To be proactive in forest fire prevention and control and strengthen urgent forest fire prevention and control measures in Vietnam

To be proactive in forest fire prevention and control and strengthen urgent forest fire prevention and control measures in Vietnam (Internet image)

On April 4, 2024, the Prime Minister issued Official Telegram 31/CD-TTg on being proactive in forest fire prevention and control and strengthening urgent forest fire prevention and control measures in Vietnam.

To be proactive in forest fire prevention and control and strengthen urgent forest fire prevention and control measures in Vietnam

To proactively prevent and control forest fires, minimize damages caused by forest fires, the Prime Minister requests that:

(1) The Chairman of the People's Committee of provinces and centrally-run cities takes responsibility for forest fire prevention and control in their localities and urgently directs the implementation of key tasks as follows:

- Require all levels of People's Committees and relevant agencies to strictly fulfill their management responsibilities regarding forest fire prevention and control, strengthen inspections and supervision of forest fire prevention and control, consider it a top priority, and absolutely avoid negligence and complacency. Develop specific and detailed plans; allocate permanent forces to checkpoints and stations to tightly control people entering and exiting high-risk forest areas; Review and compile a list of high-risk forest areas, with special attention to forests in the North affected by severe cold weather, which have accumulated a large amount of combustible materials. Organize standby teams and assign forces to be available 24/7 in areas with forest fire warning levels of III and above; enhance patrols, surveillance, and early detection of forest fires; and ensure that the standby forces are ready to be deployed immediately when a forest fire occurs. Allocate resources, materials, and funds to effectively implement the "four on-site" principle. Proactively allocate contingency funds from localities and other legitimate funding sources to ensure the effective implementation of forest fire prevention and control. Have plans and be ready to evacuate people from dangerous areas when necessary, ensuring the safety of lives and properties for the people and the state.

- Efficiently implement the Scheme to enhance the capacity of forest rangers in forest management, protection, and forest fire prevention and control for the period 2021–2030, approved by the Prime Minister in Decision 177/QD-TTg on February 10, 2022; timely report any difficulties and obstacles to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for synthesis, consideration, and resolution according to the authority and regulations of the law.

- Strengthen propaganda and education to raise awareness and responsibility in forest fire prevention and control; inspect, urge, and guide the control of fire use in and near forests by the local people, especially the burning of agricultural residue; and immediately stop using fire to clear vegetation and other fire-prone activities during the peak period of high forest fire risk.

- Check information on heatwave forecasts and warnings, forest fire risks, and detecting forest fires early (Website of the Forest Protection Department: kiemlam.org.vn, Website of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting: nchmf.gov.vn). Report forest fires to the Forest Protection Department via phone number: 098 666 8 333; email: fpd@kiemlam.org.vn, ensuring the provision of complete, accurate, and timely information for coordination, direction, and mobilization of forest fire fighting forces when necessary.

(2) The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is responsible for directing and organizing forest fire prevention and control nationwide, urgently directing the implementation of key tasks as follows:

- Closely monitor weather conditions, especially in critical areas prone to forest fires, provide information to localities for proactive implementation of forest fire prevention and control plans; maintain the update of weather forecasting, early warning, and forest fire risk information so that they will be timely provided through media channels.

- Strengthen guidance and inspection of forest fire prevention and control in localities, especially in key areas prone to forest fires; be ready to support localities in terms of forces, firefighting equipment, fire location information, and command when major forest fires occur; promote the application of advanced technology in forest fire forecasting, early warning, and early detection of forest fires; maintain a permanent duty system for forest fire prevention and control as regulated.

- Develop a national-level forest fire prevention and control plan to be ready to support localities in terms of forces, firefighting equipment, fire location information, and command when forest fires occur. Summarize the urgent funding needs for forest fire prevention and control and forest protection from the investment and development sources of ministries, sectors, and localities and submit them to the Ministry of Planning and Investment for synthesis and decision-making by the authorized level, to improve the quality and effectiveness of forest fire prevention and control.

(3) The Ministry of Industry and Trade, the State Capital Management Committee in Enterprises, the Electricity sector, and Vietnam Electricity will lead and coordinate with local authorities and relevant agencies to ensure the absolute safety of the national electricity system, preventing any incidents in transmission and power supply for production and people's livelihoods.

(4) The Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Public Security will review and proactively develop plans to support forest firefighting in the areas where their units are stationed, ready to mobilize forces and resources to participate in firefighting when needed.

(5) The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will ensure the quality of weather forecasting and timely provide information on extreme weather phenomena to relevant agencies and the public, serving forest fire prevention and control efforts.

(6) The Ministry of Planning and Investment will lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Finance to consolidate the urgent funding needs for forest fire prevention and control in 2024, according to the Prime Minister's Decision 177/QD-TTg dated February 10, 2022, and report to the authorized level for consideration and decision-making.

(7) The Ministry of Information and Communications, Vietnam Radio, Vietnam Television, Vietnam News Agency, and other media agencies will continue to effectively disseminate information and raise public awareness about forest protection and forest fire prevention and control; promptly provide information on forest fire warnings and forecasts.

(8) Other ministries and sectors will proactively provide guidance, coordination, and support to localities in implementing forest fire prevention and control tasks according to their assigned state management functions.

More details can be found in Official Telegram 31/CD-TTg dated April 4, 2024.

Ho Quoc Tuan

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE