Clarify responsibilities and strictly handle violations of rich primary forests

(Baonghean) - Forest closures have been implemented since October 2016, but in 2017, the core area of ​​the primary forest of Nghe An province still had some cases of illegal exploitation of rare and precious timber. The reality is that for each case, it is necessary to clarify the nature, subjects and responsibilities of related organizations and individuals for handling.

Painful cases

Regarding the illegal exploitation of precious timber in the primary forest, the latest incident occurred in sub-area 490, Pu Huong Nature Reserve, Quang Phong commune, Que Phong district in September 2017. In this forest area, 13 po mu trees (total volume of more than 15m3) were cut down. The incident was discovered early by the forest protection unit at the scene, thereby collecting evidence of the violation and the perpetrator.

Given the seriousness of the case, on September 26, 2017, the Investigation Police Agency of Que Phong District Police initiated a criminal case; on November 7, 2017, it issued a decision to prosecute 6 suspects and continue to expand the investigation.

Pơ mu trees in the primeval forest in Tuong Duong were cut down. Photo: Nhat Lan

The border district of Que Phong is one of the few localities in the province that still has a large area of ​​rich primary forest. However, before 2017, there were a number of incidents of rich primary forest being cut down, including precious trees that need to be strictly protected, such as sa mu and po mu.

A typical case is the case of 3 hundred-year-old sa mu trees (total volume of over 250m3) in Pu Hoat Nature Reserve, located on the Vietnam - Laos border, being cut down in 2015. This case was closed with 4 subjects who illegally exploited forest products receiving prison sentences.

At the end of National Highway 7, the two mountainous districts of Ky Son and Tuong Duong have also experienced serious cases of illegal exploitation of forest resources in the communes of My Ly (Ky Son), Yen Tinh (Tuong Duong)... And in 2017, the encroachment of primary forests has recurred. In Ky Son district, the incident was discovered in February 2017; in sub-areas 499, 500C, 500A, along Nam Can and Nam Pung streams in the border commune of Nam Can.

In this area, through inspection, the authorities determined that a total of 36 sa mu trees had been cut down with a total volume of 147m3. In Tuong Duong district, in February - March 2017, the authorities discovered a number of primeval areas that had been damaged.

These forest areas are located in Luu Kien and Tam Hop communes, in the Vietnam - Laos border belt area with an altitude of 1,300 - 1,700m. The total number of trees felled was 189, of which 154 trees with intact trunks remained at the scene with a total volume of 288.6m3 of round wood.

What is noteworthy about the incidents that occurred in Ky Son and Tuong Duong districts is that the facts recorded at the scene show that the trees were cut down by the subjects a long time ago and were only discovered now...

Complex in identifying objects?

Regarding cases of deforestation and illegal exploitation of forest resources, the direction of the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial People's Committee is to urgently focus on investigating, clarifying, and handling publicly according to the provisions of the law. Implementing this direction, in the past few years, many cases of illegal exploitation of forest products have been brought to trial.

Typically, the People's Court of Que Phong district held a public trial of the case of cutting down 3 sa mu trees in Que Phong in 2015; or in September 2017, the People's Court of Ky Son district also held a public trial of the subjects who cut down sa mu trees in Nam Can.

At the same time, through investigation and verification, the investigating agencies also clarified a number of subjects who directly cut down forest trees, and are continuing to expand the investigation (the case of 13 po mu trees in Pu Huong Nature Reserve being cut down; the case of illegal logging in the core of Tuong Duong and Ky Son protective forests...). Most recently, the authorities have prosecuted and temporarily detained two forest protection station chiefs in Tuong Duong...

Authorities inspect the scene of 13 pơ mu trees being cut down in Pu Huong Nature Reserve. Photo: Dao Tuan

However, the subjects who have been sentenced to prison or have been prosecuted are mostly ethnic minorities who lack legal knowledge and live in villages in the buffer zone of primary forests; in addition, they are some station-level forest protection officers.

In some cases that have been brought to trial, in the verdicts that have been announced, the cause is often similar because the customs and lives of ethnic minorities are closely linked to the forest, so the subjects who illegally exploit forest wood are doing so to serve the essential needs of their families...

This is a matter of concern, and has caused a lot of skepticism. Because in some past cases, the forest timber that was cut down was often a group of rare and valuable timbers with high economic value; in addition, the number of trees cut down was large, the total volume of wood cut down was large, so the question is whether the subjects with wrongdoings only aimed to serve the essential needs of the family?

Furthermore, most of the encroached forest areas are in border areas, and people entering and exiting are strictly managed. Is there any collusion between "brokers" or organizations and individuals authorized by the State to manage and protect forests?

Trace the nature, clarify responsibility

Regarding forest management, protection and development, it is a major issue that requires the joint efforts of the whole society. However, the management and protection of forest areas has been assigned by the State to relevant functional units, with tasks and powers specified in many legal documents.

A subject in the case of cutting down 13 po mu trees in Pu Huong Nature Reserve. Photo: Nhat Lan

Particularly for the areas of rich primary forests that are being encroached upon, they are all protective forests or special-use forests, where the forest owners are the Protection Forest Management Board, the Nature Reserve Management Board. Besides the forest owners, there are also forest rangers, local authorities; organizations and individuals who benefit from the forest environmental service policy and forest protection; for the primary forest areas in the border belt, there are also border guards participating in coordination...

Specifically stating this, we can see that although the primary forests rich in precious timber are mostly located in areas with complex terrain, high and rugged mountains, and forest protection and inspection work is difficult, there are still many forces assigned by the State to coordinate management and protection.

Therefore, before each case of illegally exploiting rich primary forests, public opinion expects the authorities to investigate to clarify the cause and nature of each case. In order to determine which subjects directly exploit forest products illegally, which subjects assist in making illegal profits; from there, handle them correctly and strictly according to the provisions of the law.

I think that to do these things is extremely complicated, but this is not only a wish but also a legitimate requirement. Because only then will the rare primeval forests of the province be peaceful.

Nhat Lan - Dao Tuan