Increase the effectiveness of forest environmental protection.

Thai Nguyen currently has over 837,000 hectares of natural area, of which over 516,000 hectares are forested, with a forest cover rate of 61.7%, one of the highest in the country. However, this high forest cover rate also places greater demands on the management, protection, and sustainable development of forests.

Forest rangers use drones to inspect, monitor, and protect forests.

The two-tiered local government model opens up new development opportunities but also brings with it many difficulties in forest management. The vast area, complex terrain, and many areas bordering provinces such as Lang Son, Cao Bang , and Tuyen Quang make inspection and control work very challenging.

Meanwhile, the forest ranger force is understaffed compared to the assigned quota, with some areas having to be responsible for thousands of hectares of forest.

Furthermore, climate change is becoming increasingly extreme. Prolonged heatwaves increase the risk of forest fires, while heavy rains, flash floods, and landslides directly affect forestry production. This reality demands that forest protection efforts be organized more rigorously, scientifically , and flexibly.

Despite facing many difficulties, forest environmental protection efforts in Thai Nguyen have achieved many positive results. Mr. Le Cam Long, Head of the Thai Nguyen Forest Protection Department, stated: In 2025, the entire province planted nearly 8,000 hectares of forest, exceeding the set plan by over 122%. In just the first four months of 2026, the planted forest area reached over 3,300 hectares, a significant increase compared to the same period last year.

The scattered tree planting movement continues to spread widely, with over 3.1 million trees planted in 2025. Overall, during the period 2021-2025, the entire province has planted over 21 million trees, far exceeding the set target. These figures demonstrate the active participation of both the political system and the people in greening barren land and hills.

Along with reforestation efforts, patrol and inspection activities have also been intensified. More than 6,300 patrols involving over 18,000 people have been organized, contributing to the timely detection and handling of violations. As a result, the number of violations of forestry laws has tended to decrease, especially cases of illegal deforestation.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Que, Head of Forest Ranger Station No. 15: After the merger, forest management and protection work has remained stable, and in many aspects, it has achieved higher efficiency than before. Forest fire prevention and control work has also recorded clear results.

While the province experienced 13 forest fires in 2025, no fires were recorded in the first four months of 2026. This result was achieved thanks to proactive planning, deployment of on-duty forces, and improved public awareness regarding fire safety.

A notable current trend is the increased application of digital technology in forest management and protection. Through software for monitoring forest changes, satellite-based forest fire warning systems, and drone patrols, areas suspected of changes are detected early, enabling forest rangers to promptly inspect and address issues.

Digitizing forest data also contributes to improving accuracy in management, especially in evaluating projects involving the conversion of forest land. This is an important step in modernizing the forestry sector.

Forest cover reaching 61.7% contributes to preserving the "green lungs" and creating a healthy ecological environment for Thai Nguyen.

Furthermore, coordination between forest rangers, local authorities, forest management boards, and the people has become increasingly close. These forces regularly exchange information, organize inter-agency patrols, and form a widespread forest protection network.

Mr. Le Dang Hung, Deputy Director of the Thai Nguyen Special-Use and Protection Forest Management Board, said: "We regularly coordinate with the Forest Ranger force in patrolling, inspecting, and handling violations. Thanks to this, hotspots of deforestation are better controlled. Information exchange between units is also quick and timely."

Notably, wildlife management continues to be effective, with hundreds of breeding facilities operating under regulated control.

In less than a year, through automated imaging devices, authorities have recorded the reappearance of many rare and highly endangered animal species such as the white-cheeked black langur, pig-tailed macaque, pheasant, musk deer, etc. This result makes a significant contribution to biodiversity conservation and maintaining the balance of forest ecosystems.

According to Mr. Le Cam Long, Head of the Thai Nguyen Forest Protection Department: In the new context, protecting the forest environment is a task that requires the participation of the entire society, in addition to the core role of the Forest Protection force. In the coming time, the main task is to raise people's awareness, considering the people as the main subjects in forest protection.

In addition, it is necessary to continue promoting the application of technology, improving the forest database, and enhancing the capacity of local forest rangers. Developing large-timber forests and granting sustainable forest certification are also priority directions to increase the economic value of forestry.

Alongside protecting the forest environment, creating sustainable livelihoods for people living near forests is crucial to reducing pressure on forest resources. Attracting investment in forest product processing and developing the economy under the forest canopy will be a long-term solution.

Preserving and protecting the forest environment in the new context is a challenging task. However, thanks to positive changes in practice and the determination of all levels of government, sectors, and the people, the "green lungs" of Thai Nguyen are being protected more and more effectively, making a significant contribution to the sustainable socio-economic development of the locality.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/tai-nguyen-moi-truong/202605/tang-hieu-qua-bao-ve-moi-truong-rung-567207a/