Thoroughly implement the direction of the Provincial People's Committee on forest fire prevention and control and forest environmental sanitation

On the afternoon of October 5, Mr. Nghiem Xuan Cuong, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, chaired a meeting to disseminate the instructions of the Provincial People's Committee on forest fire prevention and fighting; launching a peak period of forest cleaning and sanitation, collecting and utilizing forest products in the forest area damaged by storm No. 3 in the province.

Localities reported on the progress of the peak period of forest cleaning and sanitation, and the collection and utilization of forest products in forest areas damaged by storm No. 3.

According to the report of the Forestry Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), storm No. 3 caused forest damage of about 170,000 hectares (this area does not include the area of natural forest that was eroded and slid). Of which, Quang Ninh was the most severely damaged locality with nearly 120,000 hectares. The estimated damage to the forestry sector was over VND 6,400 billion with a total of over 22,000 households affected, including households assigned land, forests and households assigned to plant forests by Forestry One Member Limited Liability Companies in the province.

In order to promptly and promptly overcome the consequences of storm No. 3 and minimize difficulties for those who directly live, produce and do business in the forest sector in the province, on October 1, the Provincial People's Committee issued Document No. 2832/UBND-KTTC on launching a peak period to support forest clearance, sanitation, and collection and utilization of forest products in the forest area damaged by storm No. 3. According to the plan, the campaign will be completed before October 31, 2024.

Implementing the directive document of the Provincial People's Committee, localities have focused on developing plans to support forest owners in clearing and cleaning forests, collecting forest products in damaged forest areas; cleaning and ensuring traffic on routes for transporting forest products.

Comrade Nghiem Xuan Cuong, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, requested localities and units to focus on seriously implementing the province's directive documents.

Based on the opinions of the localities, relevant departments and branches, concluding the meeting, Mr. Nghiem Xuan Cuong, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, emphasized: In the past 2 days, many consecutive forest fires occurred in the province, showing that the highest risk factor after the storm in the forestry sector is forest fires. Therefore, localities and units must focus on strictly implementing the province's directive documents, including Document No. 2832/UBND-KTTC.

In order for the peak period of support for clearing, cleaning forests, collecting and utilizing forest products in the forest area damaged by storm No. 3 to be effective, localities and units need to make detailed plans, urgently design firebreaks to prevent fire from spreading. At the same time, it is necessary to proactively mobilize forces and means in the area according to the "4 on-site" motto. Localities with thin forces and large areas to be treated must urgently make detailed plans, report to the province, and the Provincial People's Committee will increase forces to support the implementation.

The organization and implementation of the peak period must ensure absolute labor safety, and the allocation of forces must be focused and appropriate to the reality of each locality. During the implementation process, localities must increase propaganda about the Law on Fire Prevention and Fighting to households, especially those living near forests. If any locality allows large fires to occur without promptly reporting to the province, it will be severely punished.

In addition, the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also requested that localities must maintain the status quo of protective forests, upstream forests, and forests planted from the state budget in accordance with regulations.

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