Positive changes in forest management and protection

Officers of the Bac Bien Ho Protective Forest Management Board inspect forest areas adjacent to local production fields. Photo: ND

Gia Lai currently has about 650,668 hectares of forested land, of which natural forests are about 478,681 hectares, planted forests are 158,710 hectares, and unplanted forests are more than 13,276 hectares. In the first months of 2025, forest management, protection and development in the province have had many positive changes. The number of violations of the Forestry Law has decreased compared to the same period last year and there have been no large-scale encroachments on forest resources.

Mr. Truong Quoc Dung - Head of the Forest Protection Department of Krong Pa district - informed: In previous years, the local forest management and protection work encountered many difficulties due to the large area and the thin forest management and protection force, so subjects took advantage of this to commit acts of encroachment on forest resources.

The implementation of the plan to install, manage and operate security cameras to support forest management and protection monitoring combined with security and order monitoring has helped forest management and protection work to be more effective. From the end of 2024 to present, the district's functional agencies have detected and arrested 6 cases of violations of the Forestry Law, a decrease of 2 cases compared to the same period last year.

According to the Head of the Forest Protection Department of Krong Pa district, to achieve this result, from the beginning of the year, the unit has proactively advised the district People's Committee to direct functional agencies, People's Committees of communes with forests, and forest owners to strengthen coordination and implement synchronous solutions to promptly detect acts of encroachment on forest resources. In addition, proactively grasp, exchange information, coordinate patrols and sweeps at "hot spots" and forest areas bordering neighboring provinces to prevent and promptly stop violations.

In Chu Pah district, from the beginning of 2025 until now, the authorities have not discovered any organizations or individuals violating the Forestry Law.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Ni - Deputy Head of the Forest Protection Department of Chu Pah District - said: In recent times, the unit has regularly coordinated with the district's functional forces, the Commune People's Committee and forest owners to organize patrols and controls in key areas. Along with that, it has promoted propaganda and mobilized people living near the forest to participate in forest management and protection.

According to the provincial Forestry and Forest Protection Department (Department of Agriculture and Environment), since the beginning of the year, the province's functional agencies have detected and arrested 38 cases of violations of the Forestry Law, a decrease of 24 cases compared to the same period last year. The seized exhibits include: 25 m3 of common wood, 36.6 steres of firewood, 3 cars, 18 farm vehicles, 25 motorbikes, and 1.8 hectares of destroyed forest (a decrease of 4.5 hectares). Specialized agencies have administratively sanctioned 21 cases with a fine of more than 117 million VND, confiscating 6.4 m3 of various types of wood. Currently, 17 cases are being verified and handled. Localities with a decrease in the number of violations of the Forestry Law include: Kbang district, Chu Prong district, Ayun Pa town, etc.

Mr. Truong Thanh Ha - Acting Head of the Provincial Forestry and Forest Protection Department - said: In recent times, the Department has regularly advised the Provincial People's Committee and the Department of Agriculture and Environment to direct localities to resolutely implement the work of managing, protecting and developing forests in the area. Thanks to that, the situation of deforestation for farming, illegal exploitation, trading and transportation of forest products has been prevented and handled promptly.

Provincial authorities conduct forest fire prevention drills during the 2024-2025 dry season. Photo: ND

In fact, forest management and protection have had positive changes. However, according to Mr. Ha, the current difficulties are complicated weather, prolonged hot weather, and the area of ​​planted forests intertwined with the area of ​​slash-and-burn farming, making it difficult to control people bringing fire into the forest for use, which can easily cause forest fires. Violations in the forestry sector have decreased but are still complicated in some localities such as Chu Prong, Kong Chro, etc.

Coordination between functional agencies in exchanging information is often not timely. In addition, there is no consensus between the Forestry Law and the Land Law in assigning production forests, which are natural forests, to households and individuals for management...

“In the coming time, the Department will continue to advise all levels and sectors of the province to deploy plans for forest investigation and inventory, and develop a national forestry planning map system in the area. Change the purpose of forest use to other purposes to implement the construction of the Ia Mor irrigation branch canal system.

At the same time, direct affiliated units and local forest rangers to strengthen coordination with specialized forest protection forces of forest owners and People's Committees of communes in forest management, protection and development" - the acting Head of the Provincial Forestry and Forest Protection Department emphasized.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/chuyen-bien-tich-cuc-trong-quan-ly-bao-ve-rung-post317358.html