Proposing Prime Minister allocating urgent funds for wildfire prevention and control

500 ha of forest was affected attributing to wildfires

The Forest Protection Department reports that during the first quarter of 2024, a total of 89 wildland fires broke out across the nation, impacting an approximate area of 500 hectares. The affected areas consisted primarily of planted forests, degraded natural forests, and young forests that had not yet fully recovered. This number increased by more than 25% compared to the same period in 2023.

The forest fires have caused ecological destruction, economic losses, and major challenges to forest protection and management. In particular, three firefighters died in the line of duty while attempting to extinguish forest fires. While suppressing fires in the special-use forest area of Tay Con Linh, Ha Giang province, two forestry officials and one civilian in the Muong Cha district of Dien Bien province died.

According to the Ha Giang Provincial Forest Inspection Department, the fire that claimed the lives of two forestry officials in Tay Con Linh was discovered in the areas of three communes on April 26 namely Lao Chai, Xin Chai, Phuon Tien, Vinh Xuan, Vi Xuyen district. More than one thousand persons were mobilized to combat the fire.

Approximately 10 hectares of forest were damaged despite the active implementation of the "4 on the spot" motto; this was due to the difficult terrain, high mountains, dense underbrush, and the height of the dry season with powerful winds.

The escalation of forest fires during the initial four months of the year can be attributed not only to the El Niño phenomenon, which resulted in elevated temperatures and a greater number of hot days than average in recent years, but also to the imprudence of people who burned fields for agricultural purposes while using fire in or near the forest.

According to data provided by the Forest Protection Department, approximately 65% of forest fire incidents were caused by burning grasslands and fields for cultivation. Additionally, over 20% of forest fires were attributed to negligent underbrush management, garden clearance, and improper fire utilization. Assembling the remaining cases involved activities such as cooking, coal combustion, grass fire, and forest animal hunting.

Additionally, forest fires are increasing on a global scale. According to the Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT) of the Catholic University of Louvain (Belgium), 2023 recorded the highest number of forest fire fatalities since the turn of the 21st century, with over 250.

Forest fires in 2023 contributed to the greenhouse effect by destroying approximately 400 million hectares of forest and emitting 6.5 billion tons of CO2. The forest fire that occurred in Hawaii in August 2023 claimed the lives of 97 people and left 31 others missing. In addition, forest fires in Algeria and Greece claimed the lives of 34 and 26 individuals, respectively, in July 2023.

Frequent forest fires deplete vegetation cover of sufficient time to recover, thereby endangering forests' capacity to sequester carbon dioxide. Atmospheres, Environments, and Space Observations Laboratory (LATMOS) of France acknowledges that forest fires can reduce forest CO2 absorption by 10%. Moreover, trees may release all the CO2 they have absorbed.

It is vital to increase funding for forest protection forces

MARD noted that illegal logging and forest exploitation are complex issues due to a combination of factors, including extensive forest distribution, which is primarily concentrated in economically and socially disadvantaged areas, and rapid population pressure in forested regions. Furthermore, in certain regions, the guidance and execution of efforts to prevent and control forest fires remain insufficient, and there is a dearth of efficient mechanisms to ensure responsibility.

Furthermore, the implementation of scientific and technological advancements in forest fire prevention and control is constrained, particularly with regard to the underutilized utilization of geospatial technologies such as GIS for early detection of forest fires. Inadequate modern equipment is also present, including optical cameras and drones that are crucial for the early detection and vigilant monitoring of forest fires.

"Numerous localities continue to rely on basic implements, such as branches and blades, to put out forest fires. They are powerless in the face of a significant fire because they lack the high-efficiency equipment to extinguish the blaze quickly. Inadequate equipment diminishes the effectiveness of forest fire control despite the mobilization of a large number of participants," MARD emphasized.

Insufficient investment and attention have been given to specialized forest fire prevention and control forces, including forest rangers, with regards to infrastructure, personnel, equipment, and vehicles.

The forest fire prevention and control forces' administration and policies have failed to satisfy the necessary standards. In particular, the compensation provided to individuals engaged in forest fire control is inadequate, thereby failing to inspire and motivate public participation.

MARD further advises the Prime Minister to consider immediate allocation of funds in 2024 towards forest fire prevention and control initiatives in focal areas and regions with elevated forest fire hazards. Concurrently, allocate funding with the following priorities in forest fire prevention and control and forest protection and management during the public investment project phase 2026-2030.

The Ministry suggests the issuance of regulations to assist forest fire control forces over an extended period of time. Furthermore, it is recommended that unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) be included in the roster of critical equipment authorized for operation by forestry management agencies, state-appointed forest proprietors, and leasing forests.

MARD recommends that the Capacity Enhancement Plan for Forest Ranger Forces in forest management, protection, and forest fire prevention and control be efficiently executed between 2021 and 2030, in accordance with Prime Ministerial Decision No. 177/QD-TTg dated February 10, 2022. Forests are present in all 60 provinces and cities across the nation. In addition to this, it is critical to strengthen education and propaganda in order to increase public awareness and capacity regarding forest protection, fire prevention, and control.