Forest protection cell, community supervision

At the age of 58, Mr. La O Be (Party cell of Phu Loi village) cannot remember how many forests and mountains he has passed through in Phu Mo commune. But he knows clearly which roads lead to places with precious woods, honey bees, rattan trees, wild banana trees, etc. to bring back as food for his family.

According to Mr. La Lan Huy, Vice Chairman of Phu Mo Commune People's Committee, not only Mr. La O Be, but also people in the villages of Phu Giang, Phu Tien, Phu Loi, Phu Dong, Phu Hai, all know the treetops and streams in the upper reaches of Ky Lo River like Mr. La O Be.

For the Cham and Ba Na ethnic communities in Phu Mo commune, the upstream forests have nourished them since they were born. The Dong Xuan district forestry sector has taken advantage of this, encouraging ethnic minorities to protect the forests through community conventions and collective strength. Forest protection management teams have been established in ethnic minority villages and hamlets.

“The idea of ​​the model of forest management and protection contract in Phu Mo commune is very meaningful. The situation of deforestation for farming and illegal tree exploitation has decreased significantly. Besides the efforts of the authorities at all levels, the role of Party cells, prestigious village elders, Party cell secretaries, village chiefs, and Party members in community groups has been strongly applied and promoted,” said Mr. Nguyen Van Minh, Chairman of Phu Mo Commune People's Committee.

According to the report of Phu Mo Commune Party Committee, the number of Party members of 4 community groups for forest management and protection (Phu Giang, Phu Tien, Phu Dong, Phu Loi) is 150 people. This is the pioneer and core force to implement programs and plans for forest management and protection activities. In village and hamlet meetings, important issues on forest management and protection are discussed enthusiastically and implemented effectively.

Under the direction of Mr. La Lan Thong, Head of the team assigned to manage and protect the forest in Phu Loi village, the members discussed the itinerary of the trip (about 100km). Mr. Thong took money from the operating fund of the forest management and protection team to buy necessary supplies. The members rode motorbikes to the edge of the forest, then walked together to check each precious tree, carefully checking each area to detect cases of illegal logging. The time for each patrol was from dawn to dusk.

“Each party member has the responsibility to inform each citizen that forests are invaluable assets that the Cham and Ba Na ethnic communities will leave to their descendants. As a party member, in addition to complying with the regulations of the Party and the State, when I gained the trust of the community, I boldly accepted to be the team leader of the team that was contracted to manage and protect the forest in Phu Loi village. When working for the common good, putting the effectiveness of forest protection first, the team members as well as the community responded and followed suit,” said Mr. La Lan Thong, Head of Phu Loi village.

Looking at the group of people weaving through the deep green forests in the upper reaches of La Hieng River, crossing the streams of Ke Cach, Ea MLa, Ca Ton..., on patrol duty, protecting the "green lungs", we understand the value of consensus, spreading and are full of hope for the effectiveness of the forest protection model using collective strength, community residents in villages and hamlets.

Previously, there was a forest protection management contract for households and individuals. However, the forest protection management contract model for village and hamlet communities implemented by the Dong Xuan District Forest Protection Management Board in coordination with the Phu Mo Commune People's Committee has shown impressive results. The role of Party cells, prestigious people, and Party members in the community, village, and hamlet is clearly shown in the action plan. Since the implementation of this model, the situation of deforestation, encroachment on forest land, and illegal exploitation of forest products has decreased significantly. Now, local people have become the core force, coordinating with functional agencies in implementing forest protection work.

Mr. Le Van Be, Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Phu Yen province

Increase livelihoods, protect forests

In 2020, Phu Mo commune became a hot spot of public opinion nationwide when people and some party members and officials destroyed forests. Sentences and disciplinary actions were issued. This was a painful experience for those working in forestry management and the locality. The key is to catch the right “disease”, draw lessons, and thereby prevent unfortunate incidents like the one mentioned above from happening again.

As someone who has been attached to the forests of Dong Xuan district for many years, Mr. Nguyen Trung Hao, Director of the Dong Xuan District Protective Forest Management Board, said that the best way to preserve the natural forests in Phu Mo is to increase livelihoods and improve the lives of ethnic minorities. This creates benefits and interacts with the community's responsibility in protecting forests in the upstream area of ​​Dong Xuan district.

According to the People's Committee of Phu Mo commune, in addition to the ideological orientation work for the community, the forest protection management contract model is effectively implemented due to the support level of 400,000 VND/ha/year (Circular 55/2023/TT-BTC dated August 15, 2023 of the Ministry of Finance).

With this amount, 4 groups contracted to manage and protect forests will receive 3.01 billion VND after 10 months (March to December 2024) of managing and protecting 25,000 hectares of natural forest in Phu Mo commune. The contract between the Commune People's Committee and the 4 forest management and protection groups will be signed annually. The authorities will inspect and evaluate the effectiveness of forest management and protection before disbursing the above amount. It is estimated that each household will receive about 10 million VND/year in support for forest management and protection activities.

In addition, the program of allocating production forest land (the state allocates land without collecting land use fees) to ethnic minorities in Phu Mo commune to plant forests, increase livelihoods, and improve their lives has also been implemented very well by Dong Xuan district. Up to now, 46 households in Phu Mo commune have planted acacia on the allocated land (3-6ha/household) in sub-areas V2.2 and 75, with a total area of ​​200ha. In sub-area 74, 61 households have also planted acacia (1-3ha/household), with a total area of ​​107.8ha.

“These are households and individuals who do not have land or lack production land and have a need to directly engage in forestry production, and are residing in Phu Mo commune; priority is given to poor ethnic minority households with difficult lives who have the need and capacity to plant forests on the allocated area. The households have cleared forests and planted acacia trees, which have grown lush and green, promising to bring economic resources to the people of Phu Mo commune in the next 2-3 years. Currently, we are actively coordinating with the authorities to issue land use right certificates to the households,” said Mr. Nguyen Van Minh, Chairman of Phu Mo Commune People's Committee.

According to the Dong Xuan District Forest Protection Management Board, the land allocated to the people of Phu Mo commune is mainly clay, mixed rock, poor in nutrients, only suitable for forestry trees to improve the soil. Therefore, the people planting forests for economic development is suitable for natural conditions, at the same time ensuring forest cover in the area, linking the goal of economic development with the protective function of the forest, protecting the ecological environment, and improving people's lives.

Resolution 09-NQ/HU of Dong Xuan District Party Committee affirms that land allocation and leasing of forestry land plays an important role in forest protection in Phu Mo commune. This must be implemented strictly in accordance with legal procedures; encourage and attract projects to support afforestation for ethnic minorities and attract economic sectors to participate in afforestation, create jobs for rural workers, stabilize production and people's lives.

Mr. Ho Van Muoi, Secretary of Dong Xuan District Party Committee

Ms. La Lan Thi Hanh (Phu Giang village) said: “Our family thanks the Party and the State for their attention in allocating land for people to plant forests for economic development. For people in difficult circumstances like me, this is an opportunity to change their lives. When income increases, we no longer think about going into the forest to cut down trees and clear land to grow cassava like before.”

Leaving Phu Mo on the upgraded and expanded DT647 axis, surrounded by a concrete inter-village road system, in the distance is a vast forest, and mountains that have been dressed in green. That is the green color of hope of the Cham and Ba Na ethnic communities for the change of a land.

Phu Mo upstream forest will be preserved, when the lives of more than 3,000 ethnic minorities here are cared for and improved.

ORIENT