Nghe An province directs the strengthening of forest fire prevention and control measures.

Nghe An is a province that hasforest areaThe largest forest cover in the country, in 2023, reached 58.33%, comprising various forest types, including large areas of pine plantations, eucalyptus plantations (which contain essential oils), degraded natural forests, mixed forests of timber and bamboo, and bamboo forests, with undergrowth highly susceptible to fire, causing floods during the dry season.

During the summer months, prolonged periods of hot, dry weather, combined with strong southwest winds and low humidity, create a very high risk of forest fires, causing significant damage to forest resources and directly impacting the economy, society, security, and order, as well as destroying the ecological environment and the lives of the people.

To proactively prevent and effectively implement forest fire prevention and control measures, aiming to minimize the number of fires and the area of ​​forest burned in 2024, the Provincial People's Committee requests provincial departments, agencies, the People's Committees of districts, cities, and towns, and forest owners to implement the following contents:

1.People's Committees of districts, cities, and towns

The Chairpersons of the People's Committees at the district, city, and town levels are responsible for directing the implementation of forest fire prevention and control measures in their areas, considering this a key task of the locality, with particular attention to and direction of the following main tasks:

Summarize the work on forest protection and forest fire prevention and control in 2023, and effectively develop and implement the forest fire prevention and control plan for 2024 in the area. Effectively carry out propaganda, dissemination, and legal education on forest fire prevention and control to raise awareness and responsibility among Party committees, government agencies, and the community.

Establish and strengthen the Steering Committee for the Sustainable Forestry Development Program for the period 2021-2025 in the district, assigning specific tasks to its members. Direct forest owners and the People's Committees of communes to thoroughly review and develop, and effectively implement forest fire prevention and control plans according to the "four on-the-spot" principle (on-the-spot equipment, on-the-spot forces, on-the-spot command, and on-the-spot logistics). Focus on the following aspects: professional training and forest fire fighting drills; clearing undergrowth, pre-burning flammable materials, creating firebreaks, installing fire prohibition signs, and regulations for entering and exiting the forest; inspecting, detecting, and promptly addressing any shortcomings or deficiencies in the local forest fire prevention and control plans and those of forest owners in the area to take timely corrective and remedial measures.

Proactively organize the signing of cooperation agreements on forces and resources with military units and armed forces stationed in the area, in order to unify the mechanism and methods of mobilizing and coordinating forest firefighting forces in the event of large-scale forest fires.

Strengthen inspections of forest fire safety in key forest areas, effectively manage shifting cultivation activities; burn undergrowth for reforestation; prevent and strictly punish acts of deforestation for reforestation or illegal conversion of forest land use.

Localities with pine resin forests need to strengthen the management of pine resin harvesting activities, strictly enforce regulations on harvesting documentation, monitor harvesting techniques, prevent illegal harvesting and harvesting that violates technical procedures; and strictly prohibit the use of the herringbone-shaped (defoliant) harvesting method, which destroys pine forests after harvesting.

Regularly update and monitor forest fire warning information on the Forest Protection Department's early warning system at the website: Kiemlam.org.vn to check for early detection of forest fires and take timely remedial measures.

Strengthen forest patrols and fire control measures. During hot weather, when the risk of forest fires is high, maintain personnel and be on duty 24/7 at the offices of the Steering Committee for Forest Fire Prevention and Control at all levels, Forest Ranger Stations, forest owners, and at fire watchtowers. Monitor and manage the bringing of fire into the forest, the use of fire near and within the forest; provide guidance on safe fire use for recreational activities, tourist visits, burning incense, and burning votive paper that pose a risk of igniting forest fires.

In the event of a forest fire, the Chairpersons of the People's Committees at the district and commune levels must promptly mobilize local forces, technical equipment, and logistics, and directly supervise and command forest firefighting efforts. If a large fire occurs that exceeds the local capacity to extinguish, they must mobilize forces from military units stationed in the area according to the signed cooperation agreement and coordination regulations, and simultaneously report to the Provincial People's Committee to request additional support; assign local personnel to be ready to receive and guide the deployed forces to assist in forest firefighting, ensuring they reach the fire as quickly as possible.

After extinguishing the fire, it is necessary to deploy forces to extinguish all remaining embers, conduct a site inspection, investigate and clarify the cause of the forest fire, determine the responsibility of organizations and individuals involved in the forest fire, and compile a quick report on the developments of the forest fire incident to the Standing Office (Department of Agriculture and Rural Development) and the Provincial People's Committee as prescribed. Guide forest owners in the area to take measures to restore the forest after the fire in accordance with the law.

2. Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Effectively perform the functions of the Standing Office - Steering Committee for the Forestry Development Program of Nghe An province, 2021-2025 (Steering Committee); advise on the timely issuance of documents to urge, direct, and organize forest fire prevention and fighting forces; guide the development, appraisal, and approval of forest fire prevention and fighting plans according to regulations.

Strengthen the inspection and supervision of the development and implementation of forest fire prevention and control plans by localities and forest owners; preside over and coordinate with members of the Steering Committee to inspect fire safety conditions in key forest areas; identify shortcomings and weaknesses in the organization and implementation of forest fire prevention and control plans in localities and forest owners to direct timely correction, remediation, and supplementation.

Directing the Forest Protection Department: Strengthen the standing force for forest fire prevention in key forest areas with a high risk of fire to implement effective preventive measures. Simultaneously, consolidate and improve the Mobile Forest Protection and Firefighting Team, ensuring sufficient personnel, firefighting expertise, physical training, firefighting skills, essential technical and logistical support, and 24/7 readiness to respond to all forest fire situations; effectively implement forest fire warning systems at fire watchtowers throughout the province, monitor the forest fire warning information system of the Forest Protection Department, and coordinate with the Provincial Radio and Television Station to broadcast forest fire warning bulletins throughout the province.

Provide guidance on implementing current regulations on forest fire prevention and control; direct the review and repair of infrastructure serving forest fire prevention and control.

Participate in firefighting command, provide technical guidance on firefighting, and directly monitor the situation and progress of local forest firefighting efforts. Compile and promptly report to the Provincial People's Committee and the Central Steering Committee on the forest fire situation in the province in accordance with regulations. 24/7 hotline for forest fire prevention and control: 02383842710

3. Provincial Military Command

Direct the Military Commands of districts, cities, and towns to advise the People's Committees at the district level to coordinate forces and resources with military units stationed in the area, ready to participate in forest fire prevention and control. Direct and manage subordinate agencies and units to mobilize forces and resources to coordinate with the Forest Protection force and local forces to implement forest fire prevention and control plans; report and request the 4th Military Region to reinforce forces and resources when the level of forest fires exceeds the control capacity of local forces.

Coordinate closely with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in managing and mobilizing forest firefighting forces when large fires occur.

4. Provincial Police

Directing the Fire Prevention, Firefighting and Rescue Police Department: Guiding and coordinating with the Forest Protection Department to inspect, organize training and professional development in specialized forest fire prevention and firefighting for forest rangers, forest owners and local authorities; conducting periodic forest fire safety inspections before the hot season for forests at risk of fire or violating forest fire safety regulations; coordinating the mobilization of forces, technical equipment and participating in forest firefighting in localities when large fires occur.

Directing professional departments and police forces in districts, cities, and towns to strengthen coordination in forest fire fighting. For forest fires that cause significant damage to forest resources, organize investigations and combat crime of arson and forest destruction to promptly and strictly handle them according to the law, in order to educate, prevent, and deter others.

5. Provincial Border Guard Command

Directing subordinate Border Guard Posts stationed in the area to prepare forces, equipment, technology, and logistics, ready to coordinate closely with forest rangers, People's Committees of districts and towns, and forest management units to participate in forest fire rescue and extinguishing when requested by local authorities and relevant units.

6. Departments: Finance, Planning and Investment

In coordination with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, consider and prioritize the allocation of sufficient funds to strengthen propaganda efforts and purchase equipment and vehicles for forest fire fighting, create firebreaks, and clear undergrowth for the Forest Protection Sub-department, forest owners, and localities at high risk of forest fires.

7. Provincial Radio and Television Station, Nghe An Newspaper, Provincial Electronic Information Portal

Effectively carry out propaganda and mobilization work to ensure people strictly comply with State regulations on forest fire prevention and control; coordinate with units under the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to compile and broadcast daily forest fire warning and forecast bulletins in news programs and other related programs broadcast on NTV television, Nghe An Newspaper and other news websites so that people are aware and can proactively respond and prevent fires.

Directors of provincial departments, heads of provincial agencies, chairmen of district, city, and town People's Committees, and heads of relevant agencies and units are requested to seriously implement this directive.