In recent years, forest rangers have worked with local Party committees and authorities to implement comprehensive forest management and protection measures, with an emphasis on public outreach and raising awareness and responsibility among residents. In the first nine months of 2026, the province conducted 689 public awareness campaigns, attracting 41,995 attendances, and encouraged 34,563 people to sign pledges to protect forests. Local public-address systems broadcast forest protection messages 966 times, totaling 823 hours. These activities have helped raise community awareness and improve forest protection efforts.

Alongside public outreach, the authorities have intensified forest patrols and inspections to promptly detect and prevent acts of forest destruction. Since the beginning of the year, the forces involved have conducted 3,751 patrols, with 18,260 attendances. Through these patrols and inspections, forest rangers detected 322 violations, including 269 cases of illegal deforestation. All detected cases have been handled in accordance with regulations.

Forest fire prevention and firefighting have also received increased attention and been implemented effectively. From January 1 to September 15, 2026, the forest fire alert system operated by the Department of Forestry and Forest Protection recorded 4,625 fire hotspots. Inspections and verification found that 49 hotspots had affected 108.27 hectares of natural forest, degrading forest quality, while 14 hotspots had caused damage to 17.16 hectares. The authorities mobilized more than 3,456 personnel deployments to fight forest fires.

Lò Thị Thi, Deputy Head of the Forest Protection Sub-Department under the Department of Agriculture and Environment, said: “Forest management and protection measures have been implemented comprehensively, with responsibilities shared among forest rangers, local authorities, forest owners and local communities. The focus is on intensifying patrols and inspections in key areas, promptly detecting, preventing and handling violations, while stepping up public outreach to raise awareness and encourage residents to actively participate in forest protection and forest fire prevention and firefighting.”

The Mường Nhé Nature Reserve covers an area of more than 46,000 hectares, stretching along the border through the communes of Sín Thầu, Mường Nhé, and Nậm Kè. In addition to its vast forest area, this is an area of high biodiversity value, with over 1,000 species of higher plants and nearly 460 animal species recorded, many of which are endemic, endangered, precious, and rare.

To protect forest areas and biodiversity, the Management Board of Mường Nhé Nature Reserve regularly coordinates with relevant authorities, local governments and communities contracted to protect forests to conduct patrols, inspections and security checks in key areas. These activities help detect and prevent illegal logging, wildlife hunting and other acts that threaten forest resources.

In the first nine months of 2026, the reserve’s Management Board conducted 1,390 patrols, inspections and security operations, involving 10,552 personnel deployments. During these operations, the authorities detected 11 violations, including illegal logging and violations of regulations on the use of electricity for fishing and the protection of forest wildlife. They also discovered and removed 22 animal traps and other devices that posed a threat to forest resources. The Management Board coordinated with the competent authorities to handle the violations in accordance with regulations.

Diệp Văn Chính, Director of the Management Board of Mường Nhé Nature Reserve, said: “Our task forces regularly coordinate with organizations and local communities contracted to protect forests to conduct patrols and inspections, focusing on locations where potential threats to forest security have been identified. At the same time, we are expanding the use of science and technology in forest management, protection and biodiversity conservation. In the first nine months of the year, the Management Board conducted 684 patrols using the SMART patrol data management and reporting tools, helping monitor the area, compile information and support management activities.”

Forest management, protection and biodiversity conservation in Mường Nhé Nature Reserve have received strong support and active participation from residents and communities in the surrounding buffer-zone communes.

Sừng Xạ Lòng, a resident of Đoàn Kết village in Mường Nhé commune, said: “Our village forest protection team maintains weekly and monthly patrols to prevent deforestation and protect rare wildlife living in the forest. By protecting the forest effectively, we help ensure water supplies for daily life and production, while generating a stable source of income for local residents through the forest environmental services payment policy.”

In 2026, Điện Biên province aims to increase its forest coverage rate to 46%. The Department of Agriculture and Environment will continue directing the coordinated implementation of forestry tasks, promoting tree planting, forest care and natural forest regeneration, while intensifying patrols and strictly handling illegal deforestation and forestland encroachment. Forest fire prevention and firefighting measures will be proactively implemented in accordance with the “four on-the-spot” approach, enabling fire risks to be detected and addressed promptly.

Achieving this target requires close coordination among the relevant authorities, local governments and residents in forest management, protection and restoration. These efforts provide a foundation for Điện Biên to increase forest coverage, conserve biodiversity, protect the ecological environment and pursue sustainable development.