Project approved to improve forest protection capacity

HÀ NỘI — Deputy Prime Minister Lê Văn Thành has approved a  一0-year project to improve forest rangers’ capacity in management, protection and firefighting.

The project aims to reduce at least  一0 to  一 五 per cent of law violations in the forestry sector compared to the  二0 一 五- 二0 period, especially deforestation, illegal wood exploitation and transportation, and forest burning.

It has also sets targets of reducing forest fires and improving deforestation forecasting capacity.

To realise the targets, personnel training is key. At least  五0 per cent of forest protection and firefighting forces must be trained with professional skills and be equipped with forest protection devices.

Forest protection forces must be trained to improve their capacity of fighting forest fires and forest damage, and of forecasting forest loss. At the same time, they must apply technology in forest protection and firefighting.

They must prepare plans to respond to forest fire scenarios and work with soldiers, police, forest rangers and self-defence militia to extinguish the fire.

The project also highlights key solutions such as perfecting legal mechanisms and policies to improve forest protection capacity of forest rangers and specialised forces; disseminating to the mass media about the role and value of forests in responding to climate change, combating desertification, combating land degradation, providing economic and social values, ensuring national defence and security.

Other solutions include mobilising resources on the spot for forest firefighting. — VNS