Protect forests with specific actions

Born and raised in the mountainous region of Western Quang Tri, more than anyone else, Mr. Ho Van Thuan (born in 1985), in Chenh Venh village, Huong Phung commune, Huong Hoa district, understands the value and importance of forests. Therefore, for many years, not only has he made daily efforts to protect the forests, he has also tried to mobilize local people to join hands to preserve the green resources of his homeland.

Mr. Thuan (left) checks his belongings after finishing his forest patrol - Photo: NP

The Chenh Venh village community forest protection team is currently assigned by the Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve Management Board to protect nearly 300 hectares of forest in Huong Phung commune. The team consists of 6 members, of which Mr. Thuan is the team leader. The members' tasks are to organize patrols and checks to prevent people and vehicles from entering the forest illegally; detect and prevent acts that cause damage to forest resources such as deforestation, illegal hunting of animals, encroachment on forests... to promptly handle and report to the sub-region forest management staff and the management board leaders.

As always, before each forest patrol trip, he prepares all the necessary items such as clothes, a pith helmet, sandals and a backpack containing a machete, phone, small notebook, pen, some drinking water and dry food. Quickly arranging his belongings, Mr. Thuan said: "Each forest trip can be short or long, however, my brothers and I always prepare many things in advance, in case we have to spend the night in the forest."

As soon as it was light, the team members set out to inspect the forest. Due to the large area and relatively steep terrain, everyone had to walk and inspect each sub-area and forest area that they were assigned to. After each patrol, he proactively updated the specific results to the Management Board of Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve. Patrolling the forest in the dry season is easier, but in the rainy season it is many times more difficult. The roads are difficult and slippery, and the members also have to face many dangers because they can be bitten by leeches, snakes, scorpions... at any time.

“In the past, due to poverty, many bad guys lured villagers into the forest to cut down trees and sell them for wood. However, after we joined the forest patrol work, this situation gradually disappeared. Forest patrol is a difficult task, but for each Bru - Van Kieu resident, protecting the forest is protecting our home. Therefore, we are determined not to let anyone come here to destroy the forest,” Thuan confided.

Born and raised in the western mountainous region of Quang Tri, and having spent 7 years protecting the forest, Mr. Thuan understands better than anyone how important the forest is to his life.

Not only working with the Chênh Vênh Village Community Forest Protection Team to protect the forest every day, in recent years, as a police officer, Mr. Thuan has also actively mobilized villagers to join hands in protecting the forest.

Without shouting loud slogans, only through village meetings or daily conversations over a cup of tea or wine, he shared with his fellow villagers about the value of forests. Protecting forests is not only to protect the living environment, preserve the green lungs of the village, but also to preserve the water source for coffee irrigation, rice cultivation, and limit flash floods. Only when understanding these things, the people of Chênh Vênh village are determined to join hands to protect the forest, not allowing anyone to encroach, even if it is just cutting a tree branch, hunting an animal...

“I am luckier than many other people because I have participated in training programs on forest protection, and I know and understand the importance of forest protection. With my knowledge, I want to contribute to helping the community change their awareness and understand the role of forests in the environment and their lives, especially in the current complicated climate change situation,” said Mr. Thuan.

Thanks to Mr. Thuan's silent efforts, the Bru - Van Kieu people in Huong Phung commune gradually realized that protecting the forest is not the responsibility of any individual but the duty of the whole community. Without anyone telling them, they proactively protected the forest, minimized illegal logging, and increased measures to prevent and fight forest fires.

Director of the Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve Management Board, Ha Van Hoan, commented: “Mr. Thuan is a dedicated person, highly responsible for his work. With the advantage of being a son of the mountains and forests, he not only does a good job of patrolling and protecting the forest but also propagates and raises awareness among the villagers. Mr. Thuan's example of forest protection is worth learning from for the local people.”

Nam Phuong

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