Hai Duong mobilizes thousands of people to clear forests and prevent fires

On the morning of January 3, implementing the direction of the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Chi Linh City and Kinh Mon Town chaired and coordinated with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, military units, police and People's Committees of communes and wards with forests to organize the cleanup and sanitation of forest areas damaged by storm No. 3.

In Chi Linh City, thousands of people with vehicles and machines have organized to clean up and trim fallen trees in 9 protective forests and special-use forests in the communes and wards of Cong Hoa, Le Loi, Hung Dao, Van An, An Lac, Ben Tam, Hoang Tien and Hoang Hoa Tham.

The forces also created firebreaks to prevent forest fires, ensuring safety for relic sites and residential areas, especially during the Tet At Ty and the 2025 Spring Festival. The work of clearing and implementing forestry techniques and forest sanitation is carried out under the direct supervision and guidance of the Forest Protection Department and the Provincial Forest Management Board.

The above work is divided into 2 phases by Chi Linh City. Phase 1 from January 3-10; Phase 2 from January 11-20.

Comrade Pham Thi Ly, Secretary of the Cong Hoa Ward Party Committee, said that the ward has the largest area of ​​special-use and protective forests that need to be cleared and cleaned in the city, about 200 hectares. "Along with the army, police, and forest rangers, the ward mobilized 150 more members, union members from departments, branches, organizations, local police, military, and grassroots security and order teams to participate. The forces participated enthusiastically and responsibly. The ward leaders also divided into many groups to go to each area to encourage and motivate the forces," Comrade Ly informed.

Also on the morning of January 3, Kinh Mon town mobilized forces to set up points to clean up and sanitize protective forests and special-use forests in Thuong Quan commune. After that, the town will learn from experience and direct communes and wards with forest areas to deploy simultaneously from January 6.

According to the reporter, the weather on the morning of January 3 was dry, with only a slight chill in the early morning, which was favorable for the above activities. The provincial Hydrometeorological Station forecast that this weather pattern would continue for many days to come, contributing to speeding up and ensuring the progress of the work as planned.

Mr. Pham Hong Hai, Head of the Provincial Forest Protection Department, said that Hai Duong has over 1,500 hectares of special-use forests and over 4,000 hectares of protective forests in 31 communes and wards of Chi Linh City and Kinh Mon Town. After storm No. 3, the whole province had about 1,250 hectares of forest damaged, mainly acacia, eucalyptus, and pine trees; of which about 250 hectares were damaged by 70% or more.

The large area of ​​damaged forest combined with dry weather and thick vegetation has caused a number of forest fires to occur recently. Although the Forest Protection Department, Forest Management Board and the People's Committee of Chi Linh City and Kinh Mon Town still maintain maximum patrolling, controlling and 24/7 duty in key areas, there is always a high risk of forest fires.

This campaign to clean up and sanitize the forest area damaged by natural disasters is very important in protecting, preventing and fighting forest fires, ensuring the safety of relic sites, property, health and lives of the people. "Hai Duong has never organized a campaign to clean up the forest as large as this one," Mr. Hai emphasized.

According to instructions from higher levels, for areas of protective forests and special-use forests damaged by 70% or more, after clearing, functional agencies and local authorities will carry out procedures for liquidating forest products according to regulations; at the same time, build a budget estimate for reforestation to advise the Provincial People's Committee for implementation in the coming time.

For forest areas with less than 70% damage, develop a plan to exploit and harvest forest products (fallen trees), a plan to plant additional trees, protect and promote forest regeneration, ensure forest cover and restore the landscape of relic sites.

According to the reporter's investigation, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Hai Duong is drafting legal documents to advise the Provincial People's Committee to submit to the Provincial People's Council a Resolution regulating the authority to decide on the liquidation of planted forests in Hai Duong province.