Complex topography, a bordering frontier, and socio-economic development activities pose numerous challenges to the governance of forest resources. Staying close to the grassroots, intensifying patrols, applying technology, and coordinating multifaceted forces, the Thanh An Forest Protection Station has progressively elevated the efficacy of preserving natural ecosystems.

Nguyễn Hồng Thanh, Head of the Thanh An Forest Protection Station, stated: “Recently, the Thanh An Forest Protection Station has concentrated on directing area-assigned forest rangers to stay close to the grassroots and proactively advise communal People’s Committees in directing forestry affairs. The territory under the station’s management sees numerous inspection and survey activities involving forestry land, such as macadamia and coffee planting projects, livestock farms, transport infrastructure, and national defense projects. We proactively coordinate to verify field conditions right from the outset alongside specialized departments, border guards, military forces, and enterprises.”

Thanks to close coordination between local administrations, mass organizations, and functional forces, the unit organized 19 direct communication sessions on the Forestry Law for 1,133 attendees. Forest patrolling and monitoring were sustained regularly with 213 inspection rounds, engaging 724 participants. Notably, the entire area consolidated 110 forest fire prevention and fighting teams at the village and village levels, prepared to respond in all eventualities. Adjusting the planning of three forest categories reached 55.06%, simultaneously creating economic development space while maintaining tight management to prevent the exploitation of development projects for forest land encroachment. At the same time, forest rangers resolutely advised decisive handling of all violations.

Alongside prevention, tracking forest resource dynamics was conducted rigorously based on satellite imagery data. Area-assigned rangers inspected 191 out of 219 forest gain change points and 603 out of 750 forest loss change points provided by the provincial Forest Protection Sub-department; completing 100% of field verifications for points reviewed by the Forest Protection and Development Fund. The unit effectively manages 66 captive wild animal breeding establishments with 2,859 individual animals, ensuring 100% legal provenance. Thanks to excelling in local territory management, only 3 forestry violations were detected during the quarter.

Thanh An commune possesses over 1,200ha of forestry land characterized by complex terrain and long-standing swidden cultivation habits. To effectively fulfill forest management and protection mandates, forest rangers assigned to the commune deployed synchronized, reality-grounded solutions - ranging from “knocking on every door and walking down every alley” to disseminate legal regulations to resolutely tackling acts encroaching upon forest resources.

Thẩm Thị Oanh, the forest ranger in charge of Thanh An commune, stated: “Recently, thanks to close coordination among forest rangers, commune police, and local authorities, we have innovated communication methods, going directly to villages to convene residents, disseminate laws, and mobilize villagers to denounce deforestation acts. Whenever violations are uncovered, functional forces promptly arrive on-site to penalize offenders and enforce the uprooting of illegally planted crops. Consequently, public awareness has markedly improved; villagers actively participate in forest fire prevention teams and accompany rangers on deep-forest patrols.”

The upcoming period marks the peak dry season with heightened risks of forest fires and forestry violations. Te Thanh An Forest Protection Station continues coordinating with communal People’s Committees to strictly govern existing forest stands, newly expanded forest areas, and unallocated, unleased lands. Parallel to this, the unit accelerates information technology applications in early warning for forest fire risks, determined to fulfill the 2026 forest cover targets and preserve sustainable green canopies across the Điện Biên valley basin.