According to Mr. Hà Lương Hồng, Head of the provincial Forest Protection Division, with the implementation of the two-tier local government model, many commune-level administrative units have been merged or had their boundaries adjusted, leading to changes in scale and area. This has resulted in adjustments to the duties, authority, and jurisdiction of forest rangers. Some responsibilities for forest management and protection, forest fire prevention and control, enforcement of forestry laws, forest development, and biodiversity, previously under the authority of district-level People’s Committees, have now been transferred either to the provincial-level People’s Committee, the Department of Agriculture and Environment, or delegated to commune-level People’s Committees. Consequently, there are changes in functions, tasks, and powers across levels. However, forest management and protection will not be significantly affected if the newly merged communes and wards promptly engage as soon as they come into operation.

Under the two-tier model, the Forest Protection Department is structured with three specialized divisions, a mobile ranger unit, a forest fire prevention and control unit, and 10 inter-communal ranger stations. Each station is responsible for 3-6 communes/wards, covering forested land areas ranging from 18,689.21ha to 81,913.13ha.

After restructuring, the Điện Biên Phủ Forest Protection Station was assigned to manage 2 communes (Mường Phăng and Thanh Nưa) and 2 wards (Mường Thanh and Điện Biên Phủ). The area under its management totals 42,804.90ha, of which 18,689.21ha is forest land. This includes 17,963.92ha of natural forest and 725.29ha of planted forest, giving a forest coverage rate of 43.66%. Since the adoption of the two-tier model, the Điện Biên Phủ station has actively and flexibly adapted its organizational and operational practices to ensure no disruption or negligence, particularly in forest management and protection.

Mr. Lò Văn Thành, Head of the Điện Biên Phủ Forest Protection Station, said: “Our unit has reviewed and updated areas at risk of encroachment, and delineated zones vulnerable to fire and deforestation. We continue to advise local People’s Committees to issue directives strengthening forest management and protection, while coordinating with specialized agencies on land and forest allocation and resolving land and forest boundary disputes.”

Immediately after district-level operations ceased, the Tuần Giáo Forest Protection Station restructured its model, reassigned tasks appropriately, reestablished coordination mechanisms with communes, stepped up outreach and awareness campaigns at the grassroots level, and applied digital technologies to forestry management to prevent any management gaps.

Ms. Nguyễn Thị Hà Thu, Head of the Tuần Giáo Forest Protection Station, emphasized: “To effectively carry out tasks under the new administrative model, we have proposed that competent authorities issue an inter-agency coordination mechanism between provincial-level specialized agencies and forested communes. This will ensure smooth directives and prevent overlapping or overlooked tasks. Given the vast area under management and the fact that some residents rely heavily on forests, resources, equipment, and technology must be allocated to effectively manage, protect, and sustainably develop the forests we oversee.”

As the specialized force for forest management and protection, ensuring compliance with forestry laws, and handling forest fire prevention and control, the Điện Biên forest rangers have been proactive in providing advice and carrying out their tasks in this new context. They are determined to safeguard existing forest areas, expand forest cover, and strive to raise the province’s forest coverage rate to 48% by 2030.