Yen Bai 'red alert' for forest fires

The dry season in the mountainous districts of Yen Bai is when people often burn fields to make crops, so the risk of fires spreading into the forest is very high. Photo: Thanh Tien.

The dry season, which lasts from September of the previous year to April and May of the following year, is always a "tense" time for forest fire prevention and fighting (PCCCR) in Yen Bai province, especially in mountainous districts such as Tram Tau, Mu Cang Chai, Van Chan... In harsh weather conditions, little rain, strong Lao winds, combined with the people's habit of burning land for farming, the risk of "fire" lurking and breaking out at any time.

Strict control of slash-and-burn farming

Tram Tau district has a rugged terrain, bordering many areas of Yen Bai and Son La provinces, this place always has many potential challenges in forest protection work. With a total forest area of ​​over 45,000 hectares, most of which is nearly 34,000 hectares of protective forest and about 12,000 hectares of production forest. The dry season in Tram Tau is long, when the dry Lao wind blows, just a small mistake in using fire can burn down an entire forest.

In addition, the rugged mountainous terrain makes firefighting even more difficult. Every time a fire breaks out, it often spreads widely and fiercely, causing heavy losses that take decades to restore the lost greenery.

Forest rangers educate students about the risks of forest fires and prevention measures. Photo: Thanh Tien.

Mr. Lai Van Quang, Deputy Director of the Tram Tau District Forest Protection Management Board, said that during the 2023-2024 dry season, there were 3 fires in the district, damaging more than 6.5 hectares of forest, including nearly 3 hectares of natural production forest and nearly 4 hectares of planted production forest. Most of the forest fires were caused by slash-and-burn farming by people.

To prevent "fire", before the dry season this year, the District People's Committee issued many documents directing the strengthening of management, protection and fire prevention and control to prevent illegal deforestation, encroachment on forest land, especially strictly controlling slash-and-burn farming.

Tram Tau District directs communes to closely coordinate with local forest rangers and officers of the Protective Forest Management Board to conduct detailed inspections and statistics of the entire area of ​​swidden fields located along and near forests, thereby taking effective management measures. During hot, windy days, when there is a high risk of forest fires, all acts of bringing fire into the forest or burning swidden fields are strictly prohibited.

Many forest protection measures are implemented synchronously in localities. Photo: Thanh Tien.

“We regularly organize propaganda sessions and provide direct guidance to people on safe slash-and-burn techniques such as: creating firebreaks around the burning area, burning only at the appropriate time, usually in the evening when the wind is calm, burning from the top of the hill to the bottom of the hill and mobilizing many supervisors along with on-site fire-fighting equipment such as water sprayers, knives and fire-extinguishing tools when necessary,” Mr. Quang shared.

Repairing nearly 300km of firebreaks

Mu Cang Chai is also an area where forest fires often occur during the dry season. Due to harsh weather conditions, in winter the temperature is freezing cold, many areas on high mountain peaks often have frost, trees and vegetation dry up. In the dry season, the Lao wind blows and it is also the time when Mong people often burn fields, make fields and burn grazing areas, so the risk of forest fires is always at a red alert level. In 2024, there were 5 fires in the district, damaging more than 4 hectares of forest.

Entering the dry season this year, the authorities and functional forces in Mu Cang Chai have deployed a series of drastic measures to limit deforestation. Localities have established 14 Forest Protection and Prevention Steering Committees with more than 400 members. In addition, 108 new patrol and forest protection teams have been established and strengthened with the participation of nearly 650 people.

Authorities regularly patrol the forest and have people sign a commitment to protect the forest and prevent forest fires. Photo: Thanh Tien.

Mr. Nguyen Hung Son, Deputy Director of the Mu Cang Chai District Forest Protection Management Board, said that the unit has coordinated with the Forest Protection Department and communes to regularly organize community meetings to disseminate legal knowledge, highlight the unpredictable harm of forest fires and strict regulations on slash-and-burn farming. In particular, nearly 12,000 households (92%) have signed a commitment to protect forests and prevent forest fires.

In addition, clearly dividing the boundaries between villages and forest blocks in a systematic manner helps management and response to incidents become more effective. The authorities have also guided and accompanied the people to repair nearly 280km of firebreaks, creating "belts" to prevent the spread of fires when bad situations occur. Regularly maintain duty at hundreds of fire watchtowers and temporary shelters at high points to proactively detect forest fires during the dry season.

Raise vigilance to protect the "green lungs"

According to data from the Yen Bai Provincial Forest Protection Department, in recent years, the number of forest fires and damaged forest areas have often increased in the dry season. In 2024 alone, due to unusual weather conditions and the carelessness of some people when using fire to burn fields and grazing areas, fires spread into the forest. In the whole province, there were 14 fires on forestry land areas, of which 8 fires caused forest damage. The total damaged forest area was nearly 30 hectares, including 21.8 hectares of natural forest and nearly 8 hectares of planted forest.

Proper management of slash-and-burn farming is an important solution during the dry season. Photo: Thanh Tien.

Currently, the forest fire warning level in many places is at a dangerous level, with the possibility of large forest fires. In the face of this "red alert" situation, functional sectors and localities in the province have synchronously deployed many solutions to strengthen forest fire prevention and control. Yen Bai province's forest rangers have increased patrols and controls in key forest areas, especially on hot and windy days. Forest fire prevention and control warning signs have been installed in many places, combined with propaganda and mobilization work to raise people's awareness of forest protection and compliance with forest fire prevention and control regulations.

Mr. Kieu Tu Giang, Head of the Yen Bai Provincial Forest Protection Department, added that the Department has directed the Forest Protection Departments to develop detailed fire prevention and control plans for each area, and prepare sufficient forces, means, and necessary equipment.

To protect green forests, not only the efforts of functional sectors and local authorities are needed, but also the cooperation and sense of responsibility of each citizen. Therefore, we hope that people, especially households living in and near forests, will raise their awareness, strictly comply with the regulations on fire prevention and control; promptly detect and report fires so that the fire cannot destroy the "green lungs".

Source: https://nongnghiep.vn/yen-bai-bao-dong-do-chay-rung-d747388.html