Dien Bien proactively responds to forest fires

After a long period of forest area decline, over the past 10 years, Dien Bien forests have gradually been restored and strictly protected. By the end of 2024, Dien Bien's forest coverage rate will reach 44.69%. Therefore, forest fire prevention is a top priority.

High risk of forest fires

In Dien Bien province, the forest area is mainly depleted forest and forest recovering from slash-and-burn farming. Thick vegetation, abundant combustible materials, combined with complex terrain, steep slopes and people's practice of slash-and-burn farming interspersed with forests, make the risk of forest fires always high.

Many forests in Dien Bien province face the risk of forest fires due to prolonged heat. Photo: Tran Huong.

On the other hand, the annual weather situation in the dry season is complicated, with prolonged hot and dry weather accompanied by southwest winds, making the risk of forest fires very high. During the period from February to April every year, Dien Bien province often faces the risk of forest fires at level IV (dangerous) and level V (extremely dangerous).

At the same time, with the existing forest area of ​​Dien Bien spread across the highland border districts with a large number of ethnic minorities living with production habits and religious practices dependent on forests, a part of the people due to the burden of making a living... have not paid attention to forest management and protection. Along with that, the practice of farming and production on fields mixed with forests, building houses with wood, using firewood as fuel has increased the pressure on forest management, protection and fire prevention.

Early forecast, proactive incident response

Mr. Ha Luong Hong, Head of Dien Bien Provincial Forest Protection Department, said: With the responsibility of the agency advising on forest management and protection in the whole Dien Bien province, the Forest Protection Department has proactively advised the Provincial People's Committee, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (now the Department of Agriculture and Environment) to strengthen direction and guidance for the Forest Protection Departments of districts, towns and cities, to organize and implement the work of forest management and protection, forest fire prevention and fighting in the province during the dry season.

Forest rangers and local people patrol areas at risk of forest fires. Photo: Tran Huong.

Based on the actual situation of weather developments, the current status of forest management and protection in the area, the forest rangers need to do a good job of forecasting and forecasting to have timely response plans, not to be passive and surprised when a forest fire occurs. Zoning of areas at high risk of forest fires is carried out to have effective solutions for directing and preventing forest fires, suitable to the practical situation. The Department of Agriculture and Environment effectively organizes and implements forest fire prevention and fighting plans; strengthens forest fire prevention and fighting teams at the village and hamlet levels; develops a 24/24 duty schedule during peak periods; prepares forces, tools and means to respond when a forest fire occurs.

During the dry season of 2024 - 2025, the forest rangers guided community forest owners, households and individuals in the province to develop 4,752 forest fire prevention and fighting plans and develop 69 fire prevention and fighting plans for assigned and unleased forest areas managed and protected by the People's Committees of communes; advised the People's Committees at all levels to establish 10 district-level Forest Fire Prevention and Fighting Command Boards with 278 members; completed 128 commune-level Forest Fire Prevention and Fighting Command Boards with 3,549 members; established over 1,299 teams and groups with 13,461 members; strengthened forest patrols and inspections, and participated in forest fire fighting in the province.

Forest rangers use flycams to detect forest fires early. Photo: Tran Huong.

Based on monitoring and updating information from the Dien Bien Hydrometeorological Station and forest fire warning information on the Forest Protection Department's website, the forest rangers issue forest fire forecast notices when forest fire forecasts are at levels III, IV, V to agencies, units and forest owners, to promptly deploy appropriate and effective forest protection and fire prevention measures. From October 2024 to March 13, 2025, through monitoring and using specialized equipment, Dien Bien forest rangers have detected 250 fire spots, mainly originating from slash-and-burn activities of people near the forest area and spreading on cogon grass hills, without affecting the forest area.

With the above efforts, the work of forest protection, development and forest fire prevention in Dien Bien province has achieved positive results, contributing to preserving forest resources and limiting the risk of forest fires in the coming time.

Source: https://nongnghiep.vn/dien-bien-chu-dong-ung-pho-su-co-chay-rung-d744778.html