In response, the Mường Nhé Forest Protection Sub-Department has been working closely with local Party committees, authorities and residents to roll out a range of coordinated measures aimed at safeguarding forest cover.

The community of Mường Nhé village, Mường Nhé commune, has been entrusted with the care and protection of more than 700 hectares of forest. For years, the forest has remained largely intact. Residents regularly patrol, clear undergrowth and create firebreaks during the dry season. The awareness that protecting the forest means protecting livelihoods has become second nature to every household.

Khoàng Thị Trường, a member of the village forest protection team, said: “We consider the forest a shared asset of the entire community. During the dry season, we remind one another to inspect high-risk areas and clear flammable vegetation. Anyone working on upland fields must be careful not to let fires spread. If we detect smoke or any unusual signs, we report it immediately to the team and forest rangers. Only by protecting the forest can we secure water and land for long term livelihoods.”

Mường Nhé village currently maintains five forest protection teams with more than 100 members. Each month, these teams work closely with local forest rangers to patrol and inspect forest areas, enabling early detection and response to potential fire risks. During peak dry periods, the teams operate on standby, with personnel and equipment ready under the “four on-site” principle. In case of incidents, villagers can be quickly mobilized to contain fires at an early stage, preventing them from spreading and minimizing damage.

Lò Văn Thanh, Head of Mường Nhé village, said: “To protect the forest effectively, we assign clear responsibilities to each team and household, linking forest protection to benefits from forest environmental service payments. This has significantly improved people’s awareness in patrolling, detecting and preventing forest encroachment as well as fire risks.”

The Mường Nhé Forest Protection Sub-Department is responsible for managing more than 146,000 hectares of natural forest across four communes: Nậm Kè, Mường Toong, Mường Nhé and Sín Thầu. The vast forest area, rugged terrain, and remote locations with difficult access pose significant challenges to forest management and wildfire prevention.

Since the beginning of the year, the sub-department has coordinated with commune authorities to develop and implement wildfire prevention and control plans based on fire risk levels. Local rangers have been directed to maintain regular patrols, especially in high risk areas, while strengthening outreach to guide residents on safe fire use in both production and daily life. Commitments on forest protection and wildfire prevention have also been signed between village heads and households, as well as between commune authorities and village leaders.

Nguyễn Đình Cương, Head of the Mường Nhé Forest Protection Sub-Department, said: “Prevention is our top priority - we act early and proactively. We have identified high risk areas and developed specific response plans, while ensuring sufficient personnel, equipment and tools under the “four on-site” approach. We are also stepping up the use of information technology and remote sensing to monitor forests and provide early fire warnings, while deploying drones to detect violations and quickly update forest changes. At the same time, we are intensifying inspections of fire use and strictly handling violations of wildfire prevention regulations.”

Thanks to the synchronized implementation of these measures, no forest fires have been recorded in areas managed by the Mường Nhé Forest Protection Sub-Department since the beginning of the year.

However, authorities warn that this year’s dry season may be prolonged and unpredictable, increasing the risk of forest fires. The sub-department will continue working with local communes to step up public awareness campaigns, maintain round-the-clock fire monitoring, and intensify patrols to promptly detect and address emerging risks. At the same time, it aims to further promote the role of local communities in forest management and protection, helping preserve the green landscape along the highland border areas.