Bac Ninh, Oct. 31 -- The northern city of Bac Ninh is stepping up community-based forest protection by assigning local residents the responsibility for safeguarding forest areas and encouraging the use of technology to improve monitoring and prevent violations. For ethnic minority residents in Bieng hamlet of An Lac commune, natural forests are not only a source of water and non-timber products but also an integral part of local life across generations. Protecting forests has therefore become a shared responsibility. Instead of relying mainly on authorities, residents have taken a more active role in patrolling forests, monitoring changes and reporting violations. An Lac is home to more than 11,932 hectares of forest land, with the covera...