Female forest rangers protect the forest.

Female forest ranger Luong Thi Dan collaborates with local authorities to conduct a field inspection.

Quick-witted, decisive, yet also very affectionate – that was our first impression when we met Ms. Luong Thi Dan, a female forest ranger in charge of the Dien Bien Dong town area in Dien Bien Dong district. Beginning our conversation, Ms. Dan confided: "At the beginning of 2021, right after starting work at the District Forest Management Unit, I was assigned to be in charge of the Dien Bien Dong town area. Perhaps it was fate, because I am from an ethnic minority group, understand the customs and traditions, and speak the local language, so the unit's leaders trusted me and assigned me to work in this area."

Although assigned to the central area of ​​the district, which offers more advantages compared to the communes, Ms. Dan's work is no less arduous. Dien Bien Dong town has over 1,400 hectares of forest, mainly production and protection forests. As a woman, she felt a little apprehensive and worried when she first took on the role. Managing a large area with many interconnected transportation routes presented many challenges for Ms. Luong Thi Dan. In the early days of her tenure, determined to perform her duties well, Ms. Dan quickly familiarized herself with the local authorities and people in her assigned area, gathered information, assessed the situation, and identified disadvantages in forest management and protection. From there, she developed plans for public awareness campaigns and organized patrols and inspections. Having been born and raised in the mountains and forests, coupled with her love and responsibility for her work, gave her the motivation to trek through the forests, cross streams, and patrol and protect the forest.

As one of eight female forest rangers in Dien Bien district, Ms. Tham Thi Oanh is currently in charge of managing forests in three communes: Thanh Xuong, Thanh An, and Noong Het. Through our conversation with Ms. Oanh about her work and the difficulties she faces, we learned that the total area of ​​forest land planned for the three communes under her management is over 1,200 hectares, scattered across 60 teams and villages. Each time she prepares for a forest patrol, she has to wake up very early, pack her clothes and personal belongings, and store a small amount of food and water in her backpack for the journey.

Ms. Tham Thi Oanh and other residents of Thanh An commune are patrolling the forest.

This year marks the 16th year that Ms. Tham Thi Oanh has been involved with the Forest Protection Department, and for almost the same number of years, she has been assigned to oversee specific areas. Before taking charge of the three communes mentioned above, she had already left her footprints in the forests of Thanh Nua, Thanh Luong, and Thanh Hung communes. Speaking about memorable experiences during her forest patrols, Ms. Oanh shared: "Sometimes, while patrolling in the forest, a thunderstorm would suddenly break and trees could fall. Getting trapped in the forest during heavy rain was also a common occurrence. There were also dangers; because of my determination to protect the forest, I was often insulted, cursed at, and threatened by those violating forestry laws. These incidents helped me gain more courage and experience in my work."

Ms. Oanh is not alone; it has been learned that the Dien Bien District Forest Management Unit currently has 8 female officials and civil servants, 6 of whom are local forest rangers. Each female forest ranger in Dien Bien District is mostly assigned to oversee 2 to 3 communes and even takes on additional duties within the unit. However, because of their love for the forest and their profession, throughout the years, the white mist, the dry sun, and the mountain winds of the vast wilderness have not only failed to deter these female forest rangers but have also made them more dynamic.

According to the Forest Protection Department, the provincial forest protection force currently has a total of 215 personnel, of which 47 are women, accounting for 21.8%. Of these 47 female forest protection officers, 18 are assigned to specific areas. Due to the unique characteristics of Dien Bien province – a large, mountainous area – and the limited number of forest protection personnel, the work of local forest protection officers is very demanding. For female forest protection officers, the challenges are even greater due to their limited physical strength, especially when having to climb mountains and cross streams for long periods of patrolling the forest. Furthermore, in addition to their duties, these female forest protection officers must also fulfill their family responsibilities, thus increasing the pressure on them.

Female local forest rangers regularly participate in training courses to improve their professional skills.

Understanding the hardships and difficulties faced by female forest rangers, the Forest Protection Department pays special attention to and supports female forest rangers, creating favorable conditions for them, especially in assigning them suitable job positions. Priority is given to assigning them to locations near the city center, with convenient transportation, to facilitate their work.

Evaluating the team of female forest rangers in the area, Mr. Ha Luong Hong, Head of the Provincial Forest Protection Department, affirmed: "Each forest ranger, regardless of gender, must handle the same workload when assigned to a specific area. Therefore, we were very concerned when assigning female forest rangers to areas. However, their dedication to the job, solid expertise, and especially their tact, gentleness, and firmness have brought high efficiency to their work. Notably, some female officers have even taken on leadership positions after completing their duties as civil servants. These silent contributions and sacrifices of female forest rangers have been and continue to contribute to the management and protection of the forest's green landscape."

Source: https://baodienbienphu.com.vn/tin-uc/quan-ly-bao-ve-rung/217782/nhung-nu-kiem-lam-giu-rung