The Lunar New Year is approaching. Many forests in Khanh Vinh District, Khanh Hoa Province are at high risk of wildfire and deforestation due to illegal forest product exploitation and transportation...
The Lunar New Year 2021 is approaching. Many forests in Khanh Vinh District, Khanh Hoa Province are at high risk of wildfire and deforestation due to illegal forest product exploitation and transportation. Therefore, local authorities are focusing on measures to protect forests during the holiday season.
Forest protection check-points set up
Khanh Hoa Forest Products Company, Ltd is in charge of managing more than 41,000 ha, including 33,000 ha of forested land. Illegal exploitation and transportation of forest products tends to run rampant before, during and after the Lunar New Year. This year, due to Covid-19 impacts, illegal deforestation occurs to the west of Khanh Vinh District, especially on Khanh Le - Lam Dong Pass. To protect forests on Tet holiday, besides 7 existing forest management teams, the company has set up 2 more check-points on Khanh Le - Lam Dong Pass route and 4 others in the communes of Khanh Thanh, Khanh Phu, Khanh Thuong and Lien Sang. The company's specialized forest management and protection forces are ensuring 24-hour duty to prevent illegal logging on the Khanh Le Pass route and in the communes of Khanh Thuong and Khanh Phu, according to Le Xuan Ly, Deputy Director of Khanh Hoa Forest Products Company, Ltd.
Khanh Vinh District authority breaks up illegal exploitation and transportation of forest products on Khanh Le – Lam Dong pass route. |
Meanwhile, Tram Huong Forestry Company, Ltd. is assigned by Khanh Hoa People’s Committee to manage and protect forests, including 39,000ha of forests and forested land in the 5 communes of Khanh Vinh District.
According to Nguyen Van Luc, Chief of Forest Engineering & Protection Office, Tram Huong Forestry Company, Ltd, the forest management and protection operations face more difficulties every Lunar New Year holiday, especially in bordering areas stretching for up to 106km. In order to protect the forests during Tet, the company has mobilized the most human resources for specialized forest protection; consolidating forest protection stations and check-points along the borderlines and in forest cores at risk of destruction.
Round-the-clock patrols
Illegal exploitation and transportation of forest products reported recently have been mostly in Khanh Vinh District, especially along Khanh Le – Lam Dong pass route or in forests in the communes of Khanh Thuong, Son Thai, Giang Ly and Lien Sang.
Dealing with the high risk of illegal exploitation and transportation of forest products and wildfire during Tet holiday, Khanh Vinh Forest Protection Unit has taken several drastic measures to preserve forests, maintaining 24-hour duty, strengthening measures to minimize illegal logging and transportation of forest products during Tet such as supporting the State forest owners in forest protection, conducting patrols in places at risk of illegal exploitation of forest products; keeping track of weather forecasts and ensuring preparedness in terms of manpower and equipment for forest fire prevention and control.
The Forest Protection Department has directed Khanh Vinh Forest Protection Unit and provincial mobile forest protection team in Khanh Vinh District to coordinate with forest owners and local authorities, especially commune police to get well prepared for the detection, prevention and handling of violation. From January 15 until after the Lunar New Year 2021, the Forest Protection Department has planned to dispatch many rangers from Forest Protection Units to join mobile ranger teams in Khanh Vinh to be on 24-hour duty to proactively respond to any cases of illicit exploitation or occurrence of wildfire with much concentration on forest fire prevention and control during Tet holiday due to high risk of wildfire when the dry season comes, according to Tran Minh Thu, Deputy Director of Forest Protection Department.
Hai Lang
Translated by N.T
