Keep the "heart" of the great forest beating steadily

Lesson 1: When the Party's will is in line with the people's will

The vast, green forests in the border commune of Cha Nua are considered treasures by the ethnic communities. They are the shields that protect and shelter the Thai and Mong people during the war, protecting them from natural disasters and severe storms and floods. Therefore, protecting and preserving the green color of the forests is not only the responsibility of the Party Committee and the government, but also the "command from the heart" of every local person.

People of Na Su village (Cha Nua commune) participate in opening new and repairing forest protection patrol roads. *Photo: Sam Phuc*

Together, let's open the way to protect the forest.

From dawn, when the morning mist still embraced the forest canopy, the sound of sledgehammers breaking rocks, the sound of hoes and shovels clanging like a "big construction site" awakened the old forest still in its sleep. Perhaps everyone who witnessed this scene would immediately think that these were workers for a project. But no, these were more than 100 people, from old to young (representing more than 100 houses of the White Thai people in Na In village, Cha Nua commune) who were united, unanimous, and determined to break rocks, open new ones, and repair the only dirt road through mountains, ravines, and steep slopes to patrol and protect the forest. The road was about 7km long from the village center into the deep forest. All were handmade by the people; they divided into small groups, "whoever had a hoe used a hoe, whoever had a shovel used a shovel...", together overcoming the sun and rain, carrying rocks, clearing dirt to create a flat roadbed.

Mr. Thung Van Thanh, Head of Na In village, excitedly said: For generations, our grandfathers and fathers have always been attached to, loved, protected the forest and always advised us, the younger generation, to preserve the forest as if it were our own roots. Before opening the road, the village government held a meeting and invited 100% of households to participate. All households were in high agreement, united in mind, and voluntarily opened the road; each day the road was built to save time, people brought rice balls and sesame salt to eat on the spot. When this road is completed, it will create favorable conditions for people to go to the fields, transport agricultural products, and for patrol teams to control and prevent forest fires.

Not only Na In, with the determination and steadfast will to preserve and protect the "green lung" of nature; especially the spirit of self-reliance, self-reliance, using human strength to conquer rocks and stones; not relying on the policies of the Party and the State, up to now, 6/6 villages from Na Su, Na Cang to Nam Dich of the border land of Cha Nua have opened nearly 50km of patrol roads to protect the forest. Mr. Thung Van Anh, Chairman of the People's Committee of Cha Nua commune shared: "These roads are designed as unique roads, from where you enter to where you exit, following the edge of the forest, the roots of the trees to facilitate the inspection and strict control of the number of people entering and leaving the forest, promptly detecting and preventing illegal transportation of wood and forest products. In order not to affect the vegetation and forest trees; We instructed the people not to use machines to level the land or break rocks, but to do everything manually, using human power and rudimentary tools (crowbars, hoes, shovels, etc.). Twice a year, the villages meet to organize repairs, clean up, and weed along patrol routes to protect the forest.

Under the green forest canopy

When the rain in the forest had just stopped, following the cool Nam Bai stream and the winding, rocky mountain trails opened by the locals, we arrived at the old forest, which the White Thai people of Ba Cha region affectionately call the “common home” of the village. There were still ancient trees growing straight up, with trunks so big that two people could not hug them.

Leading us through the old forest canopy, Mr. Tao Van Vin, from Cau village, seemed to know every path, tree root, and rock in this forest. Although he was over 60 years old, Mr. Vin was still very strong, healthy, and had a hearty voice typical of a mountain native. Mr. Vin proudly said: "Going deep into the forest just a few hundred meters, the precious trees (dổi, tho lo, lát hoa ...) were stretching out to provide shade, even in the hot summer noon, the sun seemed to be hidden by the green shade of the trees." In the past, under the forest canopy there were many types of wild bamboo shoots, herbaceous plants that were used as vegetables, medicine, and spices for Thai dishes... Going into the forest, we occasionally saw wild chickens, squirrels, and other birds playing around like pets. Just like that, for generations, the lives of the White Thai people of Cha Nua have always relied on the forest, and have been nourished by the forest. That is why they never destroy the forest.

No one knows when the forest was created, but we only know that when it was born and grew up, the forest was always present, protecting the village. Mr. Thung Van Bun, Na In village, who is over 80 years old this year, recalls: The forest here is very sacred! The forest protects, brings food and water to the people. Therefore, every year after the Lunar New Year, the White Thai people here organize a village worship ceremony - the most important ceremony of the year. The ceremony is to pray to the gods, including the forest god and ancestors to bless the new year with favorable weather, bountiful crops, and good health and peace for all people. From the moment they were born, the White Thai children were taught by their grandfathers and fathers to preserve and protect the forest, to only harvest agricultural products that they could grow, and not to cut down large trees or precious woods... The forest has nurtured many generations and sheltered the White Thai people in the Ba Cha region throughout the war years until now and has become a solid "fortress", protecting the safety of the people during heavy rains and strong winds, limiting soil erosion and the harmful effects of storms and floods, bringing great benefits to the lives of the whole community.

“A hundred times easier without the people, we can endure//a thousand times harder, we can complete it with the people” - with the people’s strength, we can have everything. The trails and dirt roads created by the efforts, sweat and strong attachment between the Party Committee, the government and the people of the Cha Nua ethnic group will be the driving force for them to “keep the green color of the mountains and forests” intact forever.

Lesson 2: Keeping the mountains and forests green

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