Thanks to such efforts, violations of legal regulations on forest protection have reduced in localities, and wildfire cases have been detected and handled in a timely fashion.

Statistics show in the first 11 months of this year, Yen Bai reported 139 cases of law violations, of which four have faced criminal proceedings, with 30.3 cubic metres of timber and 52 animals seized.

However, illegal logging, transportation and trading of forest products, as well as forest land encroachment have still occurred in Mu Cang Chai, Tram Tau, Van Yen and Van Chan districts. There are also risks of wildfire in the dry season, especially in the province’s western highland districts.

In order to better manage and protect forests and prevent wildfire in 2023, especially before, during and after Tet (Lunar New Year), the provincial Forest Protection Department has instructed forest rangers and firefighters to provide consultancy for local authorities in building and implementing forest protection plans.

At the same time, the department has also directed forest owners and local specialised forces to coordinate and tighten their management over activities of wood processing facilities and households living near forests, dispatch forest rangers to the communes with many forests and near-by areas, and conduct patrols to promptly detect and prevent violations right from the grassroots level.

At the same time, the department has also closely joined hands with police and military forces in the work.