The Nature Reserve strengthens forest leasing to the community, contributing to sustainable forest protection, increasing public responsibility, and stabilizing livelihoods in border areas.
Dien Bien proactively responds to forest fire incidents.
With the goal of ensuring sustainable forest protection, raising community awareness, and improving livelihoods for local residents, the Nature Reserve has recently intensified efforts to lease forests to communities, villages, and households for management and protection. This model not only helps reduce the encroachment on special-use forests and protective forests but also creates stable income for people living near the forests.
Currently, the Nature Reserve Management Board is overseeing nearly 47,000 hectares of forest and non-forest land, including more than 36,000 hectares of special-use forest and over 1,000 hectares of forest land designated for special-use forests through 2025, with a vision for 2030.
The patrol forces trek through the forest and cross streams to carry out their forest protection duties at the Nature Reserve. Photo: Hoang Chau.
According to Mr. Diep Van Chinh – Director of the Nature Reserve Management Board, the terrain here is mainly high mountains, with fragmented agricultural land, and the people face many challenges in terms of livelihoods. Many households still rely on forest resources for their living. Therefore, leasing forests to the community for management is a practical solution that helps increase the responsibility of the people for the forest and reduces pressure on natural resources.
At the same time, the work of promoting natural regeneration through forest protection continues to be effectively implemented. In 2025, the Management Board is carrying out the protection of 201.01 hectares (third year) and 776.49 hectares (fourth year) without additional planting, to restore natural forests and create favorable living environments for rare plant and animal species.
Additionally, the Management Board also maintains and develops endemic, rare forest tree species, and medicinal plants found in the Nature Reserve, such as native Gioi Gang (500 seedlings), Hoang Tinh (225 seedlings), and other characteristic tree species. The sowing, nurturing, and care of seedlings not only serve the forest planting plan but also contribute to the preservation of rare plant gene sources in the region.
The Management Board of the Mường Nhé Nature Reserve conducts forest protection awareness campaigns for the local people. Photo: Hoang Chau.
In addition, the Management Board focuses on spreading knowledge and promoting legal regulations on forest protection and development, organizing regular forest patrols that combine forest rangers and local communities. To date, the unit has established 29 community groups and 12 organizational groups participating in forest protection, receiving payments for forest environmental services. Thanks to this policy, local people have gained a stable source of income, which contributes to stabilizing their livelihoods and reducing forest encroachment.
The coordination between the Management Board and local authorities, as well as other agencies and units in the area, has also been strengthened. Many training sessions and communication campaigns about the Forest Protection and Development Law, regulations on administrative penalties for violations, and forest fire prevention and control have been widely implemented.
The staff of the Mường Nhé Nature Reserve checks the status of the forest. Photo: Hoang Chau.
In 2025, the Management Board is implementing reforestation with a total area of 52.48 hectares under Decision No. 430/QD-UBND dated February 28, 2025, from the Provincial People's Committee. Currently, the Mường Nhé Nature Reserve Management Board is managing a large area of protective forests. To effectively protect the forest, local forces, especially community groups and households involved in forest leasing, must be relied upon. The forest leasing policy has shown practical effectiveness, contributing both to protecting and restoring forest resources and helping local people establish long-term ties with the forest.
Mr. Diệp Văn Chính emphasized: "In recent years, thanks to the attention from the Party, State, and Provincial People's Committee, the livelihoods of the people in Mường Nhé district have gradually become more stable through the forest leasing policy. This has also provided an important foundation for the Management Board of the Nature Reserve to continue fulfilling its assigned tasks, including the goal of upgrading the Mường Nhé Nature Reserve to a national park in the near future."