Allocate land to the right recipients and use it effectively in Chau Binh commune (Quy Chau district).

Handover completed on site.

Based on legal regulations and considering the proposal of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment in Official Letter No. 347/STNMTQLDD dated January 15, 2024, regarding the land reclamation of...Co Ba Forestry FarmRegarding the land belonging to Song Hieu Forestry and Agriculture One-Member Limited Company in Chau Binh commune, Quy Chau district, on January 18, 2024, the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 27/QD-UBND on the land reclamation in Chau Binh commune, Quy Chau district.

Article 1 of Decision No. 27/QD-UBND clearly states: “The revocation of 1,818,584.0 m2 of production forest land in Chau Binh commune, Quy Chau district, managed and used by Co Ba Forestry Enterprise under Song Hieu Forestry and Agriculture Company Limited. The location and boundaries of the land parcels proposed for revocation are determined according to the cadastral map adjustment sheets: No. 420/2023/BDDC/VPDK approved by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment on December 14, 2023; No. 434/2024/BDDC/VPDK and No. 435/2024/BDDC/VPDK approved by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment on January 4, 2024.”

The reason for land reclamation is clarified in this decision as follows: "Song Hieu Forestry and Agriculture One-Member Limited Liability Company has submitted a document returning the land and land fund that is not included in the land use plan after restructuring, innovation and development, and improving the operational efficiency of the agricultural and forestry company according to Decree No. 118/2014/ND-CP dated December 17, 2014 of the Government approved by the Provincial People's Committee."

In parallel with the land acquisition, the Provincial People's Committee assigned the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to take the lead and coordinate with relevant agencies and units to organize the handover of land on-site to the Quy Chau District People's Committee for management and use according to regulations; and to update the cadastral records according to regulations. The Quy Chau District People's Committee is assigned to manage the entire area of ​​the acquired land mentioned above to put it into use according to the land use plan and in accordance with the law.

The People's Committee of Quy Chau District is tasked with reviewing each of the aforementioned reclaimed land parcels (area, land type, land user, assets on the land, etc.) to develop a land use plan, which will serve as the basis for allocating land and issuing land use right certificates to households and individuals in accordance with regulations.

In the same decision, the Provincial People's Committee also directed the Quy Chau District People's Committee: "While the land use plan for allocating land to households and individuals has not yet been completed, specific solutions and plans must be in place to effectively manage and protect the recovered land; land loss, disputes, and encroachment must be prevented; and any issues arising after the Provincial People's Committee recovers the land (if any) must be promptly addressed. In case of any problems beyond their authority, they must promptly submit a written report to the Provincial People's Committee (through the Department of Natural Resources and Environment) for guidance and resolution."

Regarding Song Hieu Forestry and Agriculture Company Limited, the Provincial People's Committee has directed Co Ba Forestry Farm to terminate and cancel the land lease contracts with households and individuals; and at the same time, coordinate with local authorities to resolve the issue of assets on the reclaimed land area and hand them over to local authorities for management.

In accordance with the task assigned by the Provincial People's Committee in Decision No. 27/QD-UBND, on January 29, 2024, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment coordinated with the People's Committee of Quy Chau district, the People's Committee of Chau Binh commune, Song Hieu Forestry and Agriculture Company Limited, and Co Ba Forestry Farm to organize the land allocation on-site. According to Mr. Tran Bao Linh - Head of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Quy Chau district, after the District People's Committee received the handover of 181.8 hectares of land from Song Hieu Forestry and Agriculture Company Limited and Co Ba Forestry Farm, it assigned the People's Committee of Chau Binh commune the task of managing and supervising the land to prevent encroachment by people and organizations for production; at the same time, it gradually developed plans and strategies for land allocation…

“The District People's Committee's requirement for the Chau Binh Commune People's Committee is that during the process of developing land allocation plans, they must hold meetings with the relevant village and hamlet management boards to gather public opinions, ensuring transparency and democracy in all information…” – Mr. Tran Bao Linh explained.

Allocate land to the right recipients and use it efficiently!

Regarding Chau Binh commune, on February 19, 2024, the Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune, Le Van Toan, informed a reporter from Nghe An Newspaper that in the coming days, they will coordinate with specialized departments of the district to hold a meeting to inform the people about the 181.8 hectares of land, the directives of the Provincial People's Committee and the District People's Committee; at the same time, they will gather people's opinions to gradually develop a plan for allocating land to eligible households and individuals.

Mr. Le Van Toan also added that the District People's Committee has issued a directive to the Commune People's Committee to promptly guide the people in effectively utilizing the land that the Provincial People's Committee has reclaimed from the Co Ba Forestry Farm and handed over to the locality. This will help the people increase their income, stabilize their lives, and sustainably alleviate poverty.

Upon reviewing the content of the discussion with the Chairman of the People's Committee of Chau Binh commune, it was learned that on December 28, 2023, the People's Committee of Quy Chau district issued Official Document No. 1280/UBND-NN regarding the establishment of a plan for the effective use of the land area returned to the locality by the Forestry Department. This document assigned the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to advise the District People's Committee on integrating programs and projects to support the provision of seedlings and livestock to households and individuals implementing economic development models on the land area to be allocated in the future.

The People's Committee of Quy Chau District assigned the Chau Binh Commune People's Committee the task of: “Strengthening propaganda and education to raise awareness and responsibility among local people in land management and use; strengthening supervision of the land returned by the Forestry Department, preventing encroachment by people and organizations for production. If any individual, household, or organization is found to be illegally encroaching, strict measures must be taken in accordance with the law; developing a land use plan and a land allocation plan when the Provincial People's Committee issues a land reclamation decision…”. The People's Committee of Quy Chau District also assigned the Chau Binh Commune People's Committee the task of guiding the people and prioritizing the development of economic models. Specifically, flat land areas with a slope of less than 10° should be used for planting crops such as: fragrant roots, sugarcane, medicinal plants, and for pig farming models. For areas with slopes of 10° or more, develop models for planting native species and large timber trees such as Terminalia catappa (for its fruit), green teak, Dalbergia tonkinensis, and Dipterocarpus spp. (for its seeds)...

According to Le Hai Ly, Vice Chairman of the Quy Chau District People's Committee, land in Quy Chau district is scarce. Furthermore, the land recently reclaimed by the Provincial People's Committee from the Co Ba Forestry Farm and transferred to the locality is suitable for cultivating high-economic-value crops. Therefore, the District People's Committee has sought to invite relevant businesses to cooperate with district departments, the Party Committee, and the Chau Binh commune government to guide the people not to plant acacia trees on these lands, but to plant other crops that generate higher income.

“There is a successful medicinal herb cooperative in Quy Hop district that has opened an office in Quy Chau district to participate in this initiative. The land allocated by the province will be gradually distributed to eligible households and individuals to cultivate the crops as directed by the district, and they will be the beneficiaries. Businesses will provide technical guidance to the people and be responsible for guaranteeing the output. The District People's Committee will study the State's policies for mountainous districts and ethnic minority areas to provide support to businesses and relevant households and individuals. The core objective of Quy Chau district here is to allocate land to the right recipients and use it effectively, thereby gradually stabilizing livelihoods and increasing income for the people…” – Deputy Chairman of Quy Chau District People's Committee Le Hai Ly explained.

Regarding the Provincial People's Committee's revocation of over 181.8 hectares of forest land belonging to Co Ba Forestry Farm (Song Hieu Forestry and Agriculture Company Limited), from November 26, 2023 to December 28, 2023, Nghe An Newspaper published articles titled "Poom Lau: A 'Hot' Issue of Forest Land"; "Recurrence of Land Seizure in Chau Binh: Resolving Conflicts"; "Establishing an Inter-agency Task Force to Inspect and Handle Tree Planting and Land Seizure in Poom Lau"; and "Poom Lau is No Longer a Hot Issue".