Nghe An: Over 10 thousand hectares of forestry land were illegally bought, sold and transferred.

On the morning of September 26, the Provincial People's Committee held a conference to disseminate and implement the Project on forest allocation associated with forestry land allocation and granting land use right certificates to households, individuals and communities in Nghe An province for the period 2018-2021 and listened to the draft results of reviewing the planning of 3 types of forests in the province.Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Dinh Viet Hong chaired the conference.

Overview of the conference. Photo: Phu Huong

Over the past years, Nghe An has implemented the policy of land allocation, forestry land lease and land use right certificates but it has not been linked to forest allocation and lease. Therefore, the handling of land users who violate the law on conversion, transfer and illegal exploitation of forests has not been implemented, leading to deforestation across the province.

The whole province has over 1,236 hectares of forest and forestry land; total timber reserves are over 72.6 million m3.³Up to now, the People's Committees at all levels have allocated over 108 thousand hectares of land to households, individuals and communities for forestry purposes. The total area of ​​forest and forestry landForest allocation combined with land allocation is better.2 thousand hectares, for two groups of subjects: residential communities and economic organizations, state organizations.

Nghe An currently has over 10,000 hectares of forestry land illegally bought, sold, transferred and used for the wrong purpose; mainly concentrated in Quy Hop, Que Phong, Quy Chau, Con Cuong and Anh Son districts.

Planting acacia on forestry land converted for other purposes in Quy Chau district. Photo: Nhat Lan

The project on forest allocation associated with forestry land allocation and granting of land use right certificates to households, individuals and communities in the province sets out the following objectives:From 2018 to 2021, basically complete the allocation of forests, which are production forests with a total area of ​​over 265,700 hectares for households, individuals and communities to manage and use effectively for forestry purposes; Build a national database on forest and forestry land management records for each manager, forest status, forest reserves, forest quality; minimize negative impacts on natural forests; prevent and limit illegal transfer, conversion, and trading of land with natural forests and planted forests using State capital.

Speaking at the conference, after listening to the discussion opinions of representatives of relevant departments and branches, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Dinh Viet Hong directed: Forest allocation must be associated with land allocation, issuance of forestry land use certificates. If the forest has not been allocated, then forestry land use certificates must not be issued temporarily; harmoniously resolve the interests of the people and the community; properly implement procedures according to the provisions of law, accurately and effectively; in accordance with the planning of 3 types of forests, the planning of forestry land use of the locality and must not overlap on land already managed by an owner.

Comrade Dinh Viet Hong - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested relevant departments, branches and localities to coordinate to soon implement the project. Photo: Phu Huong

Forests that are still in dispute and have unclear boundaries have not been allocated forests or land, or issued land use right certificates. The allocation of forests inherits the boundary area that households and individuals have been using stably up to now, ensuring stability, minimizing disturbance, avoiding conflicts and ensuring the rights of households and individuals living along the forest; limiting too fragmented allocation.

Assign the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to coordinate with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to implement the project's contents and promptly resolve difficulties and problems during the implementation process. The Department of Finance coordinates with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to arrange funding for project implementation and include it in the 2019 funding plan; Districts direct specialized departments to hand over the district's forestry land allocation records to forest rangers to organize forest allocation to households; direct communes to develop plans to submit to the People's Council of the commune for submission to competent authorities for approval.

Relevant departments, branches and district forest rangers have specific plans for the remaining months of 2018 to proactively implement as soon as possible.

Also this morning, the conference listened to and gave opinions on the proposal.Virtual results of reviewing planning of 3 types of forests in Nghe An province./.