Ky Son: Tightening responsibility for forest protection

(Baonghean) - In February, a serious deforestation incident occurred in Ky Son district in Nam Can commune. Nghe An Newspaper had an interview with Mr. Vi Hoe - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Secretary of the District Party Committee, Chairman of the District People's Council about the progress, causes and viewpoints on handling this incident.

PV:In February 2017, authorities discovered an illegal logging case in Nam Can commune, Ky Son district. Could you tell us how the incident happened?

Mr. Vi Hoe:On February 16, the Standing Committee of Ky Son District Party Committee received a quick report from the District Forest Protection Department and the District Police on the illegal logging situation in Nam Can Commune. On February 17, the Standing Committee of the District Party Committee directed the mobilization of functional agencies including the Police, the People's Procuracy, the Forest Protection Department, the Protective Forest Management Board and the Nam Can Border Guard Station to organize a working group to coordinate in inspecting and examining the scene to determine the volume of wood and the type of trees cut down; collect evidence and information, clarify the nature of the case for handling according to the provisions of law.

The exhibits were gathered at the yard of the Ky Son Protective Forest Management Board. Photo: Thanh Cuong

From February 18th to now, the working group has directly inspected, measured and examined the scene. Accordingly, in the area of ​​Sub-areas 499, 500A, 500C, 36 sa mu trees, with a volume of 139m3, were discovered.³, uncut wood. The location of the incident is a protected forest owned by the Ky Son District Forest Protection Management Board, located in the border area. Sub-areas 499, 500A, 500C are contracted to the people of Nam Can and Huoi Nhao villages, Nam Can commune for management and protection according to the Government's Program 30a.

PV:Although there are functional forces in the area carrying out forest protection work, such a large volume of rare and precious wood is exploited. Is it because the functional agencies have loosened management in forest protection work, sir?

Mr. Vi Hoe:The cause of the incident was due to lax management by the authorities including the Ky Son District Forest Protection Management Board, the District Forest Protection Department, and the commune government. Some households took advantage of logging to build houses under the poor households eligible for loans under the provisions of Decision 33/2015/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister to illegally destroy the forest.

Part of the objective reasons are due to the large area, large forest area, complex mountainous terrain; the functional forces doing forest management and protection work are thin such as the Forest Protection Department, Protective Forest Department... so it is difficult to control the situation in the area.

PV:Regarding forest protection, forest owners are responsible for protecting the forest, but local authorities where forests are located are responsible for guiding and directing the implementation of laws, policies and regimes of the State on forest management, protection and exploitation within their locality; at the same time, coordinate with relevant forces and people to protect forests in the area. However, through the incident that occurred in Nam Can, one of the causes of deforestation is due to lax management. So what is the district's view on handling this?

Mr. Vi Hoe:The Standing Committee of the Ky Son District Party Committee determined that this was a serious incident, so during the process of discovering the incident, the development of the incident and especially the handling solution were discussed and promptly implemented by the Standing Committee of the District Party Committee; at the same time, the Standing Committee of the District Party Committee issued an official dispatch reporting on the incident, proposing handling solutions and asking for direction from the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee. The district's viewpoint is to resolutely handle it according to the provisions of law. The district has assigned the District Party Committee's Inspection Committee to check for signs of violations by a number of cadres, party members and related groups and directed the investigation agency to continue verifying and handling the incident.

PV:Forest protection has long been difficult, especially in a border area with complex terrain and large forest areas like Ky Son district. Strictly handling individuals and groups involved in this incident is necessary, demonstrating the strictness of the law and having a deterrent effect to prevent similar incidents from happening. So after this incident, what lessons has Ky Son district drawn and what solutions are there to improve the effectiveness of forest management and protection in the area, sir?

Mr. Vi Hoe:Over the past years, the work of forest management and protection has been paid attention to and well implemented by all levels and sectors of Ky Son district and has achieved many results; people's awareness of this work has been increasingly enhanced. The general spirit of the entire political system is to always be proactive, not subjective or negligent. Through the forest destruction incident in Nam Can commune, as mentioned above, Ky Son district is determined to strictly handle the relevant collectives and individuals. The viewpoint of the Standing Committee of the District Party Committee is not to cover up for individuals and collectives related to the forest destruction incident.

To prevent and handle deforestation, and at the same time overcome shortcomings and weaknesses in forest management and protection, the Standing Committee of Ky Son District Party Committee requested to strengthen the State management responsibility of forest owners and authorities from district to commune; at the same time, promote effective implementation of coordination regulations between functional sectors to strengthen inspection, detect and promptly prevent acts of encroachment on forest land, illegal logging, forest burning and forest exploitation.

However, the lives of Ky Son people are still difficult, while forest management and protection cannot be successful without the support and high awareness of the people. Therefore, in addition to implementing well the policies on forest protection for the people, propaganda work is extremely important. Currently, Ky Son is deploying 6 working groups to all villages of the district to propagate to the people with many contents, including disseminating laws on forest protection, expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2017. With the above comprehensive solutions, Ky Son is determined to carry out well the work of forest management and protection.

PV:Thanks sir!

Thanh Duy

(Perform)