Forest protection in the buffer zone of Hoang Lien National Park

Creating firebreaks to prevent forest fires

Nam Phat is a disadvantaged village in Ban Bo commune, with 100% of its population being Mong ethnic residents and an economy relying mainly on agriculture. Since the introduction of payments for forest environmental services, the people's incomes have become more stable, and their awareness of forest protection has improved significantly.

Ms. Giang Thi Ghenh in Nam Phat village shared, "The commune government tells us that we must protect the forest, so I also have the responsibility to preserve and bring life to the forest. Green forests ensure our access to clean water; only when there is water can our maize and rice plants grow. Additionally, the State also supports us with payments for forest protection. Thanks to this, many households have been able to buy televisions, motorbikes, refrigerators, etc., and our lives have become more stable."

According to local villagers, once they understood the benefits of forest protection and development, the action of cutting down trees for cultivation disappeared. Previously, forest protection and fire prevention around the village encountered many difficulties due to the people’s limited awareness. Villagers often cooked and stayed overnight in field huts or smoked out bees to collect honey, which easily led to forest fires. While these activities brought very little benefit, the damage to the forest was enormous. However, since Nam Phat village established a specialized forest protection team with more than 40 members, such practices have completely ended.

Before the dry season, the team discussed implementing fire prevention measures and strengthening communication on forest protection and development. Immediately afterward, together with forest rangers, villagers went up the mountain to create firebreaks as a preventive measure against forest fires.

Mr. Phan A Nay, Secretary of the Nam Phat Village Party Cell, said that members of the specialized team regularly coordinate with forest rangers to disseminate legal regulations on forest protection, guide villagers on creating firebreaks, and teach them how to burn fields without letting the fire spread into the forest. The village also requires households with fields near the forest to conduct burning only within the prescribed time and to notify the forest protection team for supervision, ensuring that forest fires do not occur.”

Raising awareness through communication

Mr. Nguyen Van Trinh, a forest ranger at the Tam Duong Forest Protection Department, said, "As the forest ranger assigned to Ban Bo commune, I regularly advise the local government to strengthen the Steering Committee for Forest Fire Prevention and Control, develop fire prevention and firefighting plans, reinforce specialized forest protection teams, and stay in the field to disseminate fire prevention measures. We also coordinate patrols and inspections to prevent forest fires and violations of forestry regulations."

The commune's Party Committee and government have signed forest protection commitments, disseminated legal regulations, and guided residents on safe burning practices, strictly prohibiting burning during prolonged hot, dry days. Since the beginning of the year, the commune has organized more than 50 communication sessions on the Law on Forestry for over 4,800 participants. As a result, public awareness has improved, and the forest has been better protected.

According to Mr. Nguyen Dinh Thuong, Chairman of the Ban Bo Commune People's Committee, the commune has a large forest area and is located in the buffer zone of Hoang Lien National Park, so forest protection is always a top priority. The government has strengthened the steering committee, assigned tasks, and developed forest fire prevention and firefighting plans at the beginning of the dry season, while intensifying patrols and controlling people entering the forest to carry out communication. Thanks to these efforts, there has been no forest fire occurring in the commune for many years."

In addition, the commune continues to implement many solutions, focusing on disseminating legal regulation, strengthening 21 specialized forest protection teams with more than 500 members, assigning tasks, and maintaining 24/7 on-duty shifts during peak dry periods.

Thanks to the consensus between the government and local residents, Ban Bo's forests have become increasingly greener, with improved forest cover. The forest not only helps regulate the climate and provide water but also opens direction for developing sustainable livelihoods through forest environmental services and forestry economic activities.

Ban Bo commune has more than 4,113 hectares of forested land, including 3,871 hectares of natural forest and 242 hectares of planted forest, with a coverage rate of over 40%.