Quang Tri Forest Rangers - 50 years of formation and development

PHAN VAN PHUOC, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in charge of Quang Tri Forestry Sub-Department

50 years ago, on May 21, 1973, the Government Council issued Decree No. 101/CP regulating the organizational system, tasks and powers of the people's forest rangers, marking the birth of a specialized force in charge of forest management and protection. In Quang Tri , on June 10, 1974, the Vinh Linh Regional Forest Ranger Unit was officially established, the predecessor of today's Quang Tri Forest Ranger Sub-Department.

Since its establishment with only one ranger unit in 1974, the Provincial Forest Protection Department now has 5 professional departments, 8 ranger units, 1 mobile ranger and forest fire prevention and fighting team (PCCCR), 2 ranger stations under the department, and 15 regional ranger stations. The entire department has 145 civil servants and contract workers, of which 51 have master's degrees and 84 have university degrees.

In the process of forest protection and development management activities of the forest rangers, especially since the Law on Forest Protection and Development in 2004, and later the Forestry Law, the forestry sector has entered a new phase towards stability and development, sustainable use of forest resources and international integration.

In performing its assigned functions and tasks, the Quang Tri Forest Protection Department has proactively advised and proposed to the Provincial People's Committee and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development timely measures to actively manage, protect and develop forests effectively. It has advised and issued many important policies on forest management, protection and development. Forest management has been well organized and implemented, with timely annual assessments of forest changes in both new planting and exploitation, both natural forests and planted forests.

Up to now, the total forest area in the province has reached 248,189 hectares, of which natural forest is 126,693 hectares, planted forest is 121,495 hectares; forest coverage rate is 49.4%. Timely advise the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Provincial People's Committee to carry out the conversion of planning of 3 types of forests, converting the purpose of forest use to other purposes other than forestry to implement projects.

Regarding nature conservation, the Forest Protection Department has advised the Provincial People's Committee to establish two Management Boards of Dakrong and Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserves. Gradually implementing the role of forest owner with good results, enhancing biodiversity conservation, organizing scientific research, focusing on protecting existing rare, endangered and endemic species of animals and plants, creating conditions for organizing ecotourism activities, implementing payments for forest environmental services, improving management and effective use of forest ecosystem services.

The socialization of forestry and forest protection management has been gradually promoted. Up to now, the province has carried out the work of allocating land and forests to forest owners of all economic sectors for management with a total area of over 200,000 hectares, accounting for 62% of the total forestry land area. Of which, over 20,000 hectares have been allocated to communities and households; and over 90,000 hectares of natural forests have been contracted out for people to manage, protect and benefit in the long term.

Quang Tri Forest Rangers - 50 years of formation and development

Forest rangers coordinate with local people to patrol and protect forests at Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve - Photo: BAO BINH

Strengthening forest protection, forest fire prevention and fighting (PCCCR) by guiding and directing forest owners to develop PCCCR plans at 3 levels (large fire, medium fire, small fire) to help the Provincial, District and Commune People's Committees direct and manage when forest fires occur... Carrying out forest fire forecasting well, organizing more than 100 commune-level drills, 20 district-level drills and 10 provincial-level drills, thereby improving proactiveness, management and coordination in forest fire fighting.

The provincial forest rangers have been closely following the area day and night, promptly detecting and preventing acts of encroachment on forest resources, fighting and suppressing illegal loggers and forest product smuggling rings, creating conditions for people to feel secure in forestry production. According to statistics, in the past 10 years, the force has detected and arrested 2,759 violations, confiscated more than 4,000 m3 of various types of wood, over 3,000 kg of wild animals and many other types of forest products... Budget revenue from administrative fines and forest product sales is more than 100 billion VND, the violation situation in the following years has gradually decreased compared to previous years.

Special attention has been paid to sustainable forest management and forest certification. The area of planted forests in the province that has been granted FSC certification has reached more than 26,000 hectares, making it one of the leading provinces in the country in terms of forest area granted certification. The work of disseminating forestry laws to the community has been carried out in many forms and with appropriate content: more than 4,000 meetings have been held with more than 200,000 participants, 6 competitions have been organized to learn about the Law on Forest Protection and Development (now the Forestry Law) and "Anti-trafficking, exploitation and use of wild animals and plants" in secondary schools in 9 districts, towns and cities with 67 participating schools.

In performing its tasks, the Forest Protection Department is doing well in administrative reform, digital transformation, online public services, digital signature application, administrative procedures according to TCVN ISO 9001:2015; focusing on applying science and technology, researching scientific topics to improve work efficiency.

In the direction and management, local forest rangers are identified as the center, emulation and reward work is the driving force, and research and application of science and technology is the highlight. From there, all activities are directed towards building strong local forest rangers, considering this as the result of the activities of the entire force.

With the results of work and achievements, the forest rangers were honored to receive the Third, Second, and First Class Labor Medals, the Third Class Independence Medal, and many medals, certificates of merit, and commendations for many collectives and individuals in the force.

Promoting the good tradition and outstanding achievements of 50 years of construction and development, Quang Tri Forest Rangers continue to strive, study and train to have enough capacity, professional qualifications, good political qualities and ethics to successfully complete all assigned tasks.

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