Forest ranger forces in Da Nang are joining efforts with district-level authorities to enhance forest protection measures such as increasing  patrols to timely detect illegal loggers, and strictly complying with the municipal regulations about forest fire prevention and firefighting.

Forest rangers from the Son Tra-Ngu Hanh Son Forest Ranger Division conducting an inspection visit to the Son Tra Peninsula

With over 31,300ha of land earmarked for the development of forestry, forests in Hoa Vang District’s Hoa Bac Commune are now home to many kinds of precious timber species, including Merawan Giaza, Sapele, White Meranti, and oak. That is the reason, over the past years, why the district authorities and local forest rangers have regularly conducted patrols in order to stop illegal hunting and forest destruction activities.

In particular, on 4 February, the Hoa Phu Commune authorities worked with the forest ranger forces of Da Nang’s Hoa Vang District and Quang Nam Province’s Dong Giang District to pay inspection visits to sub-zones in the commune. As a result, functional bodies stopped illegal hunting activities and destroyed wildlife traps there.

Dinh Van Hin, a member of the commune’s forest protection and forest fire prevention and fighting team, said sub-zones Nos 27 and 29 at the Khe Duong Gold Mine, and sub-zones Nos 10 and 15 bordering Lien Chieu District, are considered as hotspots of illegal logging and mineral exploitation. The operations are increasingly becoming more complicated on a large-scale with increasingly sophisticated methods.

Mr Hin remarked that, in the coming time, his unit would arrange for forest rangers to be duty in these sub-zones around the clock up with a view to stopping illegal logging and mineral exploitation activities in this area.   

Meanwhile, the Son Tra forest is facing high risks of fire due to visitors’ irresponsible behavior in burning incense and votive papers, and throwing cigarettes. In addition, visitors cook dishes and use fire during their overnight camping trips in the forest.

Mr Tran Thang, Head of the Son Tra-Ngu Hanh Son Forest Ranger Division, underlined that his unit has increased their checks and tightened their monitoring of all activities in forests in a bid to prevent fires, plus illegal deforestation and wildlife hunting activities.

Mr Tran Viet Phuong, Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Agriculture and Rural Development cum Head of the municipal Forest Protection Department, said proudly that Da Nang's forest cover ratio is 47.2%, 4-5% higher than that of the whole country. Additionally, deforestation and illegal exploitation of forest resources across the city are well-controlled. These positive results have been mainly attributed to the strong determination of Da Nang government and its people in forest protection.

By VAN HOANG - Translated by M.D