• Nguyen Phich Commune - Exploiting forest land potential, diversifying the economy
  • Promoting the advantages of forest and marine ecological zones
  • Blending into the beauty of the Southern forests

Mr. Le Van Hai (second from right) reported to Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Ho Hai on the implementation of forest fire prevention and fighting work in the area.

Passion for protecting the forest

That leader is Mr. Le Van Hai. Born in Bac Lieu , raised and studying in Ho Chi Minh City, since his university days, student Le Van Hai has strived to study with the dream of returning to serve his homeland. After graduating with a degree in Forestry Engineering, the young man chose the acidic, difficult land of U Minh Ha to work. After nearly 40 years working in the forestry industry, from a young, bewildered engineer, going through many positions and working areas (technical officer, Deputy Head of Technical Department, Deputy Director of Forestry and Fisheries, Acting Head of U Minh Inter-District Forest Protection Department, Head of Vo Doi Special-Use Forest Protection Department, Deputy Head of Provincial Forest Protection Department, Head of Provincial Forest Protection Department), Mr. Hai has become a good leader and manager - it is a process of continuous striving and effort.

Since April 2010, Mr. Hai has held the position of Head of the Provincial Forest Protection Department. For him, this is not only an honor but also a difficult challenge. Because in the 2010s, Ca Mau mangrove forests faced indiscriminate logging, the number of forest law violations was quite high. Many illegal loggers even dared to oppose the forest protection force and the forest rangers. Besides, the U Minh Ha forest area often had fires in the dry season. The lives of people living under the forest canopy at that time were also very difficult, many residential areas and residential areas in the Melaleuca forest area needed regular relief.

As the "leader", Mr. Hai is always looking for suitable solutions to handle and overcome those difficulties. He always observes, listens and continuously learns from the experiences of his predecessors, thereby contributing to innovating management methods and protecting Ca Mau forests to become more and more stable and developed.

Mr. Le Van Hai (middle) and leaders of the Forestry Department inspected forest fire prevention and fighting work at U Minh Ha Forestry One Member Co., Ltd.

Specifically, Mr. Hai promptly advised the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Committee, and the Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (now the Department of Agriculture and Environment) to direct forest owners to develop plans and solutions for sustainable forest management and protection. He also participated in re-planning 3 types of forests, determining boundaries and setting up markers for forest owners. He advised superior leaders to direct the allocation of forest land to households, and assigned organizations to manage unowned forest areas, thanks to which, up to now, all forests in Ca Mau have owners.

Along with that, actively organize propaganda and mobilize people to replant forests to cover bare land; organize many campaigns to clear square banks and high mounds to replant mangrove forests, which are supported and responded by people. Direct local forest rangers to manage forests at the base, at the same time direct forest owners to develop sustainable forest management plans and be resolute in afforestation and scattered tree planting so that the forest coverage rate in the province reaches the target set out in the Resolution...

Under Mr. Hai's dedicated leadership and direction, violations of forest laws have been detected and handled promptly, strictly, with high deterrence and education. Forest owners are also increasingly interested in forest protection, people gradually realize the value of forests and actively support the restoration and management of mangrove forests, thanks to which many hot spots of deforestation have gradually been pushed back, returning peace to the forests to grow and develop. In addition, the fear of forest fires in the dry season has also gradually receded, the number of forest fires has decreased year by year, some years there have been no forest fires at all.

In particular, thanks to the conversion of the native Melaleuca plantation model to hybrid Acacia and Australian Melaleuca plantation, the economic value of forestry in the period 2012-2020 has improved a lot. Electricity, roads, schools and stations have been invested by the State in each residential cluster and route. Many effective economic models under the forest canopy have been deployed and replicated, helping to change people's lives, and many billionaires have even become rich right on this acid and difficult land.

Mr. Le Van Hai (second from right) inspects forest protection work on Hon Khoai island cluster.

A leader with heart and vision

Not only devoted to forest protection, with the intelligence and courage of a manager, Mr. Hai has built a united and strong collective of the Ca Mau Provincial Forest Protection Department.

Every year, he proactively builds plans and launches emulation movements to study and practice in the entire force with the slogan "Ca Mau Forest Rangers: Discipline, Solidarity - Innovation and Creativity - Resolute Action, all for the green of Ca Mau forests". He regularly organizes for civil servants and public employees to study forest protection experience, builds many effective forest management models, and at the same time pays attention to and creates conditions for sending them to study and receive professional training in and outside the province. Up to now, the entire force has more than 20 masters in specialized fields, the rest have university degrees, meeting the immediate and long-term job positions.

For more than 25 years as Secretary of the Provincial Forest Protection Department Party Committee, Mr. Hai, together with the Standing Committee and the Executive Committee, has focused on leadership and political orientation, ensuring that all Party members are fully aware of the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws. Building internal solidarity, innovating the form of Party cell activities, developing a team of young Party members to contribute to strengthening the Party organization. Strictly implementing inspection work, promoting the role of mass organizations. Thanks to that, for many consecutive years, the Forest Protection Department Party Committee has been assessed as having excellently completed its tasks.

Mr. Le Van Hai (second from right) inspects the restoration of coastal protection forests.

With colleagues and subordinates, Mr. Hai is always friendly, open, willing to exchange, there is no distance between boss and employee, so he is very loved by everyone. Not only that, he also always understands the hardships his subordinates face (such as work pressure, family life...) and finds ways to support and encourage. It is this concern that has helped him build a strong forest ranger team, each individual feels respected and confident in contributing. In particular, not only is he a dedicated leader, Mr. Hai is also a guide and inspiration for his colleagues. Many generations of forest ranger officers have been directly guided and trained by him, and now they have become key managers in the locality.

With his dedication to the forestry industry, Mr. Le Van Hai was honored to be awarded the Third Class Labor Medal; 30-year Party membership badge; received the Prime Minister's certificate of merit twice; attended the provincial-level advanced model conference three times and received many certificates of merit from the Provincial People's Committee for his outstanding achievements in work.

For 12 years as Deputy Head of the Sub-Department, nearly 16 years as Head of the Ca Mau Forest Protection Department, for him, the forest is his "second home" - the place where he devoted all his heart to preserving. At the beginning of September, he retired, ending a journey of nearly 40 years of dedication to the green color of Ca Mau's forests. During all that time, he was not only a witness to major changes in forest protection work in Ca Mau, but also the person who directly steered the provincial Forest Protection boat to overcome difficulties from deforestation, forest fires... The day he left office, Ca Mau's forests were stable, the hot spots of deforestation had receded into the past, and the provincial Forest Protection force was increasingly professional and mature.

The image of the Chief who was often the first to arrive at the office, diligently working, quietly in every corner of the forest will remain as a beautiful memory in everyone's heart. The leadership experiences he left behind will be a valuable asset for the next generation to inherit, continue the mission of protecting the forest and building an increasingly strong Ca Mau forest ranger force.

Phan Van Bach

Source: https://baocamau.vn/nguoi-tan-tuy-vi-nganh-lam-nghiep-tinh-a122156.html