Nghe An: Verifying and clarifying the case of encroachment on the primary forest of Pu Mat National Park

Document No. 5403/UBND-NN was sent to the People's Committee of Con Cuong district and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Here, the information is that on August 1, 2019, the People's Committee of Nghe An province received a report from Pu Mat National Park on the situation of illegal forest exploitation in Mon Son commune, Con Cuong district.

Urgent Document No. 5403/UBND-NN dated August 1, 2019 of the Provincial People's Committee

The Provincial People's Committee assigned the Con Cuong District People's Committee to preside over and coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Forestry Sub-Department) to direct functional agencies and local authorities in the area to conduct inspection, verification, handling and propose competent authorities to handle in accordance with the law the case of illegal forest exploitation in Mon Son commune, Con Cuong district.

On August 2, 2019, the People's Committee of Con Cuong district issued Report No. 154/BC-UBND.KL on illegal exploitation of forest products in Mon Son commune, belonging to the forest area of ​​Pu Mat National Park, to the Provincial People's Committee. According to Report 154, on July 4, 2019, Pu Mat National Park issued a quick report on the situation of illegal exploitation of forest products in Mon Son commune.

Realizing that this is a complicated case, located in a strictly protected area of ​​a special-use forest, seriously affecting forest resources and environment, the District Party Committee and People's Committee of Con Cuong district convened a meeting of functional agencies and directed to strengthen forest protection work in Official Dispatch No. 628/UBND.KL dated July 5, 2019; from July 6-7, 2019, continued to direct the Forest Protection Department, Pu Mat National Park to coordinate with the Forest Protection Sub-Department to organize on-site verification.

Wood slabs cut from three Do trees are gathered in one place. Photo: Contributor

Regarding the results of the on-site verification of the working group, Report 154 of the People's Committee of Con Cuong district informed that the illegal exploitation of forest products occurred over a fairly large area, including 5 sub-areas (833, 836A, 825, 832, 834), all in the core area of ​​Pu Mat National Park, in Mon Son commune.

A total of 99 trees of various species were felled and scattered in many places. Of these, 3 dổi trees were cut into 54 slabs with a volume of about 5.36m3, showing signs of dryness and decay; the remaining 96 trees had diameters ranging from 25cm to 100cm.

Working group of Con Cuong district next to a felled tree. Photo: Contributor

Currently, the People's Committee of Con Cuong district has continued to direct Pu Mat National Park, Forest Protection Department, Border Guard Station, District Police and Mon Son commune authorities to expand the scope of comprehensive inspection in the forest area of ​​Mon Son commune, belonging to Pu Mat National Park; increase the force to block and protect the scene.

The District Police shall preside over and coordinate with relevant agencies to investigate and examine the scene of the felled trees to have a basis for proposing handling measures. At the same time, collect information, investigate and verify the subjects who organized the illegal felling of forest products to handle them according to the provisions of law.

Map of locations of primary forests in Pu Mat National Park that have been encroached upon. Photo: Contributor

In a quick exchange with Nghe An Newspaper reporters, Mr. Lo Van Thao - Vice Chairman of Con Cuong District People's Committee said that, implementing the direction of the Provincial People's Committee, District Party Committee and District People's Committee, the Working Group to conduct investigation and examine the scene chaired by Con Cuong District Police has set out to the locations where trees were cut down.

The working group also included forensic scientists from the provincial police. The working group’s responsibility was not only to examine the crime scene at the points that had been clarified, but also to expand the scope of the inspection to determine whether there were any other encroachments in the forest area of ​​Pu Mat National Park or not…