Thanks to their collective efforts to protect the forests, vast stretches of green forest along the border have become a “green shield,” helping protect the ecological environment, sustain local livelihoods and safeguard the peaceful lives of people in the westernmost part of the country.

At the crack of dawn, while the morning mist still enveloped the deep-green forest canopy, Chang Lòng Cà, Head of Leng Su Sìn village, and members of the village’s forest protection team set out to patrol and inspect the forests under their management.

Following narrow trails through the vast forest, they carefully observed every area, promptly detecting and addressing any signs of unusual activity while reminding local residents of the importance of forest protection. For them, each patrol is not merely an assigned responsibility, but also a journey to preserve the green forests that have been intertwined with the lives of generations in this westernmost land.

Chang Lòng Cà said: “For generations, our ancestors and parents have lived alongside the forests, loved them and regarded them as an inseparable part of our village. They always reminded younger generations like us to cherish and protect the forests as we would protect our own ‘roots.’ As long as the forests remain, so do our water sources; they shelter our lives, while keeping our villages green and full of vitality. That is why protecting the forests is not only a responsibility but has become a deeply rooted awareness and way of life for every resident of Leng Su Sìn.”

In Tả Ló San village, the spirit of forest protection has become a shared commitment and responsibility throughout the community. From the elderly to younger generations, residents are joining hands to protect the “green shoots” of the future. Today, with nearly 3,000ha of forest entrusted to the community for management and protection, residents of Tả Ló San not only contribute to preserving the vast green forests but also receive income from the forest environmental services payment policy.

Pờ Xuân Mười, a resident of Tả Ló San village, said: “The forests in Tả Ló San are vast, but for generations our people have regarded them as a shared asset of the village and something closely connected to our lives. That is why everyone voluntarily joins hands to protect the forests, regularly organizing patrols and reminding one another not to cut down or encroach on the forest. Some days the forest trails are long and steep, making travel extremely difficult, but people are not afraid of hardship. We work together to protect every stretch of forest and every patch of green for our village and future generations.”

Amid the endless green of Sín Thầu’s forests, the footsteps of forest rangers and village forest protection teams continue to cross mountains and streams, quietly making their way along forest trails to preserve the vast green canopy.

Each patrol is not only a journey to protect every patch of forest and safeguard the ecological environment, but also a journey to preserve the cultural values, customs and way of life that have been closely intertwined with the ethnic communities living along the border for generations.

Pờ Mì Nò, a forest ranger at the Sín Thầu Forest Ranger Station, said: “Recognizing that forest protection is a shared responsibility, we regularly coordinate with forest protection teams in villages to conduct patrols and promptly detect and prevent acts that harm the forests. What is encouraging is that local people are becoming increasingly aware and actively participating in forest protection because they understand that protecting the forests also means protecting water sources, the living environment and the community’s traditional values.”

With a forest cover rate of 71.05%, the border commune of Sín Thầu is one of the localities with the highest forest cover rates in Điện Biên province. This achievement has been made possible by Sín Thầu’s focus on mobilizing the entire political system and local communities in forest management and protection, while strengthening public communication and raising awareness and responsibility among residents.

In particular, village forest protection teams have played a key role, becoming “forest guardians” who live close to local people and remain close to the forests, helping preserve the vast green canopy along the border. In the first six months of the year, the teams coordinated with forest owners to conduct 33 forest patrols and inspections, involving 259 participants.

Đàm Văn Cường, Deputy Chairman of the Sín Thầu commune People’s Committee, said that with a strong sense of responsibility and deep affection for the forests, residents of Sín Thầu are becoming increasingly proactive and voluntarily joining hands to protect the forests that have been part of their lives for generations. From village forest protection teams to individual households, residents work together to conduct patrols, remind one another and promptly detect and prevent acts that threaten the forests.

The Sín Thầu commune authorities have directed the Economic Division, Sín Thầu Forest Ranger Station and Special-Use Forest Management and Protection Teams No. 2 and No. 3 to work closely with relevant authorities, forest owners and groups of households contracted to protect special-use forests. They have stepped up patrols and inspections, particularly in areas at high risk of forest fires and forest land encroachment.

The commune also regularly monitors and updates meteorological and hydrological forecasts from the Điện Biên Hydro-Meteorological Station, as well as forest fire warnings published on the website of the Department of Forest Protection. When the forest fire danger level reaches III, IV or V, the commune promptly notifies agencies, units, organizations, individuals and forest owners so that they can proactively implement appropriate and effective forest management, protection, fire prevention and firefighting measures, minimizing the risk of forest fires.

Forest management and protection in Sín Thầu commune are carried out regularly through coordination among local authorities, forest rangers, forest owners and village forest protection teams. During patrols and inspections in the first six months of the year, the forces detected 10 violations in the forestry sector, including five cases of illegal forest destruction and two cases of illegal forest exploitation, along with two additional cases of illegal forest destruction, among other violations.

These results demonstrate the proactive and responsible approach to forest protection while contributing to greater compliance with forestry laws and helping preserve the vast green forests in the border area.

On the mountain slopes of Sín Thầu, young shoots quietly emerge from the moist soil, ushering in a new cycle of green growth across the forests. Protecting forests has never been an easy task; every step taken on patrol represents a sustained commitment of determination and responsibility.

When local authorities, forest rangers and residents share the same determination, the green forests will continue to be protected and passed on from one generation to the next.