Participate in forest protection.
From the side of National Highway 28B leading up to the 367-hectare area west of Luong Son commune, which the province assigned to the North Binh Thuan Forestry Enterprise, the planted forests are now lush and green, replacing the previously barren and patchy land. These green forests seem to soothe the hot weather at the beginning of the dry season. In some places, flocks of white egrets fly back, chirping on the high eucalyptus branches, adding vibrancy to the planted forest. We had the opportunity to return to the 367-hectare area earlier this year to experience this new scenery. There, we met Mr. Nguyen Hoang Oanh, a "special" forest protection officer. For several years now, he has contributed, along with other forest protection officers at the outpost, to spreading the green color of the planted forest across this barren land.
What's "special" about Mr. Oanh is that years ago, he was among those who encroached on forest land. The managing unit then persuaded him to sign a contract to protect the forest on those very same plots. Mr. Oanh is in difficult circumstances, living alone, and is supported by the enterprise with accommodation and meals provided by the staff at the Song Binh Forestry Station's forest management and protection outpost, making it easier for him to care for and protect the vast planted forests of nearly 1,000 hectares every day. When we visited the outpost, we witnessed Mr. Oanh's busy and hectic workday, but also the joy shared among the forest protectors.
That afternoon, Mr. Oanh, dressed in his lime-green forest protection uniform, returned to his guard post on his old motorbike after completing his duty. Reporters from Lam Dong Newspaper, Radio, and Television took the opportunity to interview and film the elderly forest ranger. Mr. Oanh shared: “In previous years, after being repeatedly urged by Binh Thuan Forestry Company Limited, the enterprise, and the local government, I voluntarily returned more than 6 hectares of encroached land used for growing crops to the managing unit. After that, I was assigned to work as a forest protection contractor for the North Binh Thuan Forestry Enterprise, and with work, my life gradually became stable and much more relaxed.” “In the beginning, when you started working as a forest protection contractor, did you and the enterprise's staff continue to persuade other households to return encroached land to the enterprise?” we inquired. “Yes, of course. It wasn't that everyone was acting voluntarily at first. Company and factory officials, along with me, who had just joined the forest protection effort, repeatedly persuaded the villagers. Once, I told them that I had also gone to the 367-hectare area where I had encroached, hoping for compensation, but the land had been allocated to the company for reforestation a long time ago, with proper documentation. I understood and returned the land to the company. The villagers also voluntarily returned the encroached land, and the company considered providing some support for the trees they had planted. 'Slow and steady wins the race,' gradually people understood, and after that, nearly 10 people returned the land to the factory for reforestation.”
“How have you found your contracted forest protection work over the past few years?” Mr. Oanh shared: “Actually, I'm quite familiar with the 367-hectare area, which makes caring for the planted forest much easier. When the eucalyptus trees took root and grew green in the first three years, I, along with my colleagues at the station, carefully cared for and protected the young eucalyptus forest, preventing any harmful impacts. Every day, I go into the assigned area to hoe and loosen the soil around the base of the trees, remove competing vines and weeds, and prune the branches at the base. This morning, I just went to supervise and prune dry, withered branches that were blocking the path between the four-year-old eucalyptus plantations, clearing the boundaries between the rows of eucalyptus trees to prevent forest fires during the dry season. In the past few years, there have been no forest fires here.”
Mr. Oanh travels around the area frequently, knowing it like the back of his hand, which is convenient for him to oversee and care for the planted forest. He contributes to making the forest conservation increasingly effective. He has been awarded a Certificate of Commendation by the company for his work in forest protection.
Now, on the 367-hectare area, the planted forest is growing lush and the canopy is closing. Mr. Nguyen Hoang Oanh and four staff members of the Song Binh Forestry Station, in addition to their daily work protecting the production forest, also raise a herd of over 20 goats and over 100 chickens under the cool, shady forest canopy. They grow quickly, contributing to increased income and improved living standards for the forest rangers in this still relatively underdeveloped region.
To make the planted forests greener.
Mr. Ha Viet Thanh, Director and Party Secretary of the Bac Binh Thuan Forestry Enterprise, said: “Among those who voluntarily handed over land for reforestation to the enterprise in the past, Mr. Oanh is a prime example of goodwill and cooperation. Through our conversations with him, we learned about his difficult family circumstances and facilitated a contract for him to protect the forest in the 367-hectare Song Binh area. For nearly three years now, the enterprise has entrusted Mr. Oanh with protecting 150 hectares of eucalyptus forest, in what was once a ‘hot spot’.”
The factory director further shared: “With the lush, young eucalyptus trees surrounding the Song Binh Forestry Station, the factory contracts out the tasks of fertilizing and caring for the young trees, ensuring their healthy growth. While the monthly salary for forest protection isn't high, the added income from fertilizing and caring for the forest provides Mr. Oanh with a relatively stable income to cover his living expenses. In addition, the factory assigns him other suitable tasks, providing him with additional income.”
The Binh Thuan Forestry Company Limited and the Bac Binh Thuan Forestry Enterprise are "spreading their wings" to welcome new members to join hands in protecting the young eucalyptus forests, so that these trees can soon provide shade on the rocky land in western Luong Son. This work is also similar to community mobilization, contributing to the protection of planted forests by the local people. That afternoon, cool breezes from the east suddenly blew in, dispelling the usual heat and cooling the air at the Song Binh Forestry Station in the area of regenerating planted forests. With the support of the managing unit, Mr. Oanh and the forest protection staff are diligently caring for and guarding the large area of eucalyptus and acacia forests in the western part of Luong Son commune after the merger, contributing to preserving the green landscape of the southeastern region of the province.
Source: https://baolamdong.vn/nguoi-giu-rung-dac-biet-434117.html
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