Plan to reduce forest fires during hot season

Strengthening coordination in patrolling, controlling, guarding, managing people entering the forest, and controlling heat sources has helped Ha Tinh reduce forest fires during the hot season.

In recent years, forest fire prevention and fighting (PCCCR) has been well implemented, the number of forest fires has been controlled thanks to the increased awareness, consciousness and responsibility of the people. During this year's hot season, all levels and sectors continue to "increase" information and propaganda work to raise the spirit of participation of all classes of people and are striving to sign about 95,000 commitments, organize 1,400 propaganda sessions, make dozens of reports on mass media...

Mr. Ngo Van Son in Phu Lam village (Phu Gia commune, Huong Khe) shared: “Our village has nearly 100 families with production forest land, growing acacia (accounting for 85% of the total number of households in the village), my family alone has more than 10 hectares. We are regularly propagandized and reminded about PCCCR, especially in the hot season, so everyone always focuses on this work to protect their family's property. This year, we continue to proactively build firebreaks in the border areas between households, take turns to guard and check the forest, do not handle the ground cover when the weather is hot, prepare tools and support each other when fires occur, limit conflicts so as not to destroy the forest with each other".

Workers of Chuc A Forestry and Service Company Limited (Huong Son) check and handle fires left by people entering the forest to collect honey to avoid the risk of forest fires.

According to the assessment of the authorities, the initiative of all levels, sectors and forest owners is also a key factor for effective PCCCR. At the end of March this year, localities, units and forest owners proactively organized to draw lessons from the PCCCR season in 2024 to develop plans for the new hot season.

Mr. Phan Thanh Tung - Head of the Forest Protection and Nature Conservation Department (Ha Tinh Forest Protection Department) informed: "The forest protection force has proactively advised localities to develop and issue plans for forest protection - PCCCR early, close to reality, highly feasible and guided, directed, and urged forest owners to develop plans to prevent "fires" close to the situation of the unit. The plans developed and approved all thoroughly follow the spirit of proactive "4 on-site", "prevention is the main", "fire fighting must be timely", with specific plans for each dangerous fire case...".

Thanks to the funding, Vu Quang Forest Protection Department has equipped and purchased full PCCCR equipment.

Ha Tinh effectively prevents "fires" thanks to the guaranteed funding source, this year alone, it is expected to allocate about 68 - 70 billion VND. Previously, according to statistics, in 2022, the total central and provincial funding invested and allocated to districts for fire prevention and control work was 44.3 billion VND, in 2023 it increased to nearly 50 billion VND, in 2024 it was 63.6 billion VND.

Large forest owners have also proactively arranged funding and mobilized resources to serve the unit's PCCCR work with an average increase of 50 - 100 million VND/year/unit such as: Hong Linh Protective Forest Management Board this year arranged 4.4 billion VND (an increase of nearly 50 million VND compared to 2024); Huong Khe Protective Forest Management Board arranged 820 million VND (an increase of 70 million compared to last year); Nam Ha Tinh Protective Forest Management Board arranged nearly 1.1 billion VND (an increase of more than 100 million VND compared to last year)...

The Southern Ha Tinh Forest Protection Management Board counts firefighting equipment and surveys to build firebreaks.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Lam - Head of the Southern Ha Tinh Forest Protection Management Board said: "The gradually increased funding has helped districts, communes and forest owners carry out the task of PCCCR better and more effectively. This year, our unit alone has allocated nearly 1.1 billion VND to support 1,200 working days of patrolling, controlling and fighting forest fires; purchasing firefighting equipment (knives, flashlights, blowers, chainsaws, etc.), building fire prevention works (firebreaks, clearing vegetation, making wall signs, fire warning signs, watchtowers, etc.), contracting guard duty and many other important tasks. Thereby, contributing to improving the effectiveness of PCCCR in the new hot season".

Hong Linh town forest rangers observe people handling vegetation and fire spots through the screen.

To protect the green color of the forests during the hot season, Ha Tinh forest rangers have increased their investment and continue to effectively utilize other resources to purchase and equip modern equipment and facilities for fire prevention and control. The most notable of these are 7 camera stations at many "hot spots" to help monitor and supervise tens of thousands of hectares of forest at high risk of fire with a viewing range of 10km on computers and phones without having to go to the fire watchtower.

During the period 2010 - 2020, on average, Ha Tinh experienced about 15 - 17 forest fires and dozens of fire outbreaks each year, with 22 forest fires causing damage to nearly 39 hectares of forest (in 2012). In recent years, despite complicated weather and extreme heat, the number of forest fires has decreased and in 2024, there were only 6 forest fires, 19 fire outbreaks, causing damage to 3.2 hectares of forest (unable to recover).

Districts with large forest areas and high risk of fire also saw fewer forest fires compared to the previous year. Specifically, in 2024, Huong Son district continued to have no forest fires and only one fire outbreak; Ky Anh district had 2 fires causing damage to 2,201 ^m2 (1 less); Huong Khe district had 3 fires, damaging 1.5 hectares (0.6 less than the previous year)... This year, localities are determined not to let large fires occur.

The Vu Quang National Park Forest Protection Force ensures equipment and means to respond to and fight forest fires in the Ngan Truoi - Cam Trang lake area.

Mr. Phan Thanh Tung - Head of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation Department (Ha Tinh Forest Protection Department) affirmed: “To minimize forest damage caused by fires, we have advised, directed, urged, guided, and coordinated with all levels, sectors, and forest owners to effectively implement tasks and solutions related to PCCCR. During the implementation process, we have focused on key issues such as: strengthening information, propaganda, mobilization, and reminder work; focusing on directing, inspecting, supervising, and operating the implementation process; Develop and implement good fire prevention and control plans and solutions; prioritize resources, increase funding for task implementation; detect and extinguish fires early; strictly handle violations of fire prevention and control safety that cause forest fires.

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/len-phuong-an-giam-thieu-chay-rung-trong-mua-nang-nong-post286655.html