HCM City (VNS/VNA) - More than a hundredforest watchers from Ho Chi Minh City’s Youth Volunteers are spending theirdays and nights in the vast Can Gio Mangrove Forest.

They patrol the swamp land tolook out for illegal loggers, poachers and early detection of forest fires. 

Despite having UNESCO statussince 2000, local rangers struggle to monitor the whole area which covers35,000 hectares.

The watchers live, sleep and eatamong the mangrove for as long as they can, in order to ease the burden on therangers who work there.

Without fresh water, little cellphone coverage and hardly any electricity, families of helpers hope to helpprotect the biosphere reserve.

The watchers are in charge ofmonitoring more than 7.500ha of the 35,000 hectares of forest. Checkpoints inthe middle of nowhere were turned into homes and living quarters.

Any electrical equipment they usegenerates power from just a few solar panels.

But despite the tough livingconditions, the people say they are doing it for the greater good. Some haveeven been living in the forest for many years.

“My wife and I registered ournames as forest watchers back in 2013,” said forest watcher Vo Minh Tam.

“We grew up around here. When Iwas a kid I used to go fishing in the forest. I love the forest. That’s why Isigned up,”

When he first told his familymembers of the idea they tried to stop him. His in-laws also disliked the ideaof him bringing his wife to live in the forest. They offered them land but thecouple refused.

Tam and his wife nowpatrol the forest as oppose to making a living from fishing and raisingpoultry like they did in the past.

“My family eventually changedtheir mind,” Tam said, ”At first, they only came to see how we were doing butnow they quite like it here. They have visited often and brought us supplies.”

Another watcher Truong Thi Quyhad to send her kids to live with their grandparents so they could go toschool.

“I grew up in a town nearby and Ilove the forest. My parents were forest watchers and I took it up after theyretired,” Quy said.

“Our friends told us we could getjobs elsewhere that pay better but who will protect the forest if we all go?”she said.

Loggers and poachers could turnviolent when they are caught so watchers are told to always stay in touch withlocal authorities.

Watchers’ biggest fear, however,was forest fires. The mangrove is susceptible to fire, especially during thedry season. The protection of its flora, many are oil plants, require thewatchers to be constantly on the move to cover their designated areas.

Thanks to the watchers. Thenumber of illegal loggings and poaching incidents has declined in recent years.Local authorities and the forest’s management unit are working together toprovide them with more equipment and training and to raise awareness amonglocal community to help support the watchers in their mission.-VNS/VNA