(Baonghean.vn) -At Pu Hoat Nature Reserve, the hundreds of years old red Samu trees, dozens of meters high, with a diameter of 2 - 5 meters, and a trunk circumference that dozens of people cannot hug, are a source of pride and a symbol. However, since the end of June 2015, at plot 11, Sub-area 59 (in the strictly protected primeval forest area of Pu Hoat Nature Reserve), 3 hundreds of years old red Samu trees have been cut down by heartless loggers..
The perpetrators were arrested by the authorities along with the evidence. However, only by setting foot in this primeval forest to see the destruction of the country's precious forest resources can one fully feel the pain.
Below are photos taken by Nghe An Newspaper reporters at the scene of red Samu trees being cut down by illegal loggers:
 |
| Pu Hoat primeval forest area, where 3 red sa mu trees were cut down by illegal loggers, belongs to Hanh Dich commune, Que Phong district, bordering Vietnam and Laos. |
 |
| To enter this border area, we must have the consent of the border guards, and at the same time, have functional forces to guide us. |
 |
| The road is difficult and arduous, passing through many streams and steep passes. |
 |
| and always attacked by slugs |
 |
| After more than 4 hours of climbing mountains and wading streams, we reached the Sa Mu forest in block 11, Sub-zone 59. |
 |
| The first Sa mu tree was cut to pieces by illegal loggers. |
 |
| At the cuts, Sa mu resin oozes out and clumps. According to Pu Hoat Nature Reserve staff, when the resin runs out, the tree will dry up and die. |
 |
| The circumference of this Sa mu tree is over 2.7m, the circumference is so large that it can be hugged by dozens of people, and it is about 35 - 40m high. |
 |
| To cut down the tree, the loggers opened the saw's mouth so big that even an adult could fit through. |
 |
| And they wedge into the cuts. |
 |
| The mountainous terrain is steep, so to cut down the Sa mu tree, the loggers built scaffolding around the tree's base. |
 |
| Both sides of this Sa mu tree were chopped up by illegal loggers using chainsaws. |
 |
| Following the authorities, we went uphill about 20m, to the scene of the Sa mu trees being felled and cut by illegal loggers. |
 |
| The two cut down trees were as big as the one we witnessed earlier that had its roots cut by the loggers. |
 |
| The felled Sa mu trees |
 |
| The roots of the Samu trees were cut down by loggers. |
 |
| The illegal loggers cut a Sa mu tree into 4 pieces, and sawed on the spot 7 panels 1.1m wide, 3.3m long, 0.15m thick. |
 |
| The shacks of the loggers were built to serve the purpose of cutting down trees. |
 |
| To build the shack, the loggers cut down some large trees. |
 |
| According to Manh Danh Ngoc - an officer of the Forest Protection Station of Hanh Dich Commune (under the Management Board of Pu Hoat Nature Reserve), who directly participated in the capture of illegal loggers, the authorities have grasped the information that illegal loggers will organize to destroy the Sa Mu forest since the end of 2014. From the beginning of 2015 until now, the Forest Protection Station of Hanh Dich Commune has, together with officers and soldiers of Border Guard Station 517 (located in Hanh Dich Commune), carried out 12 patrols. Until the end of June 2015, they received information from the people of Sub-region 59 that illegal loggers had entered. The station reported to the unit's leaders, and then the Management Board of Pu Hoat Nature Reserve coordinated with Border Guard Station 517 and the People's Committee of Hanh Dich Commune to organize a raid, and arrested 5 criminals who had destroyed the rare Sa Mu trees. |
 |
| In Pu Hoat Nature Reserve, there are many rare large trees such as the Chò sca tree... |
 |
| ... the Sen Dat tree |
 |
| ...the Honey Apple tree |
 |
| ... Banyan tree |
 |
| Along with the majestic red Samu trees that are hundreds of years old, they are always the target of evil-minded people. Therefore, to protect the precious assets that nature has bestowed, to protect the priceless green belt of the country, the authorities need to strictly handle the perpetrators, and at the same time, have effective protection measures. |
Nhat Lan - Viet Long
