Following administrative reorganization, Mường Pồn commune was formed by merging the former communes of Mường Mươn and Mường Pồn. While staffing was streamlined, the number of local forest rangers also shifted. Yet without formal reallocation of personnel or clear job assignments, the demands of forest protection have intensified.

Previously, more than 12,000 ha of forest area across the two former communes was overseen by a single ranger, Trần Thanh Tính of the former Mường Mươn commune. Tính shared: “Although the new commune covers a larger area and district assignments haven’t been officially issued, forest management and protection cannot pause for a single day. We continue to stay rooted at the community level, proactively coordinate closely with all forces, and advise the newly formed communal People’s Committee on solutions to enhance forest protection under current conditions. I’ve recommended establishing forest management teams in each village, compiling community command lists, and setting up a Zalo-based information network to update developments and quickly address emerging issues.”

Beyond monitoring forestry-related developments, rangers like Tính respond personally to events such as landslides or forest encroachment. They coordinate on-site with land administration and local police under the four-agency cooperation protocol to inspect and resolve issues promptly. Rangers frequently work alongside commune authorities assessing forest zones at risk, both as disaster prevention and forest conservation measures.

Although many local forest rangers lack formal authority to issue documents due to unclear assignments, they persist in anchoring themselves in their communities, serving as vital “bridges” between forestry authorities and local levels. They make an important contribution to forest protection during this challenging transitional phase. Changes in administrative boundaries and government structure have led to adjustments in personnel and coordination roles, including the frontline force of local forest rangers.

Nông Xuân Vĩnh, ranger for Na Son commune, said: “Na Son now has around 6,200 ha of forest managed by three local rangers. Following the merger, administrative boundaries have changed and assignments remain pending, but forest inspection and control require rangers to quickly adapt. We maintain close coordination with commune authorities and villagers. As frontline workers, we focus on patrolling, monitoring forest conditions, conducting firefighting and onsite protection efforts, while leveraging support from the new commune administration and local community to better execute our tasks.”

Under the government’s streamlined two-tier system, communes across the province were established by merging two to six former administrative units, expanding their jurisdictions. However, the local forest ranger force remains provisionally based on the old model. Nguyễn Trung Trường, Head of Điện Biên Đông forest protection Sub-department, said: “Our unit currently has 14 rangers still working within the previous commune-based structure. Until further guidance arrives, the forest protection Sub-department requires all local forest rangers to continue full forestry management and advisory duties at the grassroots. Assignments remain based on former commune boundaries to avoid interruption.”

In the long term, it is necessary to develop a plan to reassign forest rangers based on the actual forest area and village communities, ensuring that each ranger clearly understands their assigned area to improve management efficiency. At the same time, officials will be notified and given specific guidance once an official decision is made by higher authorities. This will help maintain stable forest protection efforts without disruption during the restructuring of the local government apparatus.

Na Sang forest protection Sub-department now covers five communes, Muong Pồn, Na Sang, Si Pa Phìn, Pa Ham and Nậm Nèn, merged from 14 former communes and townships. Lường Văn Toàn, Head of Na Sang forest protection Sub-department, said: “We currently have 12 local rangers still carrying out work under old assignments to ensure forest protection is uninterrupted. In response to new management needs, we plan to establish a “cluster ranger model”  where each cluster oversees multiple communes, advising both local governments and the ranger station, and responding to any local forestry incidents directly.”

Despite pending reorganization, local rangers remain the backbone of grassroots forest protection. Through flexible and proactive solutions, they are gradually adapting to the new government model and reinforcing effective activity to secure the forests at Vietnam’s far western frontier.