Forest protection through the use of cameras

Mang Yang district (Gia Lai province) has an area of over 48,000 ha of natural forest, with complicated terrain, frequent encroachments, and difficulties in forest management and protection. In response to the above situation, the Mang Yang District People's Committee conducted a survey and installed cameras at many key locations in the communes. Thanks to that, the camera has a positive effect, the vast forests are kept intact.

"Magic eyes" effectively protect the forest

Hra commune (Mang Yang district) has nearly 395 ha of forest in sub-zone 489, where there are many precious timber trees, which are always watched by loggers, seeking to illegally exploit them. Fearing that the forest would "bleed", Hra commune installed 2 cameras at key positions along De Kon village and set up a guard post. 

Recorded in the forest of De Kon village, the camera was installed at a fixed point at the junction of the three ends of the village, next to the forest protection post. Through the camera, the functional forces can monitor and observe over 24/24 hours to promptly detect the objects of forest encroachment in sub-zone 489.

Growing acacia hybrid not far from the forest protection post, Mr Nu (Ba Na ethnic group, De Kon village) said, about 3-4 years ago, in the village, there is often illegal logging. But for more than a year now, since the installment of a surveillance camera, that no longer happens. Currently, people in the village go to the forest mainly to transport acacia hybrid, eucalyptus... and strangers with suspicious expressions do not dare to appear in this area.

Mr. Hriu, head of De Kon village (Hra commune), said that the whole community of De Kon village was contracted to protect the entire forest area in sub-zone 489. Since the installation of the camera, the forest management and protection of the state in general and the community of De Kon village, in particular, have brought effective results, helping people to timely detect cases of illegal timber transportation. "With cameras, loggers are also afraid to go into the forest to harvest wood, so violations are almost non-existent", said Mr. Hriu.

According to Mr. Hriu, in the past, when there were no cameras, the functional forces as well as the people contracted had a hard time protecting the forest. They have to go through many roads to patrol, guard, see who is transporting illegal timber, immediately prevent them, and at the same time report to the authorities for handling.

Mr Hoang Xuan Hiep, ranger of Hra commune (Mang Yang District Forest Protection Department) said, when the forest area in sub-zone 489 was allocated to the community of De Kon village, we also advised the establishment of 4 forest protection groups, each group has 20 people. We coordinate with the regional forest rangers to organize patrols to protect and inform the authorities of any suspicions and suspects showing signs of deforestation. 

Evaluating the effectiveness of installing surveillance cameras, Mr Hiep said: "Installing cameras is like a 'magic eye' that both protects the forest and monitors the security and order situation in the commune".

Expanding to the whole province

Mang Yang district is considered a pioneer in installing surveillance cameras to help protect forests effectively. This approach has also received a response from localities and units in Gia Lai province to deploy the installation of cameras to monitor, observe and serve the management and protection of forests.

Sharing about the idea of installing surveillance cameras, Mr Krung Dam Doan, Vice Chairman of Mang Yang District People's Committee said, previously, the district was known as a "hot spot" for illegal logging. However, the functional forces did not have enough equipment and evidence to catch the loggers. The question of how to most effectively limit deforestation is always raised at meetings. 

Then, realizing that the local forest environmental service fund was still available, the Mang Yang district suggested installing a camera to monitor the management and protection of the forest and was supported. 

Immediately, the Mang Yang District People's Committee directed the Forest Protection Department, District Police, and commune authorities to survey the locations where cameras need to be placed to bring the most effective results. After the communes reported on, the district decided to install 19 cameras at key locations in 8 communes in the area. With a total estimated budget of nearly VND 300 million, the surveillance camera will officially come into operation at the beginning of 2023.

Commenting on the effectiveness of surveillance cameras, Mr. Doan said that by the end of the year, there will be a specific assessment of the effectiveness of the surveillance camera system. However, according to visual assessment, placing the camera in "sensitive" positions has made the suspects hide, refusing to aggressively exploit illegal timber. Thanks to the camera, several cases of illegal transportation of firewood by people were also extracted by the functional forces for timely handling. In addition, the camera also serves to monitor the status of mineral mining in the area.

According to Mr Doan, in the coming time, the district will continue to survey to install more surveillance cameras in many different locations. The goal is to minimize deforestation most effectively.

With the good practice of Mang Yang district, the Gia Lai Department of MARD immediately directed localities to review and make statistics of camera installation locations for forest management and protection. Accordingly, to have a basis to evaluate the effectiveness of the installation and use of cameras in forest management and protection and implementation in many localities, The Department of MARD requests districts to coordinate in reviewing and making statistics of installed locations, locations that are expected for installment or have plans and objectives to install cameras to serve the management and protection of the forest. At the same time, identify difficulties, problems, inadequacies, suggestions, and recommendations in the installation, use, and maintenance of camera operation.