Severe drought, Ca Mau urgently requests support of more than 63 billion VND to protect forests

On March 19, according to information from the Ca Mau Provincial Forest Protection Department, in recent days, strong winds and intense heat have caused more than two-thirds of the province's forest land to dry out, with a very high risk of fire.

Hạn hán gay gắt, Cà Mau hỏa tốc xin hỗ trợ hơn 63 tỷ đồng bảo vệ rừng- Ảnh 1. — U Minh Ha National Park (Ca Mau province).

Statistics show that the total area of Melaleuca forests and island cluster forests in Ca Mau is about 45,000 hectares, and has now entered the peak of drought.

More than 33,000 hectares of forest have been affected by drought and are at risk of fire at any time. Of these, more than 13,530 hectares are at the dangerous fire warning level (level IV) and nearly 4,000 hectares are at the extremely dangerous fire warning level (level V).

The above forest area belongs to the following units: U Minh Ha Forestry One Member Co., Ltd.; U Minh Ha National Park; Ca Mau Agricultural Seed Center; Southwest Forestry Experimental Research Center; Cai Tau Prison, Infantry Division 8 - Military Region 9; Wartime Command - Provincial Military Command; Forest Ranger Department of Hon Khoai Island Cluster; enterprises renting land to grow raw material forests and households allocated forest land according to Decree 43/2014/ND-CP dated May 15, 2014 of the Government.

This year’s dry season is forecast to last longer, making forests more at risk of fire than in previous years. Although the authorities have taken many proactive measures to prevent and fight forest fires, in some places the water level in the forest canals is only less than 1 meter, and the risk of a lack of water for firefighting is very high.

To improve the ability to control forest fires, ensure proactive and effective forest fire prevention and fighting work according to the on-site principle to minimize damage, the People's Committee of Ca Mau province has proposed that the central ministries and branches pay attention to supporting 63.8 billion VND.

This is the funding to support the implementation of the Project "Improving the capacity of forest rangers in forest management, protection and fire prevention and fighting in the period 2021-2030". Of which, 30 billion VND is for 2024-2025 and 33.8 billion VND is for 2026-2027.

With the current severe drought situation, the Steering Committee for the implementation of the sustainable forestry development program of Ca Mau province (referred to as the Steering Committee) requests all levels, sectors, forest owners and local authorities to step up propaganda and mobilization work to raise the sense of responsibility among officials and people.

In particular, awareness of compliance and good implementation of safety regulations on forest fire prevention and fighting, especially awareness of fire use of each individual and household living in and near the forest.

The Steering Committee strictly prohibits organizations and individuals without responsibility from entering high-risk fire forests of U Minh Ha National Park, concentrated forest areas with high reserves under the direct management of forest owners that are warning of dangerous and extremely dangerous fires.

For key areas at high risk of fire, the Steering Committee recommends that forest owners must arrange forces and equipment to be on duty 24/7 to prevent and fight forest fires throughout the dry season, in order to proactively and promptly handle possible forest fire situations.

Along with that, the forest rangers regularly coordinate with the police and local authorities to strengthen inspections of forest owners and households to implement forest fire prevention measures. In particular, it is strictly forbidden to make charcoal and burn production land in and around forests during the peak of the dry season.

"Forest owners must coordinate with local police and forest rangers to resolutely handle violations according to the law," the Steering Committee for the implementation of the sustainable forestry development program in Ca Mau province requested.

Source