The man who 'talks' to Can Gio mangrove forest

On the canoe rushing through the wide open river branches, the salty wind from the East Sea blew in, carrying the musty smell of mud and the humidity from the immense mangrove forest.

Pointing to the straight rows of mangroves, Master Bui Nguyen The Kiet - Head of Resource Development Management Department, Can Gio Protective Forest Management Board, smiled gently: "Mangroves are a very strange tree species. It is like a mother giving birth right on the branch. When the fruit is ripe, the seeds germinate right inside the fruit, then fall into the mud, and just a few hours later take root and become young trees. Thanks to that, the forest can spread widely, firmly block the waves, and protect the land. I often joke that mangroves are the silent 'bodyguards' protecting Can Gio from the encroachment of the sea".

Master Bui Nguyen The Kiet (white shirt) is the author of many initiatives to preserve the green color of Can Gio.

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY AUTHOR

He talks about the forest with such a natural passion that it seems like every wind and every wave is a close friend. After nearly 20 years of attachment, Kiet has learned the "character" of every tree, animal, and river in Long Tau, Dan Xay, and Vam Sat estuaries... The forest is not just a job for him, but has become flesh and blood, the reason for living.

Fate with the forest

Born in Dong Nai - a land without many mangrove forests - Kiet has been fascinated by this special ecosystem since his student days at Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Forestry. Lectures on the miraculous adaptation of plants in brackish water areas have "hypnotized" him. Since then, every internship trip to Can Gio has left Kiet with an unquenchable passion.

In 2006, with a bachelor's degree in forestry in hand, he applied to work at the Can Gio Protective Forest Management Board. That decision may have come as a surprise to many people, because the working environment here is not easy: nearly 35,000 hectares of mangrove forest, crisscrossed by rivers and canals, to get to the forest protection posts, one had to go by canoe or wade through mud. However, for the young man at that time, it was an opportunity to live out his passion for researching and protecting the forest.

Anh Kiet introduces snails, a natural product in Can Gio mangrove forest

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY AUTHOR

"This job is really hard, but every day I walk among the mangrove trees, mangroves, and parrots, I feel like I am re-energized. Mangrove forests are the green lungs of the city, a home to thousands of species of creatures. The more I understand the forest, the more I love it, the more I want to contribute to preserving it," he confided.

Can Gio forest management has its own unique characteristics. One side borders the East Sea, the other side borders Dong Nai, Tay Ninh, Dong Thap ; plus a dense river system. Overexploitation of aquatic resources, deforestation, the risk of forest fires in the dry season, and the pressure from climate change and rising sea levels… all weigh heavily on the shoulders of forest rangers.

Anh Kiet said there were patrols that lasted all day, the sun was blazing, the canoe was loaded with fresh water reserves. At night, in the middle of the dark forest, the sound of insects and waves were his companions. Many of his colleagues considered the simple wooden posts as their "home", living away from their families for months at a time to guard each patch of forest.

It was during these hardships that his love for the forest grew stronger. "Trees are like humans, sometimes strong, sometimes weak. If we don't understand, don't listen, it's difficult to care for and protect them," Kiet said, his eyes shining with pride.

"Going to the forest" is Mr. Kiet's passion, when he meets and talks about the forest with households protecting the Can Gio protective forest.

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY AUTHOR

Quietly "sowing" technology, persistently keeping Can Gio green

Not only stopping at patrolling and protecting, Kiet always struggles to find ways to improve management efficiency. In his free time after field trips, he diligently reads more documents, learns about international experiences, and then boldly proposes ideas to the leaders.

In 2023, his initiative "Application of geographic information system (GIS) in resource management at Can Gio Mangrove World Biosphere Reserve" won third prize - Ho Chi Minh City Innovation Award and the 3rd Ho Chi Minh City Environment Award.

This initiative helps create a digital database, accurately recording forest changes, from area, tree density to carbon absorption capacity. Instead of having to rely entirely on costly manual surveys, officials can now use software such as MapInfo, Google Earth or the Locus Map application installed on smartphones. Data is updated quickly, shared conveniently, supporting managers in making timely decisions.

"In the past, to measure or monitor a forest area, we had to travel for many days, wasting effort and sometimes the data was not accurate. Now, with just a few operations on the computer or phone, we have a detailed map. It saves both time and resources," Kiet excitedly explained.

Speaking about Kiet, Dr. Huynh Duc Hoan - Head of Can Gio Protective Forest Management Board, affirmed: "In the unit, forest management requires not only knowledge but also commitment and patience. Kiet is one of the officers who most clearly demonstrates that sense of responsibility. He constantly learns, is creative and has advised many useful solutions for the unit."

Not only stopping at GIS, Kiet and his colleagues also implemented a series of other initiatives: applying Landsat remote sensing to build a forest management database; collecting fallen tree samples to assess biomass and carbon reserves; building a quick lookup table of CO2 absorbed by the mangrove community... Each research project is closely linked to practice, helping to make biodiversity conservation and climate change response increasingly effective.

Anh Kiet and author Thanh Tra "go to the forest" in sub-zone 3, subdivision I, Can Gio protective forest

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY AUTHOR

In the nursery of the Management Board, Kiet gently lifted a newly rooted mangrove tree. His voice suddenly calmed down: "You know, before 1964, this place was a primeval forest. But the war almost wiped it all out. Tens of thousands of hectares of mangrove forest were destroyed by bombs and chemicals. Only after peace was restored, thanks to the determination of the city and the cooperation of the State, scientists, and farmers, was the forest restored. In 2000, UNESCO recognized Can Gio as the first Biosphere Reserve of Vietnam. For us, contributing to protecting the forest is a source of pride, but also a heavy responsibility."

He humbly said that his initiatives were only "a very small contribution", but his eyes shone with strong belief: "I think that anyone who truly loves and understands the forest can do it. As long as we put in enough effort, the forest will not let us down."

Late in the afternoon, the canoe cut through the waves and took us away from Dan Xay. The red sun gradually disappeared behind the mangrove forest, leaving a sparkling streak of light on the river surface. In that moment, the image of Mr. Bui Nguyen The Kiet - a man who has devoted two decades to the mangrove forest - suddenly appeared clearly: quiet, persistent, but constantly creative so that the green forest is protected, so that the lungs of the city continue to breathe healthily for today and for generations to come.

The fifth Living Well Writing Contest was organized to encourage people to write about noble actions that have helped individuals or communities. This year, the contest focused on praising people or groups that have performed acts of kindness, bringing hope to difficult situations.

The highlight is the new environmental award category, honoring works that inspire and encourage action for a green, clean living environment. Through this, the Organizing Committee hopes to raise public awareness in protecting the planet for future generations.

The competition has diverse categories and prize structure, including:

Article categories: Memoirs, reports, notes or short stories, no more than 1,600 words for articles and 2,500 words for short stories.

Articles of memoirs, reports, notes:

- 1 First Prize: 30,000,000 VND

- 2 Second prizes: 15,000,000 VND

- 3 Third prizes: 10,000,000 VND

- 5 Consolation prizes: 3,000,000 VND

Short story:

- 1 First Prize: 30,000,000 VND

- 1 Second Prize: 20,000,000 VND

- 2 Third prizes: 10,000,000 VND

- 4 Consolation prizes: 5,000,000 VND

Photo category: Submit a photo series of at least 5 photos related to volunteer activities or environmental protection, along with the name of the photo series and a short description.

- 1 First Prize: 10,000,000 VND

- 1 Second Prize: 5,000,000 VND

- 1 Third Prize: 3,000,000 VND

- 5 Consolation prizes: 2,000,000 VND

Most Popular Prize: 5,000,000 VND

Prize for Excellent Essay on Environmental Topic: 5,000,000 VND

Honored Character Award: 30,000,000 VND

The deadline for submissions is October 16, 2025. The works will be evaluated through preliminary and final rounds with the participation of a jury of famous names. The organizing committee will announce the list of winners on the "Beautiful Life" page. See detailed rules at thanhnien.vn .

Organizing Committee of the Beautiful Living Contest

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nguoi-noi-chuyen-voi-rung-ngap-man-can-gio-18525082711051709.htm