Sacred Forest and Watershed Forest of Ka Bay village now in safe hands

• Old A Xinh just smiled and smiled without saying a word when some journalists wanted to interview him on his feeling of receiving the Certificate of Forestland Management and Use Right of Ka Bay Village. It’s December 4^th, 2013, and now A Xinh, his descendants, and the rest of the Ka Bay's community have received the rights granted by the Sa Thay District's government over two areas: the Sacred Forest, Water Drop Forest (10 ha), and Watershed Forest (20 ha). The Gai Rai people of Ka Bay are the first to be granted the red book for Sacred Forest and Watershed Forest in Kon Tum's land.
  
  
  
  The village patriarchs of Ka Bay Village with the red books to hand
  
  In the good old days the forests had been very rich and wide, but it is very difficult now to find a forest wide enough to circle the villages.
   
  Nevertheless the atmosphere in Ka Bay Village today is full of sunlight and the wind of Tay Nguyen's sky and land at the beginning of the dry season. The sky is very clear and the quiet space has been awakened by the bustling footsteps and excited voices of the villagers making their way toward the village center. The Nha Rong (communal house) looks somehow grander, the surroundings brighter with the red of banners and slogans.
  
  Less than three months ago, at this very place, at a meeting between workers doing survey work and investigations to facilitate the forestland allocation and Ka Bay village  people, Old A Xinh shared with his descendants the ways of their ancestors, of Tay Nguyen's mountains and forests, of people's responsibility in forest care and protection.
  
  That day I got the impression that he was the commander with full power and vitality, the power and vitality of Tay Nguyen. Old A Xinh is nearly 80-years-old but he is overflowing with affection and full of persuasion. His strong and moving voice flooded the space inside the Nha Rong and sometimes soared up to the top of mountain, other times soft and lovely, mixing with the attentive gazes of Ka Bay's inhabitants. The eyes and faces of the people were directed toward him, swinging with his voice's rhythm and his hands up and down.
  
  He said “Watershed Forest allocated, we must protect it. Mo Nuoc Forest allocated, we must protect it. The Village and I shall fine anyone who violates our rules. Praise or reward shall be given to the one who is credited with protection. Keep the forest, we will have water. Keep the forest, we will have trees. Whether you are young or old, you will know what to do." He said much and with convincing voice.  
  
  Today two scarlet certificates with the beautiful words, "Certificate of Land Use Rights and Housing Ownership and Other Property Related to the Land, No.BN 361061" and the "Certificate of Land Use Right and Housing Ownership and Other Property Related to the Land, No. BN 361062" to the Ka Bay's community as the owner” have been presented.
  
  
  
  The representative of the Management Board of Ka Bay Village at the Awards Ceremony of Certificate of Forestland Use Right
   
  The Communist Party and Government have understood the hearts of Ka Bay Village's people.  
  
  Finishing the awards ceremony of red books, the people keep sitting together in the Nha Rong. Although the atmosphere is celebratory, the people are focused.  Now they are responsible for protection. The discussion is around contributions towards management and how to do it effectively. A day later, Ka Bay Village people initially agreed that each household contribute 20,000 vnd p.a. to the fund for forest protection and management. With this decision, the Ka Bay community not only confirmed that they have realized the responsibilities for the forest but also in their deepest hearts understood very well that the forest shall give them a stable water source forever, and an area where they can restore and bring into play their traditional cultural values.
   
  Back in Ha Nội, I write this information to share with everyone and to congratulate the Ka Bay community and praise the contributions of the parties from the village to the Province authorities on the implementation of forest and forestland allocation. Should this model of forest and forestland allocation be developed or replicated, it is certain that the Central Highlands will have more natural forests protected, restored and developed, making it the  greenest part of Vietnam into the future.
   
  Nguyen Van Su