Determination to green barren hills

In Hin 1 and 2 villages, Na Sang commune, since 2022, the Management Board for Protection and Special-Use Forests has implemented the planting of nearly 50 hectares of forest on upland field areas planned for protection forest. Some plots had been abandoned by people for several years, while others were still being cultivated for income. However, when communicated with and mobilized to switch to planting forests to green barren land and hills, people supported and enthusiastically participated.

Mr. Sìn Văn Ninh’s family has 4 hectares of degraded upland field that was converted to forest planting in 2024. Mr. Ninh is very happy because after one year of care, 100% of the planted trees have developed without dying or suffering from pests or diseases.

Mr. Ninh shared: “This upland area of my family used to grow rice and cassava, but the efficiency was not high. When the Management Board for Protection and Special-Use Forests implemented the protection forest planting project, my family participated, receiving state investment for 4 years. The benefit of planting forests is preserving the environment, so my family tries to take good care of them so that later we can benefit from the policy of payment for forest environmental services.”

Mr. Dương Đình Lễ, an official from the Management Board for Protection and Special-Use Forests, said: “Before 2022, the Board had already implemented forest planting projects in Hin 1 and 2 villages. After realizing the benefits and effectiveness of forest planting, people responded very positively.”

Si Pa Phìn commune has over 17,000 hectares of land planned for forestry. However, unforested land accounts for up to 75%. Recently, with support from forest planting projects, people of Si Pa Phìn are actively greening barren land, hills, and degraded upland fields.

In Chế Phủ village, Si Pa Phìn commune, after nearly 4 years, what used to be abandoned upland fields now sees pine trees firmly rooted and growing strongly. Mr. Mùa A Tùng’s family in Chế Phủ village converted over 1 hectare of degraded upland field to pine planting.

Mr. Tùng said: “After being informed by the forest rangers about planting forests to later benefit from forest environmental services, I switched to forest planting. Every year, I clear bushes twice and build fences to prevent buffaloes and cows from damaging the pine trees.”

To ensure the effective “greening” of barren land and hills, the forest ranger force regularly visits each village to organize public meetings and stays close to the area to mobilize each household to actively plant forests. In 2025, people of Si Pa Phìn commune continue to plant dozens of new hectares of protection and production forests.

Increasing forest coverage

Over the past 5 years, each year the Điện Biên provincial Management Board for Protection and Special-Use Forests has planted over 100 hectares of forest under protection forest planting and forest replacement projects. Implementing the Điện Biên province forestry development plan for 2025, the provincial People’s Committee assigned the provincial Management Board for Protection and Special-Use Forests to plant 100 hectares of protection forest and nearly 70 hectares of replacement forest in upstream areas to mitigate natural disasters and conserve water for daily life and agricultural production. To ensure the forest planting projects meet the annually assigned targets, the Board has coordinated with commune authorities and functional agencies to review the planned areas for protection and special-use forests that are currently unforested, in order to mobilize people to plant trees.

According to a report from the Department of Agriculture and Environment, as of October 21, 2025, localities and units in the province had organized the new planting of protection and special-use forests covering 268.82ha out of 199ha (achieving 135% of the assigned plan); cared for 838.6ha of planted forests; facilitated natural regeneration zoning for 2,640.58ha of transitional natural forests; and planted 446,663 scattered trees. The promotion of tree and forest planting is carried out in parallel with the care, zoning, and protection of existing forests. The survival rate of newly planted trees reached over 85%, 10% higher than in the 2021 - 2023 period, demonstrating a positive change in awareness and methods.

In addition, Điện Biên is implementing many protection and replacement forest planting projects with a total area of over 1,000 hectares, concentrated in key areas that play a role in climate regulation, erosion control, and protection of water sources for domestic use and production.

Parallel to state programs, the social mobilization movement for planting green trees has also spread strongly. Campaigns like “Điện Biên Green Heart” and “Greening Barren Land with Highland Youth” have attracted thousands of union members, students, and businesses. To date, the province has received over 400,000 sponsored seedlings, including Chukrasia tabularis, hybrid acacia, macadamia, and Melia azedarach, species that are both suitable for the climate and have economic value.