The "soldiers" guarding the forest.

As the cool breeze gently rustles the leaves, and the streets are ablaze with the vibrant colors of apricot and peach blossoms, and adorned with colorful flags, deep within the forests of our homeland, there are still those who silently persevere in the vast wilderness. They are the forest rangers, the "soldiers in green," welcoming spring in their own unique way amidst the scent of tree sap and the murmuring of streams in the deep woods. For them, spring is not just the transition from the old year to the new, but also a season of responsibility, of guarding the forest, and the simple joy of knowing the forest remains green, the birds still sing, and their homeland remains peaceful.

Forest rangers from Lap Thach District Forest Management Unit patrol and protect the forest.

Hardships amidst the vast green forest

In the final days of the year, we followed the Thanh Son Forest Ranger team on a patrol of the forest bordering Huong Can and Cu Dong communes. The mountain wind howled, mist lingered among the forest canopy, and the babbling stream mingled with the steady footsteps of the green-uniformed rangers on their journey to protect the forest. Forest ranger Hoang Van Phu, who has been in the profession for nearly 30 years, said: "In this job, time is often measured not in days or months, but in patrols, in the number of forest law violations detected and prevented, and in the moments we save a forest from fire. For us, Tet (Lunar New Year) is often just a small pot of sticky rice cakes in the camp, a quick call home to wish our parents, wives, and children a Happy New Year, and then another shift."

Their work includes not only patrolling the forest, but also raising public awareness about forest protection and fire prevention, especially during the Lunar New Year season when the demand for wood and forest products increases and the risk of forest encroachment becomes more complex, making the work of the forest rangers even busier.

For many years, Phu and his teammates haven't had a single complete Lunar New Year celebration with their families. On New Year's Eve, hearing the distant sound of fireworks, everyone feels a pang of homesickness. But because of their duty, they always believe that as long as the forest is peaceful, their New Year will be complete.

In areas with complex terrain, the forest rangers of Hoa Binh Forest Management Unit also face many difficulties and challenges in patrolling and controlling the forest. Ms. Bach Thi Thu Hang - Deputy Head in charge of Hoa Binh Forest Management Unit, said: Currently, the Unit manages more than 20,000 hectares of land planned for forestry, including more than 2,200 hectares of special-use forest land, nearly 4,200 hectares of protection forest land, and nearly 15,000 hectares of production forest land, spread across the wards of Thong Nhat, Hoa Binh, Tan Hoa, Ky Son, and Thinh Minh commune in the former Hoa Binh city. At the end of each year, the Unit develops a plan to strengthen its forces, assigning personnel to be on duty 24/7; closely coordinating with local authorities in wards and communes, and community forest protection teams to inspect hotspots and areas prone to fire and illegal logging. The highest goal is to prevent forest fires and ensure that not even a single square meter of forest is damaged.

Besides protection efforts, the Forestry and Forest Protection Department also focuses on raising public awareness about the importance of forests. In many areas, the "All citizens participate in protecting and developing forests" movement has been widely implemented and has proven effective. The image of people patrolling with local forest rangers, clearing firebreaks, or cleaning up forests before the dry season has become familiar.

A moment of rest for local forest rangers and the community forest protection team of Xuan Dai commune.

Preserving the spring colors for the forest.

A makeshift hut in the Suoi Ga forest, located in Muong Bang commune, Son La province, bordering Xuan Dai commune, Phu Tho province – where forest rangers are stationed during the dry season to patrol the forest. In this simple space, a small wooden table, a teapot of green tea, and a few branches of wild peach blossoms become symbols of a simple yet warm Tet (Lunar New Year) celebration. Forest ranger Tran Van Huu from the Xuan Son National Park Forest Ranger Station shared: “Celebrating Tet in the forest has its own unique joy. Although far from home, having comrades to cook meals together, wishing each other a happy new year, listening to the sound of the stream instead of fireworks, and the birdsong instead of greetings. That feeling is hard to describe, peaceful and proud.”

Comradeship and a strong sense of camaraderie are what help these forest guards overcome loneliness in the vast wilderness. Each patrol covers dozens of kilometers, each night enduring biting cold winds. They rely on and encourage each other, so that each spring, the forest is filled with new life, with budding shoots and the joyful chirping of birds, like a symphony of nature.

Forest rangers at Huong Can Forest Ranger Station inspect the forest using the GPS system.

According to Comrade Phan Van Son - Deputy Head of the Forest Ranger Station in charge of Xuan Son National Park: In the coming time, the Station will continue to improve the effectiveness of forest management, protection and development; and strengthen the application of digital technology in monitoring forest resources. Every protected forest area, every violation of forestry laws that is promptly prevented is our joy and our success.

Spring is knocking on every hillside and stream. In the rhythm of nature's transformation, that peaceful green is preserved by the silent footsteps of the forest rangers. Amidst the vast mountain winds, each step they take on their patrol, each discerning glance following every tree and every path... all convey a simple yet sacred message: Preserving the forest is preserving the spring of our homeland.

Hoang Huong

Source: https://baophutho.vn/nhung-nguoi-linh-gac-rung-245016.htm