The Forestry Department verifies information reported by Nghe An Newspaper that Ngoc Linh ginseng cultivation has negative impacts on Puxailaileng protective forest.

This document stated: “On October 29, 2024 and October 30, 2024, Nghe An Newspaper published an article “The cultivation of medicinal herbs by Ngoc Linh Ginseng Pharmaceutical Group negatively impacts the Puxailaileng upstream protection forest”. The report’s content reflected: “Starting from October 2023, Ngoc Linh Ginseng Pharmaceutical Group Joint Stock Company has deployed the planting of Ngoc Linh ginseng under the forest canopy at Khoanh 8, Sub-area 490, Na Ngoi Commune (Ky Son) - the core of the Puxailaileng biodiversity conservation area; however, after only more than 1 year of implementation, there was a petition from a citizen “accusing” the act of encroachment on the upstream protection forest...”.

In order to promptly handle the information reflected by Nghe An Newspaper and violations (if any) in accordance with regulations, the Forest Protection Department requests the Head of Ky Son Forest Protection Department to preside over and coordinate with Mobile Forest Protection Team and PCCCR Team No. 1, local authorities of Na Ngoi commune and related units, to verify and clarify the related contents as reflected by Nghe An Newspaper (issue dated October 29 and October 30, 2024).

Nghe An Forest Protection Department also requested relevant units to handle or advise competent authorities to handle violations of forestry laws in accordance with regulations (if any). Report specific explanations, clearly identify responsibilities in forest protection management for relevant groups and individuals in the above violations, propose solutions to thoroughly prevent illegal deforestation (if any).

Along with that, work specifically with Ngoc Linh Ginseng Pharmaceutical Group Joint Stock Company on the related contents reflected by Nghe An Newspaper above, to clarify the nature of the incident and coordinate to handle and prevent illegal deforestation.

Direct local forest rangers to coordinate with forest owners and local authorities to strengthen forest inspection and monitoring measures, grasp all developments in local forest security to promptly detect, combat, prevent and strictly handle violations in the forestry sector in accordance with regulations.

Regarding the Ky Son Protective Forest Management Board, Nghe An Forest Protection Department requests to verify and clarify the information reported by Nghe An Newspaper on October 29 and October 30, 2024 about the planting of medicinal herbs affecting the protective forest in Na Ngoi commune. Report the verification results; clarify the management entity, forest owner, area, scope, role and responsibility of the Board and Ngoc Linh Ginseng Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company for the forest area reported by the Newspaper.

At the same time, assign the Department of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation to monitor the implementation results of the units, analyze and synthesize the reports of the units, check and compare forest development documents, satellite images, and other relevant information. If there are signs of changes in the area of ​​natural forests, advise on the establishment of an inspection team to verify the scene, make a record, and handle violations in accordance with legal regulations.

“Upon receipt of this Official Dispatch, the Heads of the above-mentioned units are requested to promptly implement and report the implementation results to the Forest Protection Department before November 8, 2024” – Nghe An Forest Protection Department emphasized in Document No. 1105/KL-QLBVR.

Previously, on October 28, 2024, Ky Son Forest Protection Department presided over and coordinated with the Na Ngoi commune government and Ky Son Protective Forest Management Board to inspect the implementation of the plan to link medicinal plant planting under the canopy at Ky Son Protective Forest Management Board.

At the scene, the Inspection Team identified the following shortcomings: digging and making beds in the forest to plant Kim Tuyen orchids; arbitrarily clearing some scattered bamboo roots in the area to create a surface for planting Ngoc Linh ginseng.

The inspection team assessed that the vegetation treatment was not in accordance with the approved cooperation plan. Because in the cooperation plan, the association stated: "The land preparation process must be carried out in a manner that has the least impact on the forest environment. Therefore, the medicinal plants planted in the project are all carried out in a nearly natural manner, the plants are planted in holes about 10 cm in diameter, at a density appropriate to each type of plant, without plowing or cultivating the forest to plant medicinal plants".

At the same time, it is determined that forest fire prevention and fighting in the cooperative and joint areas has not received much attention. Specifically, temporary shelters for workers are built haphazardly in the cooperative and joint areas, posing a great risk of causing forest fires. The investor has not equipped the necessary tools for forest fire prevention and fighting in the cooperative and joint areas. Workers live in the forest for long periods of time but are not instructed or equipped with the necessary knowledge about forest fire prevention and fighting...

With the on-site inspection, on the same day, October 28, Ky Son Forest Protection Department issued Document No. 70/CV-KL to rectify the implementation of the plan to cooperate in planting medicinal plants under the forest canopy for Ky Son Protective Forest Management Board and Vietnam Ngoc Linh Ginseng Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company.

For more information, on October 31, the People's Committee of Ky Son district also organized a working group to inspect the Ngoc Linh ginseng plantation site at Khoanh 8, Sub-area 490, Na Ngoi commune of Vietnam Ngoc Linh Ginseng Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company.