Muong Pon realizes commitment to forest protection

Muong Pon 2 village, Muong Pon commune ( Dien Bien district) is assigned to manage and protect more than 900 hectares of forest. Currently, every year, the villagers receive the payment for forest environmental services. When benefiting from the forest, each individual and family is more aware of protecting the forest; this is demonstrated by the fact that 100% of households in the village have signed a commitment to manage and protect the forest. To attach responsibility to herself and her family for the forest, Ms. Lo Thi La, Muong Pon 2 village, Muong Pon commune always strictly complies with the signing and implementation of the commitment. Not only following the village's covenants and regulations, Ms. La also commits to the local government, functional agencies and the village to protect, develop the forest and prevent and fight forest fires.

Ms. Lo Thi La, Muong Pon 2 village, Muong Pon commune (Dien Bien district) confided: “Every year, Muong Pon 2 village has committed to implementing the convention, so myself and the villagers strictly follow the regulations on fire prevention and fighting, not clearing forests for farming, not exploiting fresh firewood. We also set out the penalty level, if anyone violates the commitment, they will be fined from 200,000 to 300,000 VND for the first violation; and if they make a mistake the second time, they will be fined more heavily, from 400,000 to 500,000 VND. The regulation has been set, every household must sign the commitment, any household that does not sign will be fined according to the convention”.

Not only the people, but also the representatives of the villages must commit to forest management and protection, forest fire prevention and fighting, and forest product management with the People's Committee of the commune every year. In which, clearly and fully state the tasks that each village chief must perform, from personal responsibility to the responsibility of the community manager in forest management and protection in the area. Mr. Quang Van Truong, Head of Muong Pon 2 Village, Muong Pon Commune said: “Each commitment clearly states the prohibited acts, each person and household must commit to carry out so that the forest is not encroached upon. Personally, I am the village chief and must take the lead in propagating to the people; organizing forest protection patrols 3 times/month. Especially during peak periods, I am the team leader and assign 2 people to take turns on duty every day to promptly detect fires and mobilize forces to fight the fires…”.

The implementation of the commitment to forest management and protection in Muong Pon 2 village in particular and Muong Pon commune in general has contributed to raising awareness and responsibility of each person. Therefore, from the beginning of the year, the People's Committee of the commune organized for the villages and people to sign a commitment to forest management and protection; at the same time, it built programs and plans to realize specific tasks in the commitment, clearly demonstrating the responsibility of the commune government in forest management and protection.

Mr. Lo Van Nghien, Vice Chairman of Muong Pon Commune People's Committee (Dien Bien District) said: Currently, the natural area of Muong Pon Commune is more than 12,500 hectares; of which, the forest land area is paid for forest services over 6,300 hectares of forest. Every year, people and the community benefit from the forest, so their awareness of forest protection is also raised. Along with that, every year, the Chairman of the Commune People's Committee also signs a commitment to manage and protect the forest with the superiors. As the leader of the Commune People's Committee, we have received and propagated to mobilize people to do better in forest protection. At the same time, we have directed the villages to organize the establishment of groups and teams to manage and protect the forest. Coordinate with the forces stationed in the area to manage the existing forest areas better and better; contributing to increasing the forest cover in the commune...

From the commitments between all levels, the annual forest protection and management work in Muong Pon has had positive changes. Cases of violations of the provisions of the Law on Forest Protection and Development have decreased significantly. Especially cases of deforestation for farming or logging, exploiting forest products, transporting and using illegal wood have disappeared. Mr. Pham Anh Duong, a forest ranger in Muong Pon commune, Dien Bien district, shared: “Through the commitment, people have paid more attention to forest protection and management, enthusiastically participating in forest protection activities. The local government has also actively participated, the village chiefs have promoted their role in forest protection and contributed significantly to reducing violations of regulations and encroachment on forests in the area”.

Based on the contents of the commitment, Muong Pon people have proactively zoned off, protected and expanded the forest area; aiming for long-term goals and enjoying double benefits from the forest. From there, it can be affirmed that the commitment to forest protection is not only to assign responsibility, but also the basis for changing people's awareness in protecting and developing forests. Mr. Quang Van Huan, Co Chay village, Muong Pon commune, Dien Bien district said: “We are committed to protecting the forest with many specific contents. From that commitment, we not only strictly implement it but also actively participate in patrolling and protecting the forest. We patrol periodically and go on surprise trips. On the other hand, to have more forests, we also focus on zoned off, protecting more areas of regenerating forests. Only then will we be in accordance with the contents of the commitment...”.

The practice of commitment and implementation of forest protection commitments in Muong Pon commune shows that the most obvious change is that patrolling and controlling the forest situation has been strengthened and maintained regularly. Each individual, family or community has clearly demonstrated their responsibility in forest management, protection and development. Thanks to that, in 2023, Muong Pon commune did not have any violations of regulations on forest management, protection and development. In addition, since the beginning of the year, there have been 2 forest fires in the area, but the local authorities and people have promptly detected and extinguished the fires, so there was no damage to the forest. These positive changes are created by the awareness and responsibility of each person and the certain impact from the annual signing of commitments on forest management, protection, forest fire prevention and fighting and forest product management by local people.

Source