Strengthening efforts to prevent forest fires

Dak Lak province has more than 413,000 ha of natural forests and more than 83,000 ha of planted forests. Dak Lak is currently entering the dry season, this is one of the localities with a high risk of forest fires. In particular, key areas with very high fire risk are areas with large areas of planted forests, dipterocarp forests, mixed forests...

Skipping the meal in the face of forest fire

Yok Don National Park (National Park) with an area of 115,545 ha of special-use forest is located in 3 districts of 2 provinces of Dak Lak and Dak Nong. This is the unit with the largest forest area in Dak Lak.

When the reporters arrived at Yok Don National Park, a large old tree in the garden caught fire. Due to the height of the tree, on-site forces could not reach it, so they had to rely on the Buon Don district firefighting force to dispatch fire engines. After 2 hours of extinguishing the fire, the fire was contained and prevented from spreading to other areas.

Mr Phan Thanh Hoa, Deputy Head of Yok Don National Park Ranger District, said that during the dry season, forces at the park must always be ready to put out fires at any time.

“Like this afternoon, while we were dining, we received news that the banyan tree at forest protection station No. 2 was on fire. Although the tree is green, the inside is rotten. Due to the tall trees, the garden had to rely on the support of the Buon Don district firefighting force. Fortunately, the fire was controlled and did not spread to neighbouring areas", Mr Hoa said.

According to Mr Hoa, due to the low-lying terrain surrounded by highlands, the climate of the Yok Don National Park area becomes very dry and hotter than other areas. The region's climate is characterized by a highland tropical monsoon with two distinct seasons: the rainy season and the dry season. Average monthly temperature ranges from 24 - 26 degrees; the day and night temperature amplitude is very large, especially in the dry season, reaching 13 - 15 degrees Celsius.

Due to climate change, the weather has been complicated and unpredictable for many years; with prolonged dryness. In the garden, dipterocarp forests account for 92.33% of the total natural area, evenly distributed. The main vegetation types are grasslands, shrubs, teal, reeds,... due to the almost complete defoliation in the dry season. These main vegetation types dry very quickly during the dry months, especially under the canopy of dipterocarp forests. The distributed area of dipterocarp forests is considered a key forest fire area, with the highest fire risk.

The forest area managed by Chu Pha Forestry Company Limited (Ea H'leo district) has a total area of more than 14,422 ha, including nearly 2,352 ha of forests and protective forest land and more than 12,070 ha of forests and production forest land.

This is an area with a high risk of forest fires. Therefore, the company has regularly inspected and supervised three forest fire prevention teams on fire prevention and fighting work in managed forest areas; regularly organised forest patrols and inspections during the dry season months, especially in key areas prone to forest fires to promptly detect and extinguish fires.

Mr. An Ngoc Tan, Director of Chu Pha Forestry Company Limited said, to minimize the risk of forest fires, since the beginning of the dry season, the unit has cleared fire runways and actively burned young trees to avoid thick vegetation.

Proactively implementing plans

To take the lead in fire prevention work, right from the beginning of the dry season in 2024, the People's Committee of Dak Lak province has directed the authorities, localities and forest owners to develop their own plans to minimize possible forest fires. When a forest fire occurs, it is necessary to mobilize sufficient forces to promptly extinguish the fire, and avoid large, prolonged fires causing damage to forest resources.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Hung, Director of the Forest Protection Department of Dak Lak province said that there has been no rain for many months and now the weather is entering the peak of the dry season in 2024. Heat and dryness occur on a large scale, especially in districts such as Ea Sup, Buon Don, Ea H'leo, Cu M'gar, M'Drak... Many forests are at forest fire warning levels IV, V - dangerous and extremely dangerous.

Currently, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has issued documents to direct, urge, and guide localities, units, and forest owners on forest fire prevention and fighting measures.

“Forest rangers strengthen patrols and forest inspections to prevent violations of the Forestry Law in key areas, sections, hot spots with deforestation, forest land encroachment, illegal logging, and the border areas between Dak Lak province and neighbouring provinces.

The unit also develops plans to ensure forces, supplies, equipment and logistics, on a permanent basis, ready to coordinate with response forces to handle urgent situations in forest protection and forest fire prevention to prevent major fires from occurring", Mr Hung shared.