Strengthening coordination to minimize forest fires in 2019
(Baonghean.vn) - In 2018, Nghe An had 21 forest fires, causing damage to 80.33 hectares of forest. The forest fires in 2018 were mainly caused by intentional burning of forests and some fires caused by burning of vegetation, causing the fire to spread into the forest. That was the information given at the conference summarizing forestry work in 2018 on the afternoon of March 19.
Attending and chairing the conference were comrade Dinh Viet Hong - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Provincial Steering Committee on the Target Program for Sustainable Forestry Development in Nghe An province; members of the steering committee, military units, leaders of districts, cities and towns.
There were 21 forest fires in 2018.
The report of the Provincial People's Committee shows that: Nghe An has a total natural area of 1,648,997 hectares with forestry land area of 1,166,109 hectares (accounting for 70.7%). Of which, planted forests are 173,055 hectares; unforested land is 279,206 hectares; forest cover is 58%. Rich forests and medium forests are 243,547 hectares (accounting for 25.8%), with an estimated area of more than 91 million m3 wood of all kinds. Forests are distributed in 376 communes of 21 districts, cities and towns.
 |
Comrade Dinh Viet Hong - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested localities to raise awareness and responsibility in forest protection and development. Photo: Tran Chau |
The economic role of forestry is increasingly affirmed, forestry investment projects and forest environmental service payment policies have had positive impacts on the lives of people living near forests and forest edges.
In 2018, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development advised the Provincial People's Committee to issue and promulgate, within its authority, all documents directing forest protection and combating illegal logging; organized regular and unscheduled inspections, and directed the prompt handling of incidents occurring in the province.
Although Nghe An has such great forest potential, the lives of people living in the forest and near the forest still face many difficulties due to lack of jobs and lack of agricultural land. In addition, the large forest area, complex terrain, and fragmentation cause difficulties in forest management and development, especially forest product management.
The need to use land for forestry and agricultural production, resettlement issues of hydroelectric projects... are the causes leading to the exploitation and destruction of poor natural forests.
 |
Overview of the conference. Photo: Tran Chau |
Regarding fire prevention and control work, last year we did a good job of urging, directing, guiding and inspecting fire prevention and control in localities in the province, especially key areas such as Nam Dan, Nghi Loc, Thanh Chuong, Do Luong...
After the inspection, there were specific and practical plans to promptly overcome the shortcomings and deficiencies in forest fire prevention and control work. However, last year there were still 21 forest fires, causing damage to 80.33 hectares of forest.
 |
Units and individuals were awarded Certificates of Merit by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for their outstanding achievements in forest protection. Photo: Tran Chau |
At the conference, the Provincial Forest Protection Department pointed out the difficulties and limitations in forest development such as overlapping forest protection policies; overlapping policy management mechanisms between the 30a rapid and sustainable poverty reduction program and other programs. Forestry seed management is still limited, prices increase in the forestry product chain from seed production to planting, especially in large timber plantation, and forest fire control is still difficult...
Some papers mentioned issues of financial support for border guards in forest protection, creating livelihoods and jobs for mountainous people, reducing negative impacts on natural forests, perfecting the apparatus of forest protection forces, coordination in forest fire prevention and fighting, the situation of selling unripe rice in forestry...
 |
Forest fire in Yen Thanh district in 2018. Photo: Document |
The risk of forest fires in 2019 is very high.
Concluding the conference, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Dinh Viet Hong acknowledged and highly appreciated the results achieved in forestry work in 2018. At the same time, he requested that in 2019, sectors, localities and forest owners need to: Continue to strengthen propaganda and education on policies and guidelines on forest protection and development; implement the forest allocation project, associated with forestry land allocation and complete the results of reviewing and adjusting the planning of 3 types of forests; Strengthen inspection and examination work to promptly detect violations of the law on forest protection. Strengthen coordination between forces in forest protection and forest fire prevention and control; minimize forest fires and forest area during the hot season.
Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Dinh Viet Hong said that the risk of forest fires in 2019 is very high, and requested all levels, sectors and localities to proactively carry out forest fire prevention and control work, complete vegetation treatment work before the dry season, and coordinate forces well in forest fire prevention and control.
On this occasion, 4 collectives and 8 individuals were awarded Certificates of Merit by the Provincial People's Committee, 5 collectives and 8 individuals were awarded Certificates of Merit by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for their outstanding achievements in forest protection, development and fire prevention and fighting in 2018./.
