Actively protecting the forest day and night.

During the peak of the dry season, when intense heat and dryness prevail, the risk of forest fires is ever-present in the forests of Dong Nai. Facing this challenge, forest rangers, forest management units, and local authorities are working tirelessly to implement a comprehensive range of solutions with the determination to preserve the greenness of the forests.

Forestry officials from the city's Forestry Department inspect the Chua Chan mountain. Photo: An Nhon

These days, Dong Nai province is entering the harshest phase of the dry season. Prolonged heat and drastically reduced humidity are causing vegetation to become brittle and dry, making even a small oversight easily trigger for forest fires. In fact, several fires have occurred under the canopy of acacia and rubber plantations in the area. However, thanks to timely detection and intervention, no damage has been caused to the natural forests.

Proactive approach from the grassroots level.

Faced with the imminent threat, following the directives of the City People's Committee, forest management agencies and units are urgently implementing forest fire prevention and control plans, deploying forces to be on duty day and night in key areas, and ready to respond to any situation.

In the Chua Chan mountain area, forest fire prevention and control efforts are being implemented vigorously. Ms. Vy Thi Nhung, Deputy Director of the Chua Chan Mountain Culture, Information, Sports and Nature Conservation Center in Xuan Loc ward, stated: This area has a total forest and forestry land area of ​​nearly 1,800 hectares, of which more than 1,500 hectares are forested, including both natural and planted forests. The terrain of Chua Chan mountain is steep, with the highest peak reaching 837 meters above sea level. Combined with the characteristics of a tropical monsoon climate near the equator, the dry season lasts from November of the previous year to April of the following year, making the risk of forest fires always high.

In response to this situation, the center implemented a comprehensive set of solutions. Local fire prevention and control forces were strengthened, maintaining a 24/7 duty schedule throughout the dry season. Patrols were intensified, especially in high-risk fire areas, with a frequency of at least twice a week. Upon detecting dangerous signs, authorities promptly inspected, reminded residents, and requested commitments to comply with fire prevention and control regulations.

Simultaneously, public awareness campaigns were intensified. The center coordinated with local authorities to install 30 "no fire" signs and planned to install 13 more informational boards at key locations. Informational messages were also broadcast on the public address system for approximately 34 minutes per week. Notably, places of worship and businesses in the area were strictly inspected, requiring that the burning of votive paper be done in accordance with regulations, in designated areas, and to minimize the risk of fire spread. At the same time, authorities guided residents in clearing undergrowth and creating firebreaks to reduce the risk of forest fires. Thanks to the systematic implementation of these solutions, no forest fires have been recorded in the Chua Chan mountain area since the beginning of the dry season.

Forest fire prevention and control work in the Dong Nai Nature and Culture Reserve (hereinafter referred to as the Reserve) is also being actively implemented. According to Mr. Tran Dinh Hung, Head of the Forest Ranger Station of the Reserve, since the beginning of 2026, the weather has been erratic, with prolonged heatwaves increasing the risk of forest fires. In particular, this is the time when the Urai trees are entering their flowering and fruiting season, a period that requires strict protection. Meanwhile, scattered residential areas and many roads crossing the forest, with high traffic volume, still exist within the forest area, posing a potential risk of fire sources…

To proactively prevent forest fires, the unit established a Forest Fire Prevention and Control Command Board along with 3 subcommittees and 19 fire prevention and control teams, assigning 24/7 duty schedules. Forest rangers regularly update forest fire forecasts and conduct patrols at 69 guard posts to detect potential risks early. In addition, firefighting equipment and vehicles are fully deployed in key areas, such as tractors, water tanks, and plastic containers. Maintenance of equipment such as pumps, chainsaws, and lawn mowers is carried out regularly, ensuring they are always in a state of readiness.

The propaganda efforts continued to be intensified with 20 conferences attracting nearly 2,000 participants, the distribution of 1,500 leaflets, the hanging of 25 banners, and 30 radio broadcasts. Forest rangers also directly encouraged people to sign 450 pledges to comply with regulations on forest protection and fire prevention and control.

Strengthen inspections, avoid complacency.

Besides the two aforementioned units, many other forest owners such as the Management Boards of Protective Forests in Bu Dang, Bu Dop, Loc Ninh, and National Parks like Bu Gia Map and Cat Tien are seriously implementing approved forest fire prevention and control plans. These units maintain a constant guard duty, increase patrols and forest inspections, prepare adequate equipment and tools, and construct forest fire prevention and control facilities. They also closely coordinate with local authorities in raising public awareness and discouraging the illegal use of fire.

Dong Nai currently boasts the largest forest area in the Southeast region of Vietnam, with nearly 349,000 hectares and a forest cover rate exceeding 25%. The forest ecosystem here is diverse, home to many rare and valuable plant and animal species with high conservation value. Given its scale and special role, Dong Nai's forests are considered the "green lungs," contributing to climate regulation and environmental protection for the entire region.

Thanks to the coordinated implementation of preventive measures, forest fire prevention and control in these areas is basically well controlled, contributing to the protection of the forest areas under management.

Given the complex weather patterns, the Provincial People's Committee (now the City People's Committee) issued a directive to strengthen forest fire prevention and control during the dry season. Accordingly, relevant agencies and units must seriously implement preventive measures as directed by the Government and the Provincial People's Committee (now the City People's Committee). The Department of Agriculture and Environment was tasked with disseminating this information to forest owners, and also organizing inspections and monitoring of implementation to ensure readiness to respond in case of incidents.

The Provincial Forest Protection Department (now the City Forest Protection Department) recently led a team to inspect forest fire prevention and control work at forest management units. The inspection focused on the implementation of forest fire prevention and control plans, strengthening the workforce, preparing equipment, clearing undergrowth, and constructing firebreaks.

During the inspection, the delegation highly appreciated the units' proactive and serious implementation of the plan, noting that the basic forces and equipment met the requirements, and that the propaganda work was carried out synchronously. However, prior to the peak of the dry season, the inspection team requested that the units not be complacent, continue to maintain strict guard duty, strengthen patrols, coordinate with relevant forces, and effectively implement the "four on-the-spot" principle (on-the-spot forces, on-the-spot equipment, on-the-spot logistics, and on-the-spot command).

In the context of climate change leading to increasingly extreme weather and the ever-present risk of forest fires, the tireless efforts of forest rangers and forest management units are making a crucial contribution to protecting the green forests of Dong Nai.

An Nhon

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/xa-hoi/202605/ngay-dem-chu-dong-giu-rung-5db6cb5/