Deeply devoted to the green forest

Amid the vast forests of Tan Phu, a soldier of Uncle Ho still perseveres day and night to safeguard the greenery. That is veteran Dang Dinh Ninh (61 years old, Head of Subzone 178, Subdivision 3, Tan Phu protective forest Management Board, Dong Nai province), who has devoted 39 years to forest protection with countless hardships and challenges but has never faltered.

Dang Dinh Ninh (first from left) with the specialized forest protection team of Tan Phu protective forest Management Moard patrolling in the forest. Photo: An Nhon

Persevering through time

In recent days, Ninh has spent much time in the forest with his comrades, actively replanting bare land and barren hills. He said: The rainy season is the 'golden' time for forest trees to grow and develop. Taking advantage of this, he and his unit have been vigorously implementing reforestation so that the trees can thrive.

Sharing about how he came to be bonded with the forest protection profession, Ninh said he was born and raised in a poor rural area of Ha Tinh Province. Like many young men of his generation, he volunteered for military service in 1982 and became a soldier of Regiment 977, Division 31, Army Corps 3. His unit was tasked with defending the border in Vi Xuyen, Ha Giang Province. In 1986, after four years of service, Ninh decided to return home due to family circumstances. One day, upon hearing that the Tan Phu Forestry Enterprise (later restructured as the Tan Phu Protective Forest Management Board) was recruiting, he applied and has worked there ever since.

“The forest-keeping profession is like a soldier guarding the border, very hard and arduous. No longer guarding the frontier, I joined in protecting the life of ancient forests. The work made me love the forest more and determined to dedicate my whole life to it,” - Ninh shared.

And then, Ninh’s footsteps have been imprinted across more than 18 thousand hectares of forest, standing side by side with colleagues day and night on patrol, guarding, and preventing illegal intrusion.

Forest protection work is extremely challenging and physically demanding. The area under management consists of mountains, steep hills, cut by streams and ravines, some with very high slopes. Moreover, illegal loggers are often aggressive and ready to resist the authorities while on duty. It makes forest protection even more stressful.

Recalling 2014-2017, when the domestic market for go trac (siamese rosewood) skyrocketed, Ninh said: Traders were buying by weight, luring many into attempting to infiltrate the forest for illegal harvesting. At that time, Dong Nai province in general and the Tan Phu protective forest management board in particular promptly launched a “campaign to protect rosewood trees” with many synchronized measures.

Assigned to the mission, Ninh and his colleagues set up ambushes day and night at key spots and forest entrances… to block illegal intrusion. In addition to independent patrols, the unit also coordinated with police, military, and local forest rangers to launch intensive raids, while strengthening public awareness campaigns… Thanks to the tight coordination of units and the persistence of officers like Ninh, the campaign to protect rosewood trees succeeded, minimizing the destruction of precious forest resources.

"Throughout my years on the job, my comrades and I have repeatedly apprehended individuals illegally entering the forest and handed them over to the authorities for proper handling. As a result, I became a 'thorn in the side' of illegal loggers and was frequently harassed. More than once, they came to the unit armed and tried to intimidate us... but as a soldier, I could not allow myself to back down. Above all, it was my love for the forest and the timely support from leaders and colleagues that helped me overcome every hardship and challenge," Ninh confided

For the past 39 years, veteran Dang Dinh Ninh has been a shining example within his unit. He exemplifies the qualities of Uncle Ho’s soldiers: resilient, responsible, always taking the lead in his work, ready to take on difficult tasks, and determined to fulfill them with excellence. He also serves as a source of moral support and inspiration for younger officers and staff to learn from and follow.

Director of Tan Phu protective forest management board NGUYEN LE ANH TUAN

The greatest reward for a forest keeper

With bravery and resilience, Ninh has always excelled in his duties. He was trusted by his leaders to be appointed head of unit groups and assigned responsibility for all subzones in the area. In every role, he strived to fulfill the responsibility of protecting the forest.

Currently, Ninh is in charge of Subzone 178, covering more than 1.1 thousand hectares under Subdivision 3 (Dinh Quan commune, Dong Nai province). This site is a “hot” area of Tan Phu protective forest management board, as it still has large natural forest areas with many precious timber species (dalbergia, rosewood, redwood, pterocarpus,…) and wildlife (wild boar, civet, chevrotain, monitor lizard…). More than 30 households with about 100 residents also live within the area.

To protect the forest effectively, in addition to patrolling, Ninh chooses to stay close to the community. He regularly visits households to raise awareness and mobilize them to sign commitments not to exploit forest products, not to hunt wildlife, and not to encroach on forest land… With the motto “constant dripping wears away the stone”, people’s legal awareness has gradually improved. In particular, those who once trapped animals or cut trees illegally have since given up and switched to farming or factory work…

“I often listen to the people’s concerns and help solve their difficulties. I help them understand that forest protection is not only the duty of specialized rangers but also of the entire community. As a result, whenever a suspicious outsider enters the forest, residents actively report it so that the authorities can monitor and prevent it in time,” - Ninh explained.

At the beginning of 2026, Ninh will retire after a 40-year journey in forest protection. He shared: “In the remaining days of my service, whether on patrol or during legal awareness campaigns, I will make the most of every opportunity to pass on my dedication and experience to younger colleagues. Protecting the forest is not just a job as it is a deep and passionate love for nature. I hope the younger generation will continue to carry the flame, ensuring that Dong Nai’s forests remain the ‘green lung’ of the southeast region.”

By An Nhon

Translated by Minh Hanh - Minho