To strengthen forest management and protection, forest fire safety before, during, and after the Lunar New Year 2024 in Vietnam

To strengthen forest management and protection, forest fire safety before, during, and after the Lunar New Year 2024 in Vietnam (Internet image)

To strengthen forest management and protection, forest fire safety before, during, and after the Lunar New Year 2024 in Vietnam

On January 17, 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issued Official Dispatch 518/BNN-KL regarding the enhancement of forest management and protection, forest fire safety before, during, and after the Lunar New Year of the year 2024.

Specifically, to proactively implement measures for forest management, protection, forest fire prevention, and control, and to prevent deforestation, forest encroachment, forest destruction, and illegal logging before, during, and after the Lunar New Year of the year 2024. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development requests the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to direct and organize the implementation of the following contents:

- Fully and effectively implement Conclusion 61-KL/TW dated August 17, 2023 of the Party Central Committee on continuing to implement Directive 13-CT/TW dated January 12, 2017 of the Party Central Committee on strengthening the Party's leadership in forest management, protection, and development; Directive 01/CT-TTg dated January 3, 2023 of the Prime Minister on strengthening fire safety in new circumstances; Official Telegram 441/CD-TTg dated May 22, 2023 of the Prime Minister on enhancing urgent measures for forest fire safety; and Directive 422/CT-BNN-LN dated January 12, 2024 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development on launching the "New Year - Planting Trees, Grateful to Uncle Ho" campaign on the occasion of the Lunar New Year of the year 2024.

- Strengthen the inspection and strict supervision of key areas of deforestation, forest exploitation, forest encroachment, and illegal forest and forestry land use; combat and eradicate illegal trading, transportation, and storage of timber, forest animals (especially endangered and rare species), and illegal forest products; tightly manage and inspect wood processing facilities, especially those using natural forest wood; strictly and properly handle violators according to the provisions of the law; and decisively suspend the operations of wood processing facilities that violate the state's regulations within their jurisdictions.

- Strengthen the inspection of forest fire-prone areas; review and supplement the fire safety plans of units and forest owners according to the provisions of the law; have plans to ensure forces, materials, equipment, and logistics; be ready to coordinate forces in responding to and handling urgent situations in forest protection and fire safety, and prevent major fires from occurring; when forest fires occur, investigate and determine the causes and responsible parties in order to strictly handle them according to the provisions of the law.

- Fully and resolutely implement the tasks assigned by the National Assembly in Resolution 100/2023/QH15 dated June 24, 2023 regarding the completion of land allocation, forest allocation, and forest lease accompanied by the issuance of forest use rights certificates by 2026, ensuring that all forest and land areas planned for forestry development are allocated or leased to genuine forest owners. Strictly control the conversion of forest use purposes to other purposes, especially the conversion of natural forests.

- Promote digital transformation and the application of advanced and modern technologies in forest management, early detection of forest loss, and forest fires to ensure effectiveness. Direct the coordination between Forest Rangers, Police, and the Military, and implement the coordination regulations in forest protection, fire safety.

- Implement the assignment and decentralization of state management responsibilities for forests and forestry land; clarify the responsibilities of units, organizations, and individuals who lack responsibility, in order to prevent violations and handle them according to the provisions of the law.

- Strengthen propaganda and education to raise awareness and responsibility in implementing the provisions of the law on forest management, protection, and development, forest fire safety. Monitor forest fire alerts on the early warning system of the Forest Protection Department at the website: kiemlam.org.vn to check and detect forest fire points. Report immediately to the Forest Protection Department at the phone number: 0986.668.333 in case of forest fires, for coordination and mobilization of firefighting forces when necessary.

- Ensure timely policy regime and incentives for the Forest Rangers and specialized forest protection forces to carry out their tasks with peace of mind, meet the requirements of the mission, and comply with the actual conditions and provisions of the law in the localities.

More details can be found in Official Dipatch 518/BNN-KL dated January 17, 2024.

Ho Quoc Tuan

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