As a result, from November 2024 to the end of March 2025, no major forest fires occurred across the province. However, in the first three months of the year, 195 cases of illegal deforestation were recorded. The causes stem partly from traditional farming practices on upland fields and partly from a lack of responsibility in forest management and protection.

The province has over 426,378 hectares of forest land, with a forest coverage rate of 44.69%. This includes 419,539 hectares of natural forest and 6,839 hectares of planted forest that have matured. The provincial forestry plan covers 592,000 hectares, accounting for 62% of the province’s total area. After years of declining forest cover, the past decade has seen gradual recovery and improved management, thanks to the efforts of forest owners, local authorities, and forest protection forces.

Điện Biên is home to many ethnic minorities, who traditionally practice shifting cultivation on steep land, build wooden houses, and use firewood for fuel. Agricultural and industrial crop expansion has also put pressure on forest land. Many deforestation cases involve individuals claiming that the land was previously cultivated by their families, but after becoming infertile, they moved to new areas for farming. The lack of clear land and forest allocation for management and protection has led to encroachments and violations.

Some local authorities neglect their responsibility in forest management, assuming that it falls solely on forest rangers and specialized agencies. Large areas of forest land are assigned to communal authorities without further delegation to communities or individuals, nor are there regular patrols and protection measures in place. Additionally, some community-based forest owners, household groups, and individuals lack the capacity or commitment to manage their allocated forest land properly, some even clear their assigned forest areas for farming.

Despite public awareness campaigns on forestry laws, a portion of the population remains indifferent to forest protection. Law enforcement regarding forest land violations has been weak, lacking deterrent effects. In some areas, particularly in Điện Biên district, past deforestation cases were either not addressed or handled ineffectively, allowing illegal activities to persist.

According to the provincial Forest Protection Sub-department, 195 cases of illegal deforestation were recorded in the first three months of 2025, an increase of 113 cases compared to the same period last year, resulting in 63.77 hectares of damaged forest. The violations were concentrated in Mường Chà, Tủa Chùa, Điện Biên Đông, Tuần Giáo, and Điện Biên districts. Authorities have imposed administrative penalties on 173 cases, while 22 cases were transferred for criminal prosecution. Alarmingly, 19 out of the 22 criminal cases could not identify the perpetrators, making legal action difficult and weakening deterrence. Encroachments and illegal cultivation on classified forest land continue to be reported.

Forest rangers have played a vital role in increasing forest cover through awareness campaigns, community commitments to forest protection, and the Forest Environmental Services Payment Program, which has encouraged local participation in forest conservation. However, stricter law enforcement is needed to ensure compliance.

Laws regarding forest land violations exist but must be more effectively communicated and enforced. On October 4, 2024, the Government issued Decree No.123/2024/NĐ-CP, specifying administrative penalties for violations in land management, including forest land use. The decree outlines fines for unauthorized conversion of special-use forest land, protection forest land, and production forest land to other purposes. Converting forest land within the agricultural land category incurs fines between VND 2 million to 30 million, depending on the area involved. Unauthorized conversion of forest land to non-agricultural land (excluding residential use) within communal administrative boundaries results in fines from VND 3 million to 150 million. Encroaching or illegally occupying special-use forests, protection forests, or production forests can lead to fines of up to VND 400 million.

With clear penalties now in place under Decree 123, local authorities in Điện Biên, where forest land is extensive and ranger forces are limited, must strengthen inter-agency coordination to tackle deforestation. This includes urgent investigations, strict legal actions against offenders, and mobile court hearings to reinforce public awareness and deterrence.

When forest violations are strictly punished, local communities will develop a stronger sense of responsibility and accountability for forest protection.