Police investigate illegal tree cutting on Lam River alluvial land in Anh Son

On December 23, 2024, Nghe An Newspaper published an article "A series of ancient trees protecting the banks of Lam River in Anh Son district were mercilessly cut down.”. On the morning of December 24, 2024, the Chairman of the People's Committee of Anh Son district signed Decision No. 3814/QD-UBND to establish a Working Group to direct and handle the case of tree exploitation along the Lam River alluvial plain in Vinh Son commune as reported by Nghe An Newspaper.

The working group was headed by Mr. Hoang Xuan Cuong - Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee. At 8:00 a.m. the same day, the working group went to the alluvial land along the Lam River in Vinh Son Commune to inspect the tree exploitation site as reported.

Through inspection, the Working Group confirmed that there was illegal tree cutting, causing the risk of erosion in the riverside areas of Vinh Son commune; 42 trees were cut down. The Working Group also determined that the People's Committee of Vinh Son commune had not paid due attention to organizing the protection of trees, and had not ensured the management and protection of public assets according to regulations.

With the report of the Working Group, on December 24, 2024, the People's Committee of Anh Son district issued a document criticizing the People's Committee of Vinh Son commune and the Chairman of the People's Committee of Vinh Son commune for being slow in handling the case, not clarifying the quantity, volume of damage, and violators; in the process of handling problems, not promptly reporting the case to superiors and relevant sectors for reporting and asking for advice.

At the same time, Anh Son District People's Committee requested the Forest Protection Department to direct local forest rangers to support Vinh Son Commune People's Committee to count the quantity and volume of wood cut down at the Lam River alluvial land of Vinh Son Commune; advise the District People's Committee to handle violations in the forestry sector (if any).

Request the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development, Natural Resources and Environment, Finance and Planning to coordinate in inspecting and verifying the current status of land use, management and use of public assets; guide the People's Committee of Vinh Son commune to review regulations, procedures, auction authority, and public asset management to correct and cancel policies and procedures that have been organized and implemented in the liquidation and auction of public assets contrary to the law (if any).

Requesting the Vinh Son Commune Party Committee to lead and direct the Commune People's Committee and related organizations to coordinate in clarifying violations, the amount of damage, and clarifying the violators.

Request the Party Committee and People's Committee of Vinh Son commune to focus on directing specialized departments to review procedures and authority in tree auctions; verify violations, volume of wood cut down, work with subjects to clarify violations. Based on verification, report the case to the District People's Committee before 3:00 p.m. on December 25, 2024.

At the same time, the People's Committee of Anh Son district requested the Party Committee and People's Committee of Vinh Son commune to direct the functional forces to implement measures to protect the scene of the tree exploitation area, protect the evidence of violations; develop a plan to overcome the consequences (plant trees to compensate) of illegal tree cutting at the Lam river alluvial area in Vinh Son commune.

According to Mr. Hoang Xuan Cuong - Vice Chairman of Anh Son District People's Committee, the case of cutting down trees along the Lam River alluvial plain in Vinh Son Commune is very serious. Therefore, in parallel with the establishment of a Working Group of the District People's Committee, the leaders of Anh Son District have directed the District Police to investigate and clarify the matter.

“The investigation and verification team of the district police will carry out its duties independently. The viewpoint of Anh Son district is to clarify the violations and strictly handle them according to the law,” affirmed Mr. Hoang Xuan Cuong, Vice Chairman of Anh Son District People’s Committee.

As reported by Nghe An Newspaper in the photo report "A series of ancient trees protecting the banks of Lam River in Anh Son District were mercilessly cut down", working with Nghe An Newspaper reporters on December 23, 2024, the leader of Vinh Son Commune informed: "The strip of natural trees along Lam River has the task of preventing erosion of the agricultural production banks of the people in the area. Previously, this area was managed by the Commune People's Committee, in 2003 it was assigned to a local household for protection. Recently, due to the impact of natural disasters, 5 trees have fallen and 7 trees are at risk of falling, so the Vinh Son Commune People's Committee organized a public auction. However, after that, the auction winner illegally exploited 20 trees more than the contract".

According to the people of Vinh Son commune, a total of 33 trees were reported to Nghe An Newspaper. However, on-site verification on December 23, 2024 by Nghe An Newspaper reporters and Mr. Dinh Sy Vinh and Nguyen Dinh Thu (veterans of Vinh Lac village, Vinh Son commune) showed that there were scattered trees after the subjects cut down and took away the trunks, using soil and dry branches to cover the base to conceal the illegal tree exploitation.