Forestry Department intervenes in Ba Be forest destruction case (Bac Kan)
The Forest Protection Department (under the General Department of Forestry) has sent a special working group to inspect and handle deforestation in Ba Be National Park (Bac Kan).
The tree stumps are still fresh after being cut down.
Talking to reporters, Mr. Dang Quoc Vu said: The situation of deforestation in Bac Kan not only occurs in Ba Be National Park, but also in many other areas such as Na Ry district and Bach Thong district.
From the end of 2011 until now, the whole Bac Kan province has had 134 ironwood trees with a volume of 536m3 cut down.
Of these, the two areas with the largest areas of destroyed ironwood forests are the Cao Son commune forest, Bach Thong district (52 trees, equivalent to 226m3 of wood), and Ba Be National Park (48 trees, equivalent to 160m3 of wood).
However, according to Mr. Vu, the above statistics were discovered and recorded by the authorities. The exact amount of ironwood cut down and transported downstream by illegal loggers is unknown.
"We can only count the remaining wood volume at the scene, the part that was taken away cannot be accurately counted" - Mr. Vu said.
Also according to Mr. Vu, after the newspaper published two articles exposing deforestation, illegal exploitation and transportation of ironwood in the core area of Ba Be National Forest, the Director of the Forest Protection Department sent a special working group of 6 people, led by comrade La Van Duc - Deputy Director of Forest Protection Region 1 - to the area for inspection.
“The main responsibility for deforestation in Ba Be National Park still belongs to Ba Be National Park. If the timber is transported through the forest ranger posts of Bac Kan province, the responsibility belongs to the Bac Kan Provincial Forest Ranger Department,” said Mr. Vu.
Regarding public opinion reflecting that forest rangers are assisting illegal loggers, Mr. Vu said that it is necessary to investigate and verify. If such an incident is true, it will be strictly handled according to the law.
Mr. Nguyen Huu Dung - Director of the Vietnam Forest Protection Department also added: "A few months ago, we also established a working group to inspect the situation of illegal logging of ironwood in Bac Kan. This is a hot issue, to prevent it thoroughly, it requires the synchronous participation of functional agencies".
According to Tinnhanh-M
