Hơn 2.300 xã, phường có nguy cơ cháy rừng cao | VTV24

Key Concepts

• Cấp cảnh báo cháy rừng (Forest fire warning levels): A 5-level scale used to categorize the risk of forest fires, with level 5 being the most dangerous.
• Rừng trồng thuần loài (Monoculture plantations): Forests consisting of a single species, often used for industrial raw materials.
• Rừng hỗn giao (Mixed forests): Forests containing diverse native species, which are more resilient to fire.
• Công nghệ AI & Camera tầm nhiệt (AI & Thermal imaging cameras): Advanced monitoring tools used for early detection of heat signatures in forests.
• Drone (UAV): Unmanned aerial vehicles used for scanning and monitoring inaccessible forest areas.
• Thực bì (Forest floor vegetation): Dry leaves, branches, and undergrowth that act as fuel for forest fires.

1. Current Situation and Risk Assessment

• Scope: Extreme heat is affecting all three regions of Vietnam, with temperatures exceeding 40°C.
• Warning Statistics: Over 2,300 communes are at high risk of fire. Specifically:
  • Level 5 (Extremely dangerous): 801 communes.
  • Level 4 (Dangerous): 786 communes.
  • Level 3: 794 communes.
• Key Hotspots:
  • Northwest: Son La, Lai Chau, Dien Bien.
  • Central: Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Tri.
  • Central Highlands: Kon Tum, Dak Lak, Lam Dong.
  • South: Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh, An Giang, Ca Mau.
• Trend: Unlike previous years, the current heatwave is expected to be prolonged and reach record peaks, following a year of heavy rainfall and flooding.

2. Impact and Consequences

• Severity: Even early in the season, large-scale fires have occurred, causing significant damage to property and human life.
• Human Cost: A tragic incident in Dien Bien resulted in the loss of two lives during firefighting efforts, highlighting the extreme danger of current conditions.

3. Challenges in Firefighting

• Topography: Approximately 10 million hectares of forest are located in rugged, steep, and deep terrain, making it impossible for modern vehicles to access.
• Equipment: While industrial plantations have better access, most remote forest areas still rely on manual, rudimentary firefighting tools.
• Resource Management: The shift from monoculture plantations to mixed native forests is a long-term strategy to improve fire resilience, but 4 million hectares of industrial plantations remain vulnerable.

4. Methodologies and Technological Solutions

• Prevention-First Approach: The Forestry Department emphasizes prevention over reaction.
• Technological Integration:
  • AI-powered Thermal Cameras: 360-degree monitoring to detect heat anomalies.
  • Drone Surveillance: Used for rapid scanning of inaccessible areas.
  • Satellite Imagery: Utilized for early warning and predictive modeling.
• Community-Based Model: Shifting from relying solely on specialized forces (military, police, forest rangers) to empowering local communities. This involves establishing local fire-fighting teams at the commune level to act as "first responders."

5. Key Recommendations and Directives

• Prohibitions: The Forestry Department strictly advises against:
  • Using fire in or near forest areas.
  • Smoking in forests.
  • Burning vegetation (thực bì) or clearing land (đốt nương rẫy) without authorization, especially during windy conditions.
• Education: There is a push for training programs to improve public awareness and provide citizens with skills to manage risks and minimize damage during fire incidents.

6. Notable Quotes

• “Số vụ cháy nhiều hay ít không quan trọng, mà vấn đề là hậu quả của mỗi vụ cháy.” (The number of fires is not as important as the impact of each individual fire.) — Mr. Nguyen Huu Thien, Deputy Director of the Forestry Department.
• “Chúng tôi đang chuyển dần từ việc chỉ huấn luyện lực lượng chức năng sang lấy người dân làm gốc.” (We are shifting from training only specialized forces to making the local people the foundation of our efforts.) — Mr. Nguyen Huu Thien.

Synthesis and Conclusion

The current forest fire situation in Vietnam is critical due to extreme, prolonged heat and dry conditions. The Forestry Department is balancing the use of advanced technology (AI, drones, thermal imaging) with a community-centric strategy. While technological tools help in early detection, the rugged geography of Vietnam's forests remains a significant hurdle. The primary takeaway is that human negligence is a leading cause of fires; therefore, strict adherence to fire safety regulations and the active involvement of local communities are the most effective defenses against the escalating risk of large-scale forest destruction.