Footsteps that venture into the vast wilderness

On the first day of the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Horse, in every home, amidst the fragrant incense and joyful laughter around the New Year's feast... at an altitude of thousands of meters, in the vast forests of Bac Ha, there are people celebrating the first day of the new year in a very unique way - "first-footing" the forest with tireless patrols.

Our story at the beginning of the year led us uphill to the Bac Ha Regional Forestry Station. Unlike the hustle and bustle in the center of the commune, the atmosphere on the first day of Tet here was quiet, with only the sound of wind whistling through the cracks in the doors and the sound of walkie-talkies reporting the situation from the base stations.

Following the merger of three units (Bac Ha, Si Ma Cai, and Muong Khuong), the area under the management of the Bac Ha Regional Forest Protection Unit now covers nearly 119,000 hectares. Therefore, the pressure on forest rangers is immense, especially in the area containing the "green treasure" of Coc Ly (Bao Nhai commune) – where 863 ancient ironwood and teak trees stand tall, welcoming the spring breeze.

To ensure the safety of the forests, the unit has implemented a comprehensive set of solutions, with a strong emphasis on close cooperation between forest rangers and local people.

These days, the number of personnel on duty at the forest ranger stations is strictly maintained. For these rangers, the concept of "enjoying Tet" sometimes simply means a quick meal right at the outpost, their eyes glued to the map, and their ears always listening for the sound of the wind.

Besides the regular forest rangers, the most effective "living landmarks" protecting the forest are the local people. They know every stream, every rocky crevice, every small trail that outsiders would find difficult to reach.

The forest protection team in the Coc Ly - Bao Nhai area has 16 members, responsible for an area spanning six villages. Patrolling this area is very challenging, requiring them to climb rocky mountains and trek through dense forests to monitor the situation.

Forest rangers and forest protection teams inspect and identify areas at high risk of fire during the Tet holiday.

Recognizing that Tet (Lunar New Year) is a sensitive time when illegal logging or forest fires due to negligence are more likely to occur, the Coc Ly - Bao Nhai Forest Protection Team has tightened its duty roster and intensified inspection and management efforts to protect the forest.

Forest rangers, in coordination with members of the Coc Ly - Bao Nhai area forest protection team, patrol and protect the ancient trees.

Mr. Tran Quoc Hoan, Head of the Bac Ha Forest Ranger Station, emphasized: "The station is strengthening legal awareness campaigns to ensure people understand regulations on forest protection and fire prevention and control. We consider the forest protection team as an extension of the forest rangers in monitoring the area, promptly detecting and reporting to relevant authorities for early handling of situations when there are signs of violations or hotspots."

Amidst the vibrant atmosphere of spring, the forest keepers in Bac Ha continue their tireless, silent efforts. They temporarily set aside the joy of family reunions to fulfill their noble mission: to keep the forests ever green, and to ensure peaceful springs remain in their villages.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/nhung-buoc-chan-xong-dat-dai-ngan-post893944.html