Illustrative image (Photo: sggp) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Authorities inthe Mekong Delta and CentralHighlands regions are taking precautionary measures to protectforests facing high risk of fires due to the prolonged hot and dry weather.
Dry weather along withsevere saline intrusion in the delta has caused forests to dry up.
But many places threatened withfires are also facing a shortage of water with levels falling sharply incanals and rivers.
Though the onset of thepeak hot season has yet to occur, most cajeput and acacia trees in Ca Mau province’s U Minh Ha Forest are drying due to the rapid depletion ofwater in canals.
Some 19,583ha of forests facean extremely high risk of fire.
Around 3,775ha have beenplaced on danger level 4 (high), according to the forestmanagement unit, U Minh Ha Forestry One Member Limited Company.
Tran Van Hieu, the director ofthe company, said forest rangers regularly inspect fire prevention works,reinforce and upgrade dykes, sluices and dams, clean and dredge canals,and repair and maintain pumps, pipes and fire hoses.
They have also increasedpatrols and are keeping watch round the clock from watchtowers.
“All must be in readiness atall times to respond quickly to fires.”
The company has established asteering committee with 14 members, 18 pump units with 81 members and sixlogistics teams.
It has coordinated with thepeople's committees of a number of communes to establish 21 voluntary groupswith 10-15 people each.
“People with experience infighting forest fires and local authorities take part in our works,” Hieu said.
Propaganda activities have beenorganised to raise public awareness of preventing forestfires in the dry season, he said.
“Raising awareness among thepublic is the key to improving the effectiveness of forest fire preventionefforts.”
In recent years the value offorests has increased since local people have paid more attention to protectingthem, he added.
More than 2,860 households havesigned commitments on management and protection of forests, and prevention offires.
In Kien Giang province too,authorities are focused on preventing forest fires.
Pham Quoc Dan, director of theU Minh Thuong National Park, said the fire prevention plans have been madesince the beginning of the year.
“Depending on the situation andforecasts of forest fire risks, rangers will be mobilised.”
Special-use forests on Hon Khoai Island in Ca Mau province, Phu Quoc National Park in Kien Giang provinceand forest areas in mountainous districts of An Giang province facedifficulties in combating fires.
Islands and mountains usuallylack water, and so rangers have dug wells.
Regular patrolling is done andmore forest protection stations have been set up in vulnerable places.
Truong Thanh Hao, head of the Kien Giang Province Forest Protection Department, said the lack of rainfall hasdried up forests quickly, making it difficult to foresee fires.
“More forest rangers havebeen stationed in key areas with high risk of fires.”
Besidesdigging more wells, plastic water containers with a capacity of2,000-5,000cubic metres have also been installed in high-riskareas on islands.
Truong Minh Hung, deputy headof the An Giang Province Forest Protection Department, said more forestrangers, firefighting vehicles and equipment are in theplaces with elevated risk of fire.
“Forest rangers co-operate withthe police and military to patrol and check key areas.”
Nguyen Tien Hai, chairman ofthe Ca Mau People’s Committee, has instructed the province Department ofAgriculture and Rural Development to direct forest owners tostrengthen firefighting facilities.
Hot weather and droughtare also threatening forests in the Central Highlands.
Ha Cong Tai, head of the ForestProtection Agency, Region IV, has urged 11 cities and provinces on thesouth-central coast and Central Highlands to scrupulously undertakeforest protection and fire prevention efforts.
The Kon Ray Forestry OneMember Limited Company in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum isalso working to prevent fires.
Vo Hong Huy, its director, saidthe company, which manages around 29,000ha of forests, including 600ha of pinetrees, has signed seasonal contracts with 15 people to work 24hours in turns at spots facing high risk of forest fires.
“Officials frequently visit theforest to remove flammable materials.”
Lam Dong province has issueddetailed orders to protect forests.
It will not permit burning whenthe forest fire warning is at level 3 or higher.
The good time for clearingflammable materials is from the end of the rainy season (May-October) toJanuary 15 every year.
The Dak Lak Province ForestProtection Department has instructed rangers to work with local authorities andforest owners to offer incentives to protect forests.
Forest fire riskalert
Water levels in canals in Ca Mau are 0.5-0.8m lower than at this time last year.
The province expects to face aserious shortage of freshwater during the ongoing dry season.
As of the end of January therewere over 10,210 hectares in Ca Mau with forest fire danger level 3 (high)and another 12,440ha with danger level 4 (very high), according to theprovince Forest Protection Department.
Thousands of hectares sawwarning level 5 this month.
In An Giang, 16,860ha are atlevel 4 and forecast to increase to level 5 next month.
Nearly 10,000ha in Kien Giangare at level 5, mostly in Hon Dat and Giang Thanh districts and Phu Quoc island./.
Dry weather along withsevere saline intrusion in the delta has caused forests to dry up.
But many places threatened withfires are also facing a shortage of water with levels falling sharply incanals and rivers.
Though the onset of thepeak hot season has yet to occur, most cajeput and acacia trees in Ca Mau province’s U Minh Ha Forest are drying due to the rapid depletion ofwater in canals.
Some 19,583ha of forests facean extremely high risk of fire.
Around 3,775ha have beenplaced on danger level 4 (high), according to the forestmanagement unit, U Minh Ha Forestry One Member Limited Company.
Tran Van Hieu, the director ofthe company, said forest rangers regularly inspect fire prevention works,reinforce and upgrade dykes, sluices and dams, clean and dredge canals,and repair and maintain pumps, pipes and fire hoses.
They have also increasedpatrols and are keeping watch round the clock from watchtowers.
“All must be in readiness atall times to respond quickly to fires.”
The company has established asteering committee with 14 members, 18 pump units with 81 members and sixlogistics teams.
It has coordinated with thepeople's committees of a number of communes to establish 21 voluntary groupswith 10-15 people each.
“People with experience infighting forest fires and local authorities take part in our works,” Hieu said.
Propaganda activities have beenorganised to raise public awareness of preventing forestfires in the dry season, he said.
“Raising awareness among thepublic is the key to improving the effectiveness of forest fire preventionefforts.”
In recent years the value offorests has increased since local people have paid more attention to protectingthem, he added.
More than 2,860 households havesigned commitments on management and protection of forests, and prevention offires.
In Kien Giang province too,authorities are focused on preventing forest fires.
Pham Quoc Dan, director of theU Minh Thuong National Park, said the fire prevention plans have been madesince the beginning of the year.
“Depending on the situation andforecasts of forest fire risks, rangers will be mobilised.”
Special-use forests on Hon Khoai Island in Ca Mau province, Phu Quoc National Park in Kien Giang provinceand forest areas in mountainous districts of An Giang province facedifficulties in combating fires.
Islands and mountains usuallylack water, and so rangers have dug wells.
Regular patrolling is done andmore forest protection stations have been set up in vulnerable places.
Truong Thanh Hao, head of the Kien Giang Province Forest Protection Department, said the lack of rainfall hasdried up forests quickly, making it difficult to foresee fires.
“More forest rangers havebeen stationed in key areas with high risk of fires.”
Besidesdigging more wells, plastic water containers with a capacity of2,000-5,000cubic metres have also been installed in high-riskareas on islands.
Truong Minh Hung, deputy headof the An Giang Province Forest Protection Department, said more forestrangers, firefighting vehicles and equipment are in theplaces with elevated risk of fire.
“Forest rangers co-operate withthe police and military to patrol and check key areas.”
Nguyen Tien Hai, chairman ofthe Ca Mau People’s Committee, has instructed the province Department ofAgriculture and Rural Development to direct forest owners tostrengthen firefighting facilities.
Hot weather and droughtare also threatening forests in the Central Highlands.
Ha Cong Tai, head of the ForestProtection Agency, Region IV, has urged 11 cities and provinces on thesouth-central coast and Central Highlands to scrupulously undertakeforest protection and fire prevention efforts.
The Kon Ray Forestry OneMember Limited Company in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum isalso working to prevent fires.
Vo Hong Huy, its director, saidthe company, which manages around 29,000ha of forests, including 600ha of pinetrees, has signed seasonal contracts with 15 people to work 24hours in turns at spots facing high risk of forest fires.
“Officials frequently visit theforest to remove flammable materials.”
Lam Dong province has issueddetailed orders to protect forests.
It will not permit burning whenthe forest fire warning is at level 3 or higher.
The good time for clearingflammable materials is from the end of the rainy season (May-October) toJanuary 15 every year.
The Dak Lak Province ForestProtection Department has instructed rangers to work with local authorities andforest owners to offer incentives to protect forests.
Forest fire riskalert
Water levels in canals in Ca Mau are 0.5-0.8m lower than at this time last year.
The province expects to face aserious shortage of freshwater during the ongoing dry season.
As of the end of January therewere over 10,210 hectares in Ca Mau with forest fire danger level 3 (high)and another 12,440ha with danger level 4 (very high), according to theprovince Forest Protection Department.
Thousands of hectares sawwarning level 5 this month.
In An Giang, 16,860ha are atlevel 4 and forecast to increase to level 5 next month.
Nearly 10,000ha in Kien Giangare at level 5, mostly in Hon Dat and Giang Thanh districts and Phu Quoc island./.
VNA
