Tam Dao National Park strengthens forest fire prevention and fighting measures

Tam Dao National Park currently has a total forest area of ​​over 32 thousand hectares within the administrative boundaries of three provinces: Vinh Phuc, Thai Nguyen , and Tuyen Quang, of which the area in Vinh Phuc province accounts for nearly 50% of the total area.

According to the investigation and statistics of the Forest Ranger Stations of Tam Dao National Park Forest Ranger Department, the area of ​​forest susceptible to fire in Tam Dao National Park is nearly 5,600 hectares. The main vegetation layers susceptible to fire are planted forests, under the canopy of pine forests, cogon grass, reeds, te guot, giang nua...

During the hot season, the dead vegetation layer, combined with dry branches and fallen leaves accumulated over many years, has created a very thick layer of combustible material; the risk of forest fires occurring and spreading over a large area is very high. Therefore, Tam Dao forest is identified as one of the 6 key forest fire hotspots in the country.

Not only that, the terrain in Tam Dao National Park is hilly, low and medium mountains, with complex fragmentation and rugged terrain, causing great difficulties for forest management and protection, as well as forest fire prevention and control.

The development of ecotourism and spiritual tourism brings great economic benefits but also poses challenges in terms of environmental pollution, forest damage, and increased risk of forest fires... if not well managed.

Officers of Tam Dao National Park Forest Protection Department check and inspect the managed forest area on digital maps.

The living standards of a part of the people in the buffer zone are still not high, the labor force is abundant but the majority are agricultural and forestry workers, so it has a significant impact on economic development, application of science and technology in production, forest protection management and fire prevention.

Although in recent years, natural forests in Tam Dao National Park have not had fires, there have been fires in areas of scattered shrubs and trees, some areas of giang forest, mixed giang and bamboo forests, under pine forests and planted forests, with the risk of fires spreading to natural forest areas.

According to statistics, from 2020 to now, there have been 16 forest fires in Tam Dao National Park with a damaged forest area of ​​more than 11 hectares. The damage to forest resources is insignificant, mainly dry branches and fallen leaves under old pine forests and cogon grass.

To strengthen the work of PCCCR, Tam Dao National Park has proactively strengthened the PCCCR Command Board and the forest fire fighting teams. Building the Working Regulations of the Command Board, defining the responsibilities of each member to be proactive, grasp the actual situation of each assigned area to have practical direction, organize serious on-duty and implement the reporting regime according to regulations.

Along with that, promote propaganda on fire prevention and control for the community living in the buffer zone, arrange for Forest Rangers to be regularly present at forest entry and exit points to check and remind people entering and exiting the forest to comply with regulations on fire prevention and control, especially during peak periods in key forest fire areas.

Review and proactively deploy the construction of a firebreak system surrounding planted forests and forest plots prone to fire to limit the spread of fire between forest plots when a fire occurs.

Direct the Forest Ranger Stations to conduct field surveys and identify the most convenient routes and trails leading to fire hotspots. These routes are marked on maps and in the field for easy identification when organizing fire fighting, and at the same time, assign people to guide the fire fighting force to approach the fire quickly and conveniently.

Increase investment in fire prevention and control equipment and facilities. The above facilities and tools are fully managed and arranged at the command office, standing subcommittee, fire prevention and control shock team and ranger stations to be ready to respond when a fire occurs.

Maintain strict implementation of the command duty regime to process information, mobilize internal forces and coordinate with external reinforcement forces when forces must be mobilized to participate in fire fighting.

Require the Forest Ranger force at the stations to always ensure sufficient personnel from Monday to Friday every week. Outside of working hours and on holidays, the force participating in firefighting at the stations is 50%, on peak days (from level III and above), mobilize 100% of the regular force.

At the same time, actively apply information technology and digital transformation in building PCCCR maps, deploying forest management and protection software; data management tools and patrol reports; early forest fire warning software... to improve the effectiveness of PCCCR work.

Article and photos: Nguyen Khanh

Source: http://baovinhphuc.com.vn/Multimedia/Images/Id/127867/Vuon-Quoc-gia-Tam-Dao-tang-cuong-cac-bien-phap-phong-chay-chua-chay-rung