A silent "shield" amidst the vast forest.

In the heart of the Hoang Lien mountain range, as spring arrives, the officers of Forest Ranger Station No. 4 silently remain in the forest, safeguarding the crucial gateway to the Hoang Lien National Park's special-use forest. With a vast area and rugged terrain, they are the silent "green shield" amidst the great forest.

In early spring, clouds drift lazily over the mountain slopes, and the mountain winds still carry a hint of the late winter chill, giving the Hoang Lien mountain range a unique tranquility. At Forest Ranger Station No. 4 in Ta Van commune, located in the core area of ​​Hoang Lien National Park, forest rangers begin their workday as usual. There are no rest periods in the early days of the year; instead, there is a quick meeting to implement the plan for patrolling and monitoring the forest during the Lunar New Year holiday.

According to the assigned schedule, the task force will patrol the forest area in Den Thang village. From early morning, members of the Den Thang village forest protection team were present at the village's entrance to join forest rangers in "kicking off the new year" with their first forest patrol of the year. Machetes, water bottles, sleeping bags, and dry food were carefully prepared. For these forest rangers, the first patrol of the new year is not only a duty but also a demonstration of their determination to protect the forest, prevent fires, and avoid damaging natural resources.

Following the rocky slopes covered with decaying leaves, moss, and weeds, the Hoang Lien forest gradually unfolds in a thin mist. Right at the edge of the forest is a regenerating cluster of cypress trees, decades old with rough, moss-covered bark, creating an ancient landscape, a testament to the vitality and longevity of the forest over time.

While inspecting the tree trunks, Mr. Trinh Dinh Hung, Deputy Head of Forest Ranger Station No. 4, said: "These cypress trees are about 20 years old. I've seen them here since I was a local forest ranger patrolling the forest. Every year, the trees shed their bark, and their trunks get bigger and taller."

According to Mr. Hung, the cypress tree is not only a precious species of the Hoang Lien forest but also a symbol of the old-growth forest, a testament to the self-regeneration ability of the special-use forest ecosystem. Its roots hold the soil, its canopy retains moisture, creating a habitat for many species of birds, animals, and undergrowth. For the forest rangers, each cypress tree standing strong through the years is the result of silent preservation over many generations, contributing to keeping the forests at the gateway to Hoang Lien green for generations to come.

The deeper we went, the denser the forest became. Ancient trees stretched high, their canopies intertwining to block the path, allowing only a few weak rays of sunlight to penetrate through the foliage. In some sections, the trees grew so close together, their roots protruding in a tangled mess, making the familiar trail used by forest rangers and protection teams slippery with damp moss after days of frost.

In that space, the clear chirping of birds echoed, sometimes near, sometimes far, blending with the rustling of the wind through the leaves. From the mountainside, the calls of monkeys reached them, signaling the awakening of life as spring arrived. For the forest rangers, it was a sign of peace.

Hau A Cho, deputy head of the forest protection team in Den Thang village, paused to listen, then smiled: "Every time I go into the forest, hearing the birds singing, the leaves rustling, and the monkeys calling to each other, I feel very peaceful."

This young Hmong man, barely over 30 years old, has been dedicated to forest patrolling for nearly a decade. Small in stature and with nimble steps, he knows every trail and every tree in the Hoang Lien forest by heart.

In addition to patrolling the forest, Hau A Cho also works with other team members at the forest protection outpost at the entrance to the village, especially during the Tet holiday.

Hau A Cho shared: "Violations are very likely to occur during Tet. Just a moment of carelessness and someone will come in to cut down trees or hunt, so we have to go out more and be on duty more often."

Forest Ranger Station No. 4 currently manages over 8,400 hectares of forest in the two villages of Seo My Ty and Den Thang – an area with a large habitat reserve and high biodiversity, considered one of the richest areas in Hoang Lien National Park. However, this area is also a key area prone to forest fires, having experienced several large-scale fires, putting pressure on forest protection efforts, especially during the dry season and holidays.

Having just launched the patrol route, Mr. Khuong Quang Hanh - Head of Forest Ranger Station No. 4 - said that the biggest difficulty is the vast area, rugged terrain, and difficult transportation. “During Tet (Lunar New Year), the demand for wood and firewood increases, while the dry weather makes forest fires more likely. Therefore, the station's officers have to be on duty at 100% capacity, intensify patrols day and night, and coordinate closely with the government and community forest protection groups to control the area,” Mr. Hanh said.

Area 2, the villages of Seo My Ty and Den Thang, is a "hot spot" for forest protection due to its location deep within the forest core, harsh weather conditions, and the difficult living conditions of the local people. However, in recent years, the awareness of the people has changed significantly. People are no longer dependent on the forest, they no longer engage in illegal logging, and they work together to preserve the forest's greenery, which in turn preserves the water source for rice production and daily life.

This change has been facilitated by the forest rangers and community forest protection groups. Through awareness campaigns, patrols, and linking forest protection responsibilities with the practical interests of the people, forests are gradually becoming a "common asset" that needs to be preserved and protected.

Mr. Hau A Seng, head of Den Thang village, said: “The lives of the people are gradually becoming more stable thanks to livestock farming and crop cultivation. Every year, households in the village receive money for forest environmental services, so there is no longer the situation of forest encroachment as before.”

As the evening mist enveloped the vast forest, the smoke from the kitchen fires rose warmly in the small village. From the edge of the forest, looking towards the village, the wisps of smoke drifted from the rooftops, evoking a peaceful and prosperous life in the highlands. After a day of trekking through the forest and climbing slopes, the patrol team returned as the last rays of sunlight faded. By the fire in the house of Village Head Hau A Seng, simple yet heartwarming stories of spring spread throughout the mountain landscape.

Another spring has arrived in the majestic Hoang Lien mountain range. At the gateway to the protected forest, the officers of Forest Ranger Station No. 4 continue to quietly stay in the forest, working alongside the local people to protect every tree and every water source. For them, the joy of the new year lies not in lavish family gatherings, but in the peaceful forest – a spring gift amidst the vast wilderness.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/la-chan-tham-lang-giua-dai-ngan-post894253.html