The latest case of illegal logging of natural forest timber on Giang Man mountain was discovered by the working group of Thanh Thuy Forest Ranger Station (Thanh Chuong Forest Ranger Department) in coordination with Thanh Ha Commune People's Committee on April 18, 2023, at Lot 42, Plot 201, Compartment 6, Sub-area 1004E, Map Sheet No. 2, Thanh Mai Commune (bordering the forest area managed by Thanh Ha Commune People's Committee).
At the time of inspection, in this illegally exploited natural forest area, there were 30 round logs of various types (mainly groups VI to VIII), with a total volume of more than 3.2 m3. Inspecting the entire scene and surrounding area, discovered that the forest area was illegally exploited for about 2,300 m3, there are 29 tree stumps that have been sawed close to the base (diameter 18 - 36 cm).
Regarding the discovery and arrest of "forest bandits", according to the inspection force, at the time of preparing to measure and handle the case, the inspection force received information that in the Ru Do area (Thanh Ha commune), someone was driving buffaloes against the forest. Assuming that the subject might be illegally exploiting forest products, bringing buffaloes in to get wood, the inspection team immediately arranged personnel to organize a search, following the traces of the buffalo pulling the wood, discovered and arrested the subject along with evidence of 5 pieces of wood tied into a rope with the means of transporting the wood being 1 buffalo. The subject confessed his name was HVV, residing in village 3, Thanh Ha commune.
Although HVV was caught red-handed illegally exploiting forest products, according to the working group, this subject showed a lack of sincerity, causing difficulties in the investigation. Up to now, after 3 times of working to take statements, HVV only admitted to cutting 7 trees, cutting them into 13 pieces, while at the scene there were 30 pieces of wood with 29 trees cut down.
Looking at the working minutes made on April 20, subject HVV stated: “On April 15, 2023, I went alone to Ru Do area, Thanh Ha commune (Thanh Chuong) to exploit wood. The exploitation took place within 1 day, cutting 7 trees, including Vang and Trau wood, with a chainsaw, then cutting them into pieces 2-3m long, a total of 13 pieces. On April 18, 2023, while tying the wood for the buffalo to pull back, I was discovered by the inspection team of Thanh Chuong Forest Protection Department and Thanh Ha Commune People's Committee”. In addition, HVV also stated that on April 5, 2023, HVV met a person named N. in Thanh Mai commune to ask if there was wood around that area when building a road to transport acacia, and Mr. N. replied that there were only small trees. After that, HVV went up to see and cut some pieces to build a straw house.
On April 24, Thanh Chuong District People's Committee established an interdisciplinary inspection team consisting of the Forest Protection Department, District Police, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, and People's Committees of Thanh Mai and Thanh Ha communes to verify and handle violations of the law in the forestry sector in the Giang Man area. On April 26, 2023, HVV continued to be summoned to give his statement. This time, HVV gave more detailed statements. Specifically, the subject borrowed a chainsaw from Mr. TVH (living in the same village 3, Thanh Ha commune) to go to the Do hill area to exploit wood. The exploitation time was on April 14 (not April 15 as recorded in the testimony on April 20). In addition to Mr. TVH, his wife also knew that HVV went to exploit wood. Initially, HVV planned to go to the Giang Man peak area to exploit, but on the way to Do hill, he saw trees on both sides of the road so he cut them down...
Deputy Head of the Forest Protection Department Bui Anh Tuan - Head of the interdisciplinary delegation discussed: "Because the subject HVV only confessed to cutting 7 trees, cutting 13 pieces, while at the scene, 30 round logs of various types and 29 trees cut close to the root were discovered, therefore, the authorities of Thanh Chuong district continue to investigate to clarify...".
Coming to the Giang Man mountain area to clearly understand the current situation of the illegal exploitation of forest products discovered on April 18, I was surprised to know that this forest area is under the management of the person who illegally built a "mansion" on forestry land in Thanh Mai commune, Mr. Cao Trong Hong (born in 1965), residing in group 2, Tay Ho 1 block, Quang Tien ward, Thai Hoa town.
Regarding the "mansion" illegally built on forestry land, which was built by Mr. Cao Trong Hong in 2017, and "received" attention from the press from 2019 to 2020. After that, the People's Committee of Thanh Chuong district issued a decision to administratively sanction Mr. Cao Trong Hong, and forced him to restore the status of the land before the violation. Specifically, it is necessary to dismantle and clear all illegally built houses and livestock barns and restore the status of the production forest land at plot No. 523, map sheet No. 2 of the forestry map, in the Khe Nai forest area, Trung Son hamlet, Thanh Mai commune. However, up to this point, the project remains in its original state.
Regarding the location of the natural forest where HVV illegally exploited was discovered on April 18, it was at the top of the hill right behind the "mansion", about 2 hours uphill. Right at the "mansion" area, the officers of Thanh Chuong Forest Protection Department and Thanh Mai Commune People's Committee said that in 2022, there was a deforestation incident in this forest. As Mr. Phan Van Hoang, Head of Thanh Chuong Forest Protection Department said: "The incident happened in early 2022, at this time I had not been transferred to Thanh Chuong Forest Protection Department. But as far as I know, the area destroyed was quite large, although the violator was not detected, Mobile Forest Protection Team No. 2 and Thanh Chuong Forest Protection Department recovered a quantity of wood...".
According to the investigation, this deforestation case was discovered by Thanh Chuong Forest Protection Department and Thanh Mai Commune People's Committee on March 18, 2022. Through inspection, at lots 41, 42, plot 201, compartment 6, sub-area 1.004E, map sheet 2, Thanh Mai commune, there was an area of natural forest that was illegally cut down and dug up to create a road. At the scene, the forest only had some scattered stumps, branches, and tops. The area of forest and forestry land affected was measured to be 16,740 m2; the excavated and leveled area to create a road 292 m long, about 3 m wide...
An official of Thanh Mai Commune People's Committee said that in 2017, Mr. Cao Trong Hong was granted 2 certificates of forest land use rights with an area of over 24 hectares. But in reality, the area of forest land he received from local people was about 28 hectares, of which more than half was natural forest. Chairman of Thanh Mai Commune People's Committee, Mr. Ha Quang Thang confirmed this information, and said that the commune government as well as local forest rangers are facing many difficulties in forest management and protection in this area. The reason is that Mr. Cao Trong Hong is the owner of the forest, but completely neglects his management responsibilities according to regulations. “Since the illegal construction of the “mansion” on forestry land, he has assigned someone else to manage it and has not appeared. In recent years, to resolve the matter, Thanh Mai commune has sent out invitations twice but he has not come. When the commune contacted him by phone, he replied that it was up to the commune and the district to do whatever they wanted…” – Mr. Ha Quang Thang said.
Asked the Chairman of Thanh Mai Commune People's Committee: Given the fact that the Giang Man mountain forest area is still being negatively impacted, what solutions will Thanh Mai Commune have? Mr. Ha Quang Thang replied: "After the Interdisciplinary Investigation Team clarifies and reports on the deforestation case discovered on April 18, Thanh Mai Commune People's Committee will also report on the actual situation, recommending the District People's Committee to consider reclaiming the land and natural forest area that has granted the Land Use Right Certificate to Mr. Cao Trong Hong...".
