In the midst of the reunion at the beginning of the year, when the streets are bustling with fireworks, deep in the Central Highlands forests, many forest rangers still quietly patrol, guard the fire, and prevent timber thieves.
They welcome New Year's Eve in the forest, keeping peace for the Khop forest, the "unique" ecosystem of Vietnam at Yok Don National Park.
With an area of more than 115,545 hectares, Yok Don is protecting one of the largest Khop forest populations in Southeast Asia.
This is a typical forest type of the dry Central Highlands region, with vegetation adapting to the harsh dry season.
At the end of the year, when the hot sun lasts, the thick layer of dry leaves covers the ground, even a small ember can break out into a large fire, burning dozens of hectares of forest in an instant.
Therefore, the dry season is the most stressful period for forest protection forces. 17 forest ranger stations of the national park maintain 24/24 hour duty, strengthening patrols in key areas, especially border areas, where there is a potential risk of forest resource encroachment.
While many families are preparing a year-end feast, forest rangers are still crossing forests, checking trails and hot spots with high fire risks.
Protecting the Khop forest is not just to prevent fire or prevent illegal loggers. It is to protect a diverse ecosystem, home to many rare and precious animal and plant species.
Khop forest plays an important role in regulating the climate, retaining water sources, protecting land and creating long-term livelihoods for local communities.
Losing forests is not only losing green trees, but also losing ecological balance, losing the foundation for sustainable development.
Tet days are also the time when illegal loggers can take advantage of negligence to operate. Therefore, the forest rangers do not allow themselves to rest completely.
The sacrifice of their own joy is the "shield" to protect the nation's invaluable assets. Just a minute of negligence can cost tens of hectares of forest.
Welcoming the New Year in the forest, without fireworks, without reunion laughter, many people cannot avoid homesickness.
But their joy is that the forests are still intact, without smoke and fire, without traces of encroachment.
The peace of the Khop forest does not come from luck, but from tireless patrol footsteps, from the light of a flashlight in the dark night, from the sense of responsibility of the forest keepers.
Protecting forests is protecting the future.
And on New Year's Eve, Yok Don forest rangers are preserving not only the green color of the country, but also preserving the belief that nature will be restored intact to future generations.
