As a mountainous region, Điện Biên province is severely affected by climate change and extreme weather events. Heavy rainfall often leads to flash floods on rivers and streams, as well as landslides on steep hillsides, which have a negative impact on the environment, threaten people’s lives, destroy infrastructure, agricultural land, and cause localized traffic blockages. Even a single heavy rainstorm can cause landslides, blocking roads and disrupting traffic. For example, the heavy rain on the night of June 15, continuing until the morning of June 16, resulted in a landslide that blocked traffic on National Highway 12, passing through Huổi Lèng commune, Mường Chà district. Though the landslide was not large, the recovery process took several hours, leaving vehicles unable to pass. The danger is even greater as the residents live on the slopes or at the foot of mountains, making their homes vulnerable to being washed away or buried during floods and landslides.

A flash flood in Mường Pồn commune, Điện Biên district, occurred nearly a year ago, but the devastating aftermath still haunts many people. On the night of July 25, 2024, heavy rain lasted throughout the night and continued until the early morning, causing floodwaters and debris to rush down from the hills, sweeping away homes and possessions, resulting in 7 deaths and missing persons.

Besides human casualties, the flood destroyed everything in its path, with 10 houses completely washed away, 8 houses collapsed, affecting 100 other homes, and thousands of cubic meters of soil and rock covering fields. After the flash flood, Mường Pồn 1 village was left with piles of mud, stones, and trees scattered everywhere. Tragically, the flood claimed the lives of dozens of people, with a property loss of nearly VND 200 billion. The aftermath of the flash flood was a difficult journey, from searching for the missing in the mud to urgently relocating people from dangerous areas, rebuilding lives after the agricultural land was buried.

The effects of climate change and extreme weather are significant, not only affecting assets and livelihoods but also taking human lives. Therefore, each individual needs to be fully aware of the impact of their actions on the environment and take responsibility for its protection. The indifferent attitude toward the environment, thinking that protecting the environment is the responsibility of the government, specialized organizations, and authorities, is one of the main reasons leading to environmental degradation, complex climate change, and frequent extreme weather events.

For a mountainous area like Điện Biên, with a large forested area, reforestation, forest protection, and sustainable forest management are the most practical actions to protect the environment. Planting and protecting forests, preventing the land from becoming barren hills, and avoiding the serious damage caused by floods and landslides when the hillsides are bare, with no trees to anchor the soil. However, forest protection has not been effectively implemented as there are still incidents of illegal deforestation for agricultural purposes, timber cutting, and illegal logging. Just in the first three months of this year, the province has detected 195 cases of deforestation, an increase of 137.8% compared to the same period last year, causing damage to 64 hectares of forest.

In the first three months of the year, Tuần Giáo was a hotspot for deforestation, with 59 cases (57 administrative violations, 2 criminal cases), Điện Biên district with 44 cases (31 administrative, 13 criminal), Mường Chà district with 26 cases (25 administrative, 1 criminal), Tủa Chùa with 18 cases, and Điện Biên Đông with 11 cases. Protective forests and production forests were violated, with large trees illegally cut down and exploited. The challenge is that many cases of deforestation did not have identifiable perpetrators to be held accountable, reducing the deterrent effect.

The root cause of deforestation lies in the deep-seated habits and needs of local ethnic minority people, who rely on timber for housing, firewood, and agricultural land. Another reason is the indifference of local authorities in fully implementing their responsibilities for forestry management. Many localities believe that forest protection is the responsibility of the forest rangers and authorities, and thus remain indifferent, lacking decisive leadership and action when deforestation occurs in their areas.

Deforestation, indifference to the environment, littering, and failure to comply with environmental protection regulations are irresponsible actions toward the environment. If everyone remains indifferent and dismisses warnings about natural disaster risks, the consequences of extreme weather events will be severe. Therefore, raising awareness about the environment is one of the solutions to change people’s indifferent attitude toward environmental issues. The proactive involvement of every individual, unit, and locality is crucial in responding to and mitigating the damage caused by natural disasters. Everyone needs to better understand and participate in activities to protect forests and natural resources to spread awareness about environmental protection.