A Cry for Help from the Forest: Nature's Warning

When the floodwaters from Typhoon Tra Mi inundated the homes of residents in Pho Cuong Commune, Duc Pho Town, Quang Ngai Province in the middle of the night, it was not merely a natural disaster but also a stark warning about the severe consequences of deforestation in Vietnam.
That night, the rain poured down on Pho Cuong Commune. Nguyen Thi Tuoi vividly remembers the moment the floodwaters rushed into her home, forcing her family to frantically move their belongings in the darkness. The floor was submerged in more than 20 centimeters of water. "Before, the water only flooded the yard and kitchen. But now, it flooded both the upper and lower floors of the house," Tuoi recounted with a heavy heart.
The root cause of this situation is no stranger – it is the consequence of deforestation that has occurred over the past two decades. In the commune, more than 1,600 hectares of natural forest have been converted into eucalyptus and acacia plantations. The cycle of clear-cutting, burning, and replanting has been repeated every 4-5 years, leaving deep scars on the land.
Not only facing floods, Pho Cuong residents also have to endure a severe drought. In the 2020 dry season, over 400 households faced a severe shortage of water for daily life. Many families had to spend tens of millions of dong to drill wells. Even more painfully, 774 hectares of farmland had to be left fallow due to lack of irrigation.
"In the past, when the forest was intact, rainwater seeped into the ground and flowed into Lam Binh Lake. Floods in our houses were rare," shared Tran Van Chung, a local resident. Now, with the forest destroyed, rainwater flows freely, causing severe flooding.
 
According to preliminary statistics, Typhoon Tra Mi caused severe damage to the central region. In Quang Ngai alone, over 1,000 houses were flooded, many roads were cut off, and the estimated damage amounted to hundreds of billions of dong. This situation is not limited to the local level. According to statistics from the National Office for Disaster Prevention and Control, Vietnam suffers from 10-15 landslides and flash floods each year, especially in the northern mountains, the central region, the Central Highlands, and the Southeast. The main cause is the deforestation of upstream forests, which has reduced their ability to regulate water.
Environmental experts warn that the conversion of natural forests to plantations is creating a serious chain of consequences. In addition to causing floods and droughts, deforestation also leads to biodiversity loss, soil erosion, and local climate change. Many rare plant and animal species are facing extinction as their natural habitats are destroyed.
In response to this situation, authorities have been implementing decisive solutions. Inspection and monitoring activities have been strengthened, and violations of forest protection have been strictly handled. In particular, the review and assessment of forest land use conversion projects have been carried out more closely.
Concurrently, sustainable forest management models are being promoted. Many localities have implemented natural forest restoration projects, combined with the development of ecotourism. Local people are encouraged to participate in forest protection through co-management programs and are supported in developing sustainable livelihoods.
The Vietnam Forest Resources Museum has proposed several urgent solutions:
Strengthening monitoring and early warning through the installation of automatic monitoring stations in key areas.
Restoring upstream protective forests with native tree species that have good water retention capacity.
Promoting research and application of sustainable forestry models, combining conservation and development.
Strengthening forest protection awareness education in the community through propaganda and training programs.
"Protecting natural forests is not only the responsibility of the forestry sector but also the duty of the entire community," said an enthusiastic forestry official. Every forest that is protected not only contributes to preserving the ecological environment but also ensures a sustainable life for future generations.
The story from Pho Cuong is a warning about the consequences of trading natural forests for short-term economic benefits. It raises a big question about everyone's responsibility in the conservation and sustainable development of forests. Because when forests are lost, not only nature but also humans will suffer unimaginable consequences.
Each passing typhoon leaves valuable lessons about the close relationship between forests and human life. Protecting and sustainably developing forests is not only the responsibility of the authorities but also the duty of every Vietnamese citizen. Only when we truly understand the value of forests and join hands in action can we protect this precious resource for future generations.