In recent times, the practice of burning vegetation, combined with prolonged dry weather and strong southwest monsoon winds, has resulted in an increase in forest fires in Quang Nam (QN) and Thua Thien Hue (TT Hue) provinces. This issue is also exacerbated by the fact that many forest owners do not implement forest fire prevention strategies, such as setting up firebreaks to act as a barrier to spreading wildfires. In order to improve local capacity to prevent and fight forest fires, the USAID Green Annamites project conducted a training needs assessment.
Based on its results, from June 2-17, USAID organized six training courses in QN and TT Hue provinces on forest fire prevention and fighting regulations, forest fire forecasting, drafting action plans, organizing and coordinating forest fire prevention and fighting forces, and inspection and supervision in forest fire response. Through these training programs, 229 participants (209 are male, 20 female), including commune leaders; local rangers and forest protection teams, Provincial Forest Protection Department and District Forest Protection Sub-Department staff; and grassroots forest protection teams, improved their knowledge and skills, learned the techniques behind forest fire fighting, and practiced how to use forest fire prevention and fighting equipment.
So What? USAID Green Annamites support has improved local capacity to prevent and fight forest fires, which is critical to these two central provinces that have significant natural forests and more than 300,000 hectares of acacia plantations.
