Patrol teams in Vân Canh district routinely discover steel-jaw traps, snares, and nooses hidden beneath dry leaves and dense bushes.
In a single morning patrol through Suối Chùa forest (Compartment 325), rangers and villagers removed numerous traps to protect wildlife.
Nguyễn Văn Chiến, Head of the Canh Tiến - Hồ Núi Một Forest Protection Station, said his eight-member team manages 5,456 hectares of forest across six compartments in Canh Liên, Canh Vinh, and An Nhơn Tây communes.
“On each patrol, we typically dismantle five to eight traps, record GPS coordinates, and destroy them on site to prevent reuse. The work is arduous, but wildlife is gradually recovering,” he noted.
In neighboring Canh Liên commune, the Forest Protection Station oversees 6,485 hectares, where steep slopes and ravines pose additional challenges.
Head of station Đinh Văn Tân emphasized that collaboration with local villagers has been crucial in detecting poaching signs, removing traps, and preserving biodiversity.
The Vân Canh Protection Forest Management Board said it manages forest areas across 24 hamlets. In recent years, the Board has conducted biodiversity awareness programs, distributed educational leaflets, and partnered with authorities to reduce wildlife hunting.
Community involvement has been key. Deputy Secretary of the Canh Tiến Village Party Cell, Đinh Văn Thoanh, said villagers once relied on hunting due to economic hardship.
“With improved livelihoods and forest protection contracts worth several million Vietnamese dong (about USD 200), hunting has declined sharply,” he said. Offenders now face community meetings and village penalties.
For many, forest protection has become a collective responsibility. Bahnar villager Đinh Văn Canh, 55, explained: “In the past, traps were common. Now, we patrol to protect the forest and remind younger generations to respect nature.”
Nguyễn Thanh Quang, Deputy Director of the Vân Canh Protection Forest Management Board, said joint efforts have significantly reduced violations.
Looking ahead, the Board plans to expand patrols, train more residents, and use technology such as GPS and surveillance cameras to ensure long-term protection of the province’s “green lungs.”