected and developed well.

Despite the difficulties and hardships, the Thai Nguyen Forest Rangers always strive to complete their assigned tasks well. Mr. Nguyen Duc Que, Head of the Forest Rangers Department of Vo Nhai District, informed: We assign rangers in charge of the area to stick to the forest and the people, increase patrols, detect and strictly handle violations of the Forestry Law. Along with that, the unit also coordinates with local authorities to propagate and mobilize people to strictly implement regulations on forest protection and fire prevention and fighting. Since the beginning of the year, there have been no forest fires in Vo Nhai District.

Thai Nguyen province has over 183,800 hectares of forest, with a forest coverage rate of 47.06%. In order to improve the effectiveness of forest management and protection, in recent years, the Forest Ranger force has increased patrols, controls, promptly detected, prevented and strictly handled violations of the Forestry Law. Regularly coordinate with relevant forces to well implement regulations on forest protection coordination, forest fire prevention and fighting; closely monitor projects on conversion of forest use purposes, especially for mineral exploitation projects, construction of industrial parks, tourism services, etc.

Identifying the role, importance and value of forest resources for socio -economic development and climate change response, in recent years, Thai Nguyen has effectively implemented programs, projects and plans for forest development, contributing to increasing people's income and minimizing negative impacts on forests.

Specifically, implementing the Project on developing key agricultural products of Thai Nguyen province for the period 2021-2025, with a vision to 2030, the Forestry sector focuses on developing large timber forests, cinnamon products and supporting the issuance of sustainable forest management certificates. As a result, in 3 years (2020-2022), the whole province planted more than 1,523 hectares of cinnamon; more than 1,330 hectares of forest in Van Han commune (Dong Hy) were granted FSC sustainable forest management certificates.

In addition, the Forest Protection Department has deployed the construction of a "Large-scale forest" model in Quy Ky commune (Dinh Hoa) in the period of 2013-2020 with a scale of 470 hectares, aiming to apply science and technology in intensive forest cultivation to improve productivity and quality of planted forests; combining large timber plantation to provide raw materials with planting medicinal plants and non-timber forest products under the forest canopy.

Implementing the Government's program "planting one billion trees in the 2021-2025 period", up to now, the whole province has planted more than 5.2 million trees; updating data on THAINGUYEN SMARTTREES tree management software on over 6.2 million trees.

The leader of Thai Nguyen Forest Protection Department said: The Department continues to effectively manage and protect forest areas according to the planning; manage the conversion of forest use purposes to other purposes according to regulations; strengthen inspection, sweep, and forest fire prevention, to prevent and promptly handle violations of the Forestry Law. Along with that, the unit strengthens the implementation of digital transformation in forestry to serve forest management and protection such as: Applying remote sensing technology, information technology in forest management, protection, inventory, and investigation; forest fire risk warning software, forest monitoring database, tree management software, etc.

In addition, the unit will continue to propagate and mobilize people to focus on planting large timber forests, transforming the seed structure towards increasing the proportion of seeds with high productivity, quality and economic value; encourage enterprises to apply advanced technology in forest product processing to diversify products, increase value, and increase the competitiveness of wood products. Focus on building models to engage local communities in the management of special-use forests and protective forests; deploy the issuance of sustainable forest management certificates to forest owners; exploit the potential and strengths of forests to develop ecotourism.

It can be said that Thai Nguyen Forest Rangers have coordinated with relevant units to effectively implement solutions in forest management and protection. Therefore, the situation of deforestation and encroachment on natural forests in the province has been basically controlled; the number of violations of the Forestry Law has decreased, the forest coverage rate has increased; the value of forestry production has increased by an average of 7% per year, contributing to the socio-economic development of the province. The area of protective forests and production forests growing and developing favorably not only helps people develop the economy but also creates a "green lung", making the air fresher.

To improve the effectiveness of forest management, protection and development, in addition to the efforts of the Forest Rangers, it is necessary to have the attention of relevant levels and sectors in investing in facilities, increasing human resources, and providing special treatment policies and regimes so that forest rangers can confidently devote themselves.

Besides, the functional sector and local authorities also need to step up propaganda to raise awareness and sense of responsibility of the whole community towards forest protection and development...