On average, a person protects up to 1,000 hectares of forest
Gia Lai is one of the provinces with the largest area of natural forests in the country, leading the Central Highlands region with more than 720,000 hectares of forestry land and more than 649,000 hectares of forest land. Of which, the area of natural forests accounts for about 478,000 hectares. The natural forests in Kbang, Kong Chro, Ia Pa... have rich and diverse timber reserves, ecological value and potential for tourism development.
Gia Lai currently has 14 Forestry companies (11 companies in the old Gia Lai province, 3 companies in the old Binh Dinh). In response to the merger request, most of the officers, employees and workers at the companies agreed and supported the reduction of the administrative apparatus and reduction of the intermediary department. However, representatives of the companies also expressed their desire to increase patrolling and forest protection forces.
In fact, in recent years, the forest area has been very large while the number of security guards is limited, human resources and means are still lacking and weak. The responsibility for forest protection is increasing, causing great pressure, forcing many security guards to quit their jobs. Natural forests are therefore at risk of being illegally cut down and encroached on land.
Mr. Nguyen Minh Su - Director of Ia Pa Forestry One Member Co., Ltd. - said: "On average, a security guard has to look after about 1,000 hectares of natural forest. Large, wide area, while groups of forest bandits are reckless, local people often encroach on and encroach on forest land to produce large-scale agriculture".
Mr. Nguyen Van Than - Director of Ha Nung Forestry One Member Co., Ltd. - shared: "Due to the special and hard work nature, many forest protection staff often quit their jobs or change jobs. The company has 13 people but is assigned to manage about 9,000 hectares of natural forest. Among them, there are many ancient incense-making complexes (over 400 trees) with high economic value scattered in production forests and protective forests".
Forest rangers often find ways to exploit and destroy this incense wood for consumption. Therefore, forest protection forces face the risk of being threatened, opposed, and obstructed, while the treatment regime is low.
Will make recommendations to the Central Government to remove difficulties
According to the representative of Kon Chieng Forestry One Member Co., Ltd., although the labor regulation is not more than 48 hours/week and 8 hours/day, the forest protection force must be on duty 24/24 hours, all days of the week. Workplaces in remote areas do not have power grids or phone signals; living conditions are very difficult, especially during the rainy season. Current salaries and allowances are not commensurate with job requirements.
At Dakettel Forestry One Member Co., Ltd., with only 20 people, but more than 15,000 hectares of forest must be kept. At one point, only 12 - 13 people took turns managing and protecting more than 7,780 hectares of forest.
At the recent Gia Lai Provincial People's Council meeting, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Duong Mah Tiep acknowledged the difficulties and problems of forest owners. The province will make proposals and recommendations to the Government, ministries and branches to have a direction for handling. Mr. Tiep requested the forest management and protection forces to continue to be determined, confident, love the industry and profession to carry out their tasks; contribute to increasing the forest coverage rate, towards the goal of developing a green economy, a circular economy and developing tourism in the province.
