Investigation into deforestation and assault on officials in Nghe An.

On the morning of March 9th, a reporter from Nghe An Newspaper was present at the pine and acacia forest in Sub-area 343B, plot 3, lot 1, located in Quynh Chau commune (Quynh Luu district), where a serious deforestation incident occurred on February 28th, 2023. At the scene, a large area of ​​pine and acacia forest was completely devastated. Photo: Nhat Lan

The devastated area is a plantation forest from the Project to plant 5 million hectares of pine and acacia trees, as per Decision 661/QD-TTg dated July 29, 1998, of the Prime Minister. This is public property owned by the State and managed by the Northern Nghe An Protective Forest Management Board. However, on February 28th, a group of individuals residing in Hamlet 6, Quynh Tan Commune (Quynh Luu District) illegally encroached on the land, using excavators to level and destroy the forest. Photo: Tien Dong

The incident was initially discovered on the afternoon of February 28th, when a group of individuals entered the aforementioned forest area, using machinery to cut down pine trees and loading the wood onto trucks, preparing to leave the scene. Upon discovery, the Northern Nghe An Protective Forest Management Board mobilized forces to stop the operation and deployed personnel to protect the evidence at the scene. The image shows an excavator being used to dig a road into the deforested area. This image was captured by authorities on February 28th. (Photo: Police)

While the incident on February 28th remained unresolved, at 4:40 PM on March 2nd, 2023, the aforementioned group continued to enter the area and cut down the remaining acacia trees in the forest. The acacia wood was quickly cut into sections and loaded onto trucks. Immediately afterward, the Northern Nghe An Protective Forest Management Board, in coordination with the local forest rangers, drew up a report on the scene and submitted it to the relevant authorities for handling. They also assigned personnel to guard the evidence and vehicles left behind by the perpetrators at the scene. At the time of our visit, many logs were still scattered haphazardly in the area. Photo: Nhat Lan

At the scene, many pine tree stumps, approximately 25-30 cm in diameter and still oozing sap, had been mercilessly cut in half. Photo: Tien Dong

According to observations, the devastated forest area covers approximately 2.2 hectares, bordering several plots of production forest. This area is located within Quynh Chau commune, but the perpetrators of the destruction came from Quynh Tan commune. Photo: Nhat Lan

According to confirmation from land and forestry officials of Quynh Chau commune, as well as the Quynh Luu - Hoang Mai Forest Ranger Station, the area that was illegally logged belongs to the former Quynh Luu Forestry Farm, now managed and protected by the Northern Nghe An Protective Forest Management Board. Photo: Tien Dong

The area where the deforestation occurred (in the red circle) has been confirmed to be part of the former Quynh Luu Forestry Farm. Photo: Nhat Lan

The truck and pine logs that were illegally cut down have now been temporarily seized at Team 2, Northern Nghe An Protective Forest Management Board. The estimated amount of illegally cut wood is tens of cubic meters. Authorities are currently continuing to count the exact quantity. Photo: Tien Dong

In addition to brazenly destroying the forest, the perpetrators also injured Mr. Nguyen Khac Hoan, a forest protection officer belonging to the Northern Nghe An Protective Forest Management Board. Photo: Nhat Lan

Besides the head injury diagnosed as a traumatic brain injury, Mr. Hoan was also beaten on the shoulders and back with sticks by the assailants. The bruises are still clearly visible. This serious incident is currently being investigated by the Quynh Luu District Police. Photo: Tien Dong