Notably, four of these cases involve severe violations surpassing the threshold for administrative penalties, raising serious concerns about households arbitrarily exploiting and encroaching on forests to secure land for production.

In recent years, forest management and protection in Mường Pồn commune have shown significant improvements. Authorities have implemented various measures to curb deforestation and deal firmly with violations. Nevertheless, the practice of clearing forests for shifting cultivation persists, severely impacting the natural forest area. Pá Chả village has emerged as a hotspot for forest encroachment, with multiple deforestation incidents detected and addressed by officials.

Mr. Nguyễn Xuân Hưng, a forest ranger responsible for Mường Pồn commune, stated that despite their efforts to advise the commune People’s Committee to adopt comprehensive solutions for enhancing forest management and protection, eight deforestation cases have still occurred in Pá Chả village. Alarmingly, four of these exceed the administrative penalty limit. Investigations reveal that the primary cause is a shortage of production land, coupled with the local habit of rotational shifting cultivation - returning to abandoned plots after a few years. The vast area designated for forestry leaves residents with limited cultivation land, driving them to violate forest protection regulations.

Ms. Lò Thị Thi, Head of the Điện Biên district’s Forest Protection Station, added that, upon discovering the deforestation cases in Pá Chả village, they conducted inspections, identified causes, and sought to pinpoint the violators. However, they have yet to identify the specific individuals responsible. For the eight cases detected, they have compiled records, initiated prosecution for four, and issued administrative penalties for the remaining four. Simultaneously, they have taken steps to safeguard the deforested areas, preventing further burning for shifting cultivation. The station has formed an inter-agency task force to inspect forest management and protection efforts by forest owners across several communes, ensuring strict action against violations.

Beyond Pá Chả village, deforestation for shifting cultivation is also prevalent in other parts of the province. Ethnic minority communities in remote areas face on-going hardships, with limited awareness of forest protection. Some residents continue traditional practices such as intercropping on forest land, constructing wooden homes, and using firewood for fuel, all of which hinder forest management, protection, and development efforts. Rising demand for production land, combined with a high proportion of land allocated to forestry, sustains deforestation.

Additionally, some forest owners exhibit lax management, lack accountability, and occasionally shield violators. Certain commune-level Party committees and authorities have not fully prioritized or fulfilled their state management duties in forestry, while the forest ranger workforce remains inadequate to meet practical demands.

Mr. Hà Lương Hồng, Director of the provincial Forest Protection Department, commented that Điện Biên is home to many communities reliant on sloping land cultivation, primarily producing food through shifting cultivation. With scarce paddy fields, livelihoods depend heavily on forests, while demand persists for wooden houses and firewood. Socio-economic development, infrastructure projects, and shifts in crop structures have placed immense pressure on forestry land, directly affecting forest management, protection, and fire prevention. Deforestation for shifting cultivation continues in districts like Nậm Pồ, Điện Biên, Điện Biên Đông, Tuần Giáo, and Mường Chà, posing significant challenges to forest protection.

To address this issue, the provincial Forest Protection Department has proposed multiple solutions to halt illegal deforestation. Key efforts include: Intensifying propaganda and legal education on forest management, protection, and development, targeting every household to ensure compliance with forestry regulations; increasing ranger presence in the field with regular inspections to swiftly detect and firmly address forest encroachment; and implementing policies to facilitate livelihood transitions, promoting sustainable agricultural models to ease pressure on forest land.

The current deforestation trend for shifting cultivation is a critical concern, necessitating decisive action from all levels of government and functional agencies. Beyond enforcement and violation handling, raising the community’s awareness of forests’ environmental and daily-life significance is paramount. When people fully grasp the value of forests, paired with suitable support policies, deforestation can be effectively curbed, fostering sustainable development.