Strengthening forces and increasing the effectiveness of forest protection in the new situation

To better understand this issue, Gia Lai Newspaper reporter interviewed Mr. Nguyen Van Hoan - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment.

*Sir, how does the implementation of Decree No. 159 affect forest protection forces in Gia Lai province?

Mr. Nguyen Van Hoan - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment. Photo: NVCC
- Decree No. 159 has clarified the functions, tasks and powers of local forest rangers; at the same time, established a clear coordination relationship between forest rangers and specialized forest protection forces of forest owners.
In addition, the Decree also supplements and completes legal regulations, creating a solid legal basis related to the organization, regime and policies for this force. Thanks to that, specialized forest protection forces can operate more effectively, affirming their important role and position in forest management, protection and development.
In addition, the Decree also gives stronger decentralization to local authorities in forest management, protection and development. This creates conditions for localities to proactively review and improve their organizational apparatus, apply technology, improve staff capacity, and meet the requirements of tasks in the new situation.
With a large area of natural forests and rich biodiversity, Gia Lai province will have more favorable conditions to improve the organizational structure of the forest rangers and specialized forest protection forces in a streamlined, effective and practical manner. Localities will also be more proactive in organizing forces, using budgets, investing in technology and building coordination mechanisms close to reality. With a large terrain, many border areas and a large number of ethnic minorities living on forests, timely and effective implementation of the Decree is essential to ensure stability and sustainable development of forest resources.

*What solutions has the Department been implementing to improve the quality of the forest rangers and specialized forest protection forces, especially when professional requirements are increasingly high and the workload is increasing, sir?

- We identify people as the central factor in forest protection and development. Therefore, improving the capacity of forest rangers and forest protection forces of forest owners is always a top priority.
To make forest management, protection and development more effective, the Department has directed the Forest Protection Sub-Department to develop a plan for regular and in-depth training and development on forestry law, situation handling skills, and techniques for using modern forest monitoring technology such as remote sensing, UAVs, and GPS systems for forest rangers and specialized forces.
At the same time, streamline the organizational structure towards efficiency, clearly assign responsibilities, and enhance individual responsibility. The evaluation of civil servants and public employees is closely linked to the results of task performance, especially in key areas.
In addition, continue to promote administrative procedure reform, apply information technology in reporting and monitoring forests, thereby reducing administrative work so that forest rangers can focus more on professional tasks.
In addition, the Department is actively proposing to improve policies, allowances, protective equipment and working facilities for forest rangers and specialized forest protection forces, in order to ensure working conditions and retain forces for long-term commitment to forest management, protection and development.

Forest rangers patrol to protect the forest. **Photo: Ngoc Tu**

*Sir, in the coming time, what recommendations will the Department have to improve the effectiveness of forestry law enforcement, especially at the grassroots level?

- We will recommend that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment continue to review and complete documents guiding the implementation of Decree No. 159/2024/ND-CP, ensuring feasibility and suitability to regional characteristics, especially remote, isolated, and border areas such as Gia Lai.
At the same time, there should be a specific mechanism for localities with large natural forests, including: Flexible staffing mechanisms, policies to attract high-quality human resources, investment in facilities for forest rangers working at the grassroots level and support for operating costs for specialized forest protection forces.
In addition, it will be recommended to increase investment in digital transformation in the forestry sector, build a synchronous database system from the province to the commune, connect with land and natural resource data to serve effective forest management in the digital space. In addition, it is necessary to continue developing the forest environmental service payment mechanism and the public-private partnership mechanism to mobilize social resources, enhance the role of communities and social organizations in forest protection and development.
We believe that, with the attention of the Government, the synchronous coordination between all levels and sectors, and the efforts of the forest rangers as well as the specialized forest protection force, the management, protection and development of Gia Lai's forests will become increasingly effective and sustainable.

*Thank you!

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/kien-toan-luc-luong-tang-hieu-qua-bao-ve-rung-trong-tinh-hinh-moi-post560811.html