Green treasure in Na Hang

Establish a village covenant to protect the forest

Holding the rough cloves with dark brown bark, straight trunks, roots clinging deep into the ground, sucking the lifeblood of the earth and sky, exuding a gentle woody scent, Mr. Kha Van Tuan - former leader of Mai Son commune, also one of the first households of Thai Na Hang village said: When the village was first established in 1994, this forest only had small cloves growing naturally, thanks to the awareness of protection and preservation of the villagers over the past 30 years, now there is a large primeval forest with hundreds of large and small clove trees.

“It takes at least a day to walk through this clove forest. Some trees that used to be as big as an arm are now so big that a person can’t even hug them around!” Mr. Tuan said proudly.

Admiring this precious forest known as a "green treasure", we were even more fascinated by the story of forest protection of the Thai people on the border.

Previously, Na Hang village was a production area of ​​Huoi Xa and Huoi To villages. At first, there were only a few households building temporary houses to grow crops and raise livestock, mainly rice. When Na Hang village was established, there were only 15 households, but later it gradually grew to 29 households, 135 people, with 5 clans including Luong, Vi, Kha, Lo, Lo. The people's lives depended on slash-and-burn farming, afforestation, livestock raising, and forest exploitation.

In the early days, there was only one Party group of 3 people, including Mr. Kha Van Tuan, Vi Van Vinh, and Luong Van Toan. Mr. Kha Van Tuan was elected as the village chief at that time, and together with the village elder, a prestigious person, propagated to the people the importance of forests - a common asset that everyone has the responsibility to protect, especially clove forests. Because this is a precious wood, belonging to the agarwood family, the leaves and bark give off a characteristic herbal aroma; the color and wood grain are very beautiful, with high economic value.

To preserve and protect this "treasure" of the village from being cut down by "timber hunters", for decades, the management board and people of Na Hang village have reminded each other to protect the entire forest area.

The “secret” to protecting the forest of the people of Na Hang village is the Forest Protection Covenant. At first, it was just a convention passed down by word of mouth from generation to generation, but the people unanimously followed it.

Later, to promote the self-management role of the community, protect natural resources, protect forests associated with implementing democracy at the grassroots level, the people of Na Hang village together established a written Village Covenant, with the input of the government and functional agencies, including specific provisions on forest protection and development.

Preserve valuable capital for future generations

Following the young “couple” of Party Cell Secretary and Village Chief, Kha Van Ba ​​(born in 1987) and Kha Van Ot (born in 1990), along small trails deep into the clove forest, we continued the story of forest protection. We learned that Na Hang village has established 2 forest protection groups, each group has 7-9 households; twice a month, the groups coordinate with the village management board and forest rangers to patrol.

“Currently, the entire village is protecting and taking care of a clove forest with an area of ​​100 hectares and a production forest of 170.3 hectares. People absolutely do not cut down or cultivate forests in areas with forests, with the view of preserving valuable assets for future generations. Anyone who violates will be strictly punished according to the village regulations. In case of serious violations, they will be reported to the commune authorities and local forest rangers for handling according to the law,” said Mr. Kha Van Ba, Secretary of the Party Cell of Na Hang village.

“Since childhood, we have heard our ancestors tell us not to cut wood in the forest to trade or buy and sell, but to take care of and preserve it together. Only trees that break naturally will be allowed to be harvested by the villagers to build houses. Any family in the village who tries to cut down trees in the forest to build a house will be severely punished,” added Na Hang village chief Kha Van Ot.

According to the village elders, the awareness of forest protection has been ingrained in the villagers’ blood through generations. In recent years, Na Hang village has also benefited from the forest environmental service payment policy, providing additional motivation to raise awareness and responsibility in forest management and protection.

“Being attached to the forest, living with the forest, and benefiting from the forest, the people of Na Hang village consider protecting the forest to keep the village peaceful and prosperous. This is also a typical model of “Smart Mass Mobilization” in the locality,” said Mr. Lo Anh Dien - Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Mai Son commune.

To reassure the villagers about protecting and sticking to the forest, the Party Cell and the Na Hang Village Management Board actively propagate and mobilize them to develop household economy, eliminate hunger and reduce poverty; utilize flat land along streams and creeks to grow vegetables and beans of all kinds; build economic models (raising goats, buffaloes, cows, poultry, garden-pond-barn models)...

Thanks to that, the people's lives are increasingly prosperous. In particular, thanks to their solidarity in protecting the forest, the people of Na Hang village are rewarded by nature when they live amidst the green, fresh air, with precious trees continuing to grow green in the vast forest...