Forest fires kill 12 people since early last year
Vietnam experienced 400 forest fires from early 2023 to late April this year, killing 12 people and injuring six.
The fires damaged some 1,200 hectares of forest during the period.
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang released the figures at an online forest protection meeting on Sunday.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam's total forested area was 14.8 million hectares, including 10.1 million hectares of natural forest, as of late 2023. The country maintained forest coverage of 42.02 percent.
The impact of the El Nino phenomenon and slash-and-burn agriculture were the leading causes of recent forest fires.
Most forest fires were in the Central Highlands, northern mountainous and northern-central areas.
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang said the country's actual forest coverage would be lower than the reported rate of 42.02 percent. Forest coverage will be reevaluated in 2030. Therefore, the government has assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to carry out a separate measurement plan for five provinces in the Central Highlands region to assess whether the actual forest coverage matches predictions.
This year has already experienced unprecedented heatwaves. Quang said that intense hot weather was forecasted to hit Vietnam this summer, which would mean more forest fires.
He also emphasised the need to enhance the use of technology in forest management and wildfire prevention.
He hailed Chu Mom Ray National Park in Kon Tum Province's innovative and creative forest protection and management initiatives, including the use of drones. Each forest ranger at the national park was required to patrol 120 kilometres every month.
The fires damaged some 1,200 hectares of forest during the period.
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang released the figures at an online forest protection meeting on Sunday.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam's total forested area was 14.8 million hectares, including 10.1 million hectares of natural forest, as of late 2023. The country maintained forest coverage of 42.02 percent.
The impact of the El Nino phenomenon and slash-and-burn agriculture were the leading causes of recent forest fires.
Most forest fires were in the Central Highlands, northern mountainous and northern-central areas.
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang said the country's actual forest coverage would be lower than the reported rate of 42.02 percent. Forest coverage will be reevaluated in 2030. Therefore, the government has assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to carry out a separate measurement plan for five provinces in the Central Highlands region to assess whether the actual forest coverage matches predictions.
This year has already experienced unprecedented heatwaves. Quang said that intense hot weather was forecasted to hit Vietnam this summer, which would mean more forest fires.
He also emphasised the need to enhance the use of technology in forest management and wildfire prevention.
He hailed Chu Mom Ray National Park in Kon Tum Province's innovative and creative forest protection and management initiatives, including the use of drones. Each forest ranger at the national park was required to patrol 120 kilometres every month.
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