Clarify and strictly handle subjects of deforestation

(Baonghean.vn) - The province's forest and forestry land area is large, the terrain is complex; related policies still have points that are not suitable to reality; there are still some organizations and individuals involved who lack responsibility.

» Nghe An: Hot post-deforestation treatment

These are objective and subjective reasons leading to difficulties in forest management, protection and development. However, the most common viewpoint of representatives of the authorities is to focus on clarifying illegal deforestation cases and strictly handling violations, thereby continuing to rectify forest management and protection.

Ancient sa mu trees in the protective forest in Luu Kien commune, Tuong Duong district. Photo: PV

Lieutenant Colonel Hoang Nghia Phuong - Deputy Head of the Investigation Police Agency of Nghe An Police:No violators are left behind

Lieutenant Colonel Hoang Nghia Phuong - Deputy Head of the Investigation Police Agency of Nghe An Police

"In the fight against violations of the law on forest protection and management, the direction of the Provincial Police is to clarify responsibilities and strictly handle violating organizations and individuals. If there are signs of crime, the case must be promptly prosecuted, the subject must be investigated and clarified, and the accused must be prosecuted to be strictly handled according to the provisions of the law.

The incidents that occurred in the districts of Quy Hop, Ky Son, and Tuong Duong were all discovered in a timely manner and are being handled by the police in that spirit. In Quy Hop, immediately after discovery, the provincial police directed the Quy Hop police to intervene and on August 18, 2017, initiated a case to investigate and clarify.

In Tuong Duong, after examining the scene and discovering signs of a crime, the investigation agency issued Decision No. 41 to initiate a case of violating regulations on forest management and protection under Article 175 of the Penal Code for further investigation. In Ky Son, the provincial police directed the district police to grasp the situation and coordinate closely with relevant agencies and units to investigate and clarify the case. In April 2017, Ky Son police initiated 4 cases, with 12 subjects. Currently, 3 cases and 9 subjects have been brought to trial. In addition, the provincial police also directed to clarify the responsibilities of organizations and individuals related to forest management and protection; prosecuted 1 defendant, the Head of Nam Can Forest Management and Protection Station (Ky Son Protective Forest Management Board) for lack of responsibility causing serious consequences.

Currently, the cases in Quy Hop and Tuong Duong are still being vigorously investigated by the police force; a number of suspects have been identified. The Provincial Police Investigation Agency has also directed the District Police Investigation Agency to, in addition to clarifying the direct perpetrators of deforestation, clarify the subjects behind, the purchasers, the ringleaders and related subjects.

Colonel Tran Minh Cong - Deputy Political Commissar of Nghe An Border Guard Command:

Strictly handle related officers and soldiers

Colonel Tran Minh Cong - Deputy Political Commissar of Nghe An Border Guard

"To ensure and maintain border security and manage and protect upstream forests, in recent times, Nghe An Border Guard has coordinated with functional agencies such as all levels, sectors, protective forest management boards, and forest rangers... The Command has assigned local border posts to have plans to protect the border and the area, especially the border belt areas - where there are large upstream forests. Basically, the border posts have performed their assigned tasks quite well.

However, it must be recognized that because the headwater forest areas have complex and rugged terrain, far from residential areas and units, the management and protection work has encountered many difficulties. In some areas, officers and soldiers have not been able to patrol regularly, so there have been cases of forest destruction in the headwaters of border areas. These are in some areas in Na Ngoi and Nam Can communes (Ky Son), or recently in Tam Hop and Luu Kien communes (Tuong Duong).

When deforestation incidents occur, the viewpoint of the Standing Committee and the Command is to handle them seriously. Under the management of a unit or individual, that unit or individual must take responsibility. Up to now, the Command has disciplined 1 group and 1 individual for causing deforestation incidents in the area. Regarding the incident that occurred in Tam Hop and Luu Kien communes, the Command has also directed strict handling according to regulations. In the immediate future, a decision has been made to inspect the responsibility of the Party Committee, commanders and officers of Tam Hop Border Guard Station to handle them according to regulations."

Secretary of Tuong Duong District Party Committee Phan Trong Hoang:Strengthen forest protection measures

Comrade Pham Trong Hoang - Secretary of Tuong Duong District Party Committee

"During patrols in February 2017, the joint force of Tuong Duong district discovered a number of trees that had been cut down deep in the border forest of Tam Hop commune. Considering this a serious incident, the Standing Committee of the District Party Committee reported to the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee for instructions and directed local forces to inspect the entire protective forest area along the Vietnam-Laos border, in Tam Hop and Luu Kien communes.

The District Police Investigation Agency then initiated a case and conducted an investigation according to legal regulations.

Due to the complex terrain and weather, the investigation encountered many difficulties, but the district Party Committee and government have been directing the authorities to concentrate their forces to investigate, to clarify the subjects participating in cutting down forest timber for strict handling according to the law. In addition, a plan was developed, and the recovery of timber evidence was carried out to serve the investigation, to avoid loss and waste of State assets.

At the same time, review all forest management and protection work in the area, consider the responsibilities of relevant agencies and officers, and supplement measures to strengthen management work, prevent similar incidents from recurring; and protect the safety and sustainability of forest areas in the district.

Vice Chairman of Provincial People's CommitteeDinh Viet Hong:Overall inspection of forest management and protection

"After the deforestation incidents occurred in Tuong Duong, Quy Hop, Tan Ky districts..., the Provincial People's Committee directly inspected and worked with the District Party Committee and District People's Committees; directed the Provincial Police, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to coordinate with the District Party Committee and District People's Committees to organize crime scene investigations and collect evidence; when there are sufficient elements to constitute a crime, initiate a criminal case on illegal deforestation and forest exploitation, to continue investigating, prosecuting the accused and handling them in accordance with the provisions of the Law.

The Provincial People's Committee's viewpoint is that the causes and motives of violations need to be clarified; thereby, strictly handling violations to do a good job of prevention and deterrence.

The Provincial People's Committee has also directed the People's Committees of districts, cities and towns to organize comprehensive inspections and assessments of local forest management and protection work, shortcomings, difficulties, proposals and results of handling violations in the area. Currently, the Provincial People's Committee is directing the establishment of 2 working groups to inspect the work of forest management, protection and development throughout the province.

At the same time, continue to direct departments, branches, district People's Committees, and forest owners to properly implement the contents of the Law on Forest Protection and Development; and related legal documents. In particular, effectively implement Directive No. 13-CT/TW dated January 12, 2017 of the Secretariat on strengthening the Party's leadership in forest management, protection and development; Directive No. 03-CT/TU dated April 11, 2016 of the Provincial Party Standing Committee on strengthening the Party's leadership in forest management and protection in Nghe An province.

Officers of Tuong Duong Forest Protection Department inspect a tree in Luu Kien commune that was marked by a subject. Photo: PV

Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentNguyen Tien Lam:Need to adjust policies to suit reality

When there are violations of the provisions of the Law on Forest Protection and Development, they need to be clarified and strictly handled. However, it is necessary to evaluate forest-related policies to make appropriate adjustments to reality.

Regarding deforestation cases in the province, there are two groups: illegal exploitation of forest products; deforestation to illegally convert the purpose of forest land use.

In the group of illegal exploitation of forest products, there are many reasons such as people exploiting forest products to build houses, household appliances; or subjects exploiting forest products in large quantities to make goods. Nghe An has a very large forest area, with many rich forest areas in Pu Mat, Pu Huong, Pu Hoat and areas bordering Vietnam and Laos. However, the forest protection force is still too thin. Besides, the forest protection policy for this force is not specific and clear.

Authorities count confiscated wood in Tam Hop commune (Tuong Duong). Photo: PV

In the second group, the subjects involved are mostly households assigned forest land by the State. The deforestation in this group is basically due to the huge difference in benefits between planting raw materials forests and protecting natural forests. People are assigned a very large amount of forest, and they should have enjoyed appropriate policies and regimes to protect forests. However, there are shortcomings in the policies. This is reflected in the Land Law and the Law on Forest Protection and Development; and related legal documents.

In the near future, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will have a detailed report on these issues to the highest levels of the province and the National Assembly Delegation to make recommendations to adjust policies in accordance with reality."

PV Group