Ky Son: Strengthening responsibility for forest protection.

(Baonghean) - In February, a serious deforestation incident occurred in Nam Can commune, Ky Son district. Baonghean newspaper interviewed Mr. Vi Hoe, member of the Provincial Party Committee, Secretary of the District Party Committee, and Chairman of the District People's Council, about the developments, causes, and proposed solutions to this incident.

PV:In February 2017, authorities discovered an illegal logging operation in Nam Can commune, Ky Son district. Could you describe how the incident unfolded?

Mr. Vi Hoè:On February 16th, the Standing Committee of the Ky Son District Party Committee received a quick report from the Forest Protection Department and the District Police regarding the situation of illegal logging in Nam Can commune. On February 17th, 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 Post to organize a working group to coordinate inspection and examination of the scene to determine the volume of timber and the types of trees cut down; to collect evidence and information, and clarify the nature of the incident for handling according to the law.

The confiscated items are gathered at the yard of the Ky Son Protective Forest Management Board. Photo: Thanh Cuong.

From February 18th until now, the working group has directly inspected, measured, and examined the site. Accordingly, in the area of ​​Sub-zones 499, 500A, and 500C, 36 fir trees were discovered, with a volume of 139 cubic meters.³The timber was in its original, uncut state. The incidents occurred in areas within protected forests managed by the Ky Son District Protected Forest Management Board, located in a border region. Sub-areas 499, 500A, and 500C are under the management and protection of the people of Nam Can and Huoi Nhao villages, Nam Can commune, according to the Government's Program 30a.

PV:Despite the presence of law enforcement agencies in the area carrying out forest protection work, the fact that such a large quantity of rare and valuable timber has been exploited raises the question of whether the authorities have been lax in their forest protection efforts, sir.

Mr. Vi Hoè:The incident occurred due to lax management by relevant authorities, including the Ky Son District Protective Forest Management Board, the District Forest Ranger Station, and the commune government. Some households took advantage of the poverty alleviation program, which allows them to borrow capital under Decision 33/2015/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister, to illegally clear forests for housing construction.

Part of the objective reason is the vast geographical area, large forest area, and complex mountainous terrain; the functional forces responsible for forest management and protection are thin, such as the Forest Ranger Station and Protective Forest Management Unit, making it 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 regulations of the State on forest management, protection, and exploitation within their localities; and coordinating with relevant forces and the people to protect forests in the area. However, in the case of Nam Can, one of the causes of deforestation was lax management. So what is the district's approach to handling this?

Mr. Vi Hoè:The Standing Committee of the Ky Son District Party Committee determined this to be a serious matter, and therefore, during the investigation, the developments of the incident, and especially the handling of the case, were discussed and implemented promptly by the Standing Committee of the District Party Committee. Simultaneously, the Standing Committee of the District Party Committee sent a report on the incident, proposed solutions, and requested guidance from the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee. The district's stance is to resolutely handle the matter according to the law. The district has assigned the District Party Committee's Inspection Committee to investigate signs of violations by several officials, Party members, and related collectives, and has directed the investigative agency to continue verifying and handling the case.

PV:Forest protection has always been a difficult task, especially in a border area with complex terrain and a large forest area like Ky Son district. Strictly punishing the individuals and groups involved in this incident is necessary to demonstrate the strictness of the law and to deter similar incidents from happening again. So, after this incident, what lessons has Ky Son district learned, and what solutions are there to improve the effectiveness of forest management and protection in the area, sir?

Mr. Vi Hoè:Over the years, forest management and protection have been given attention and effectively implemented by all levels and sectors in Ky Son district, achieving many positive results; the awareness of the people in this work has been increasingly enhanced. The general spirit of the entire political system is to always be proactive and not complacent or negligent. Following the deforestation incident in Nam Can commune, as mentioned above, Ky Son district is determined to strictly handle all collectives and individuals involved. The Standing Committee of the District Party Committee maintains the stance of not covering up for any individuals or groups involved in the deforestation incident.

To prevent and address deforestation, and to overcome shortcomings and weaknesses in forest management and protection, the Standing Committee of the Ky Son District Party Committee requests strengthening the state management responsibility of forest owners and authorities from the district to the commune level; and at the same time, promoting the effective implementation of the coordination regulations between functional agencies to strengthen inspection, detection, and timely prevention of acts of encroachment on forest land, illegal logging, burning, and exploitation of forests.

However, the lives of the people in Ky Son are still difficult, and forest management and protection cannot succeed without the strong support and self-awareness of the people. Therefore, in addition to effectively implementing forest protection policies for the people, public awareness campaigns are extremely important. Currently, Ky Son is deploying six working groups to all villages in the district to conduct awareness campaigns on various topics, including disseminating laws on forest protection, with completion expected in the second quarter of 2017. With these comprehensive solutions, Ky Son is determined to effectively manage and protect its forests.

PV:Thank you, sir!

Thanh Duy

(Perform)