(VOVworld) – Dien Bien province, which has difficult mountain terrain, is the habitat of many ethnic minority groups including Thai, H’Mong, and Ha Nhi. Implementing the national target program on building new rural areas, Dien Bien province has built production models, adopted new varieties of animals and plants, and assigned the community to manage forests and protect the environment.

A bridge built under the new rural development program in Muong Lay district, Dien Bien province

As a mountain province with sloping terrain, Dien Bien has had difficulty achieving new rural development targets like rural roads and rezoning fields. But some communes in Muong Lay district have managed to complete the rural road target by adapting the target to local conditions. Next year, Muong Ang district hopes to achieve the socio-cultural and environmental targets. The Associations of Veterans, Women, and the Elderly have gotten actively involved in the program. Lu Van Vin, Head of the Dien Bien Association of the Elderly, says: “Building new rural areas and protecting the environment are the tasks of the entire political system. We’re determined that senior citizens should engage in work which is appropriate to their age. For example, they can guard water sources and collect the waste in their hamlets. They can also plant more trees to preserve the forests.”

In Muong Lay district, with state investment, the local administration has integrated programs to upgrade and repair infrastructure for economic development. The administration and social organizations in Muong Cha district have provided people with seedlings and breeding animals for pilot production before replicating successful models. Violet sugar canes, coffee, and soy beans have been widely grown in many communes. Muong Cha authorities have allocated forests for the community to manage and the model has gradually gained results. Nguyen Tuan Quang, Head of Muong Cha district’s Forest Rangers, said he is assured that forests are managed by the community. H’Mong people have changed their mind and behaviors since they were allocated forests. Quang said: “Previously, the forests were virtually ownerless. Now, hamlets and households are in charge of protecting the forests and people’s awareness has been improved.”

Thong Dinh hamlet was given 700 hectares of forests, mostly perennial trees. Huoi Toong manages 200 hectares of regenerated forests. Thao Cho Pao, patriarch of Huong Toong hamlet, said they protect all forests for their children’s future. Pao is happy when the villagers understand the need to protect and develop forests. Their lives will be improved when they harvest forests in a couple of years. Tang is a villager. “All people are responsible for protecting forests. We don’t burn fields in the dry season. If we burn our terraced fields, we need preparative measures to protect our neighbor’s fields.”

Forest protection has become an indispensable work in the lives of people in Dien Bien province.