Recommendations from Thanh Ha commune after the deforestation on Giang Man mountain
(Baonghean.vn) - Recently, on Giang Man Mountain (Thanh Chuong), there have been many cases of deforestation. Many opinions say that there should be more drastic measures in dealing with deforesters, even reclaiming forest land from forest owners who often let the phenomenon of deforestation occur.
Painful border area
We were present in Thanh Ha commune on a day at the end of May 2023. This is a locality with Thanh Mai commune that has a forestry land area located on the mountain.Giang Man - a majestic mountain, the symbol of Thanh Chuong district. Around this mountain peak, there are many other high and low mountains. In particular, this area has many areas of forestry land that have been assigned to households and individuals for management, including many areas of production forest land mixed with natural forest land. Therefore, there has been a phenomenon of people taking advantage of planting and harvesting trees on production forest land to destroy and encroach on natural forest land.
At the time we were in this locality, although no further deforestation cases were discovered, the local government was also coordinating with relevant agencies to complete the dossier to handle the deforestation case that occurred in mid-April 2023.
In fact, although the deforestation case on Do mountain (adjacent to Giang Man peak), was discovered on April 18, 2023, which Nghe An Newspaper reported in articles such as: Summoning the subject of deforestation on Giang Man peak (posted on April 27, 2023); What did the subject of deforestation on Giang Man mountain confess? (posted on April 29, 2023)... occurred in Thanh Mai commune. However, the Thanh Ha commune People's Committee officials were the first, along with the Thanh Thuy local forest rangers (Thanh Chuong Forest Protection Department), to be present at the scene and together discovered the deforestation subject. At the same time, the deforestation subject was a resident of Thanh Ha commune.
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The deforestation suspect (middle), was discovered on April 18. Photo: CSCC |
At lot 42, plot 201, section 6, sub-area 1004E, map sheet 2, Thanh Mai commune, the inspection team then discovered 30 round logs of various types (mainly groups VI to VIII), with a total volume of more than 3.2 m3. Inspecting the entire scene and surrounding area, the authorities discovered about 2,300 m2 of illegally exploited forest.2, there are 29 tree stumps that have been sawed close to the base with diameters ranging from 18 - 36cm.
The encroachment and destruction of natural forests is not a new occurrence. According to Mr. Hoang Van Thuc - Vice Chairman of Thanh Ha Commune People's Committee, from 2020 to 2022, there were occasional cases of encroachment on production forests in the area. But from the end of 2022 to the beginning of 2023, this phenomenon has shown signs of "recurring" regularly. In particular, at the end of 2022, the local authorities also discovered a case of deforestation, which was then handed over to the Forest Protection Department for handling. In 2023, deforestation cases continued to occur with a larger level and scale.
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The timber cut down on Do Mountain and Giang Man Mountain was brought to Thanh Mai Commune. Photo: Tien Dong |
It is worth mentioning that because the Giang Man mountain area is located on the border between Thanh Mai and Thanh Ha communes, many of the forest destroyers are people from Thanh Mai commune who go to Thanh Ha to cut down trees and vice versa. Even the two subjects Dinh Xuan Thong (residing in Bac Tran hamlet) and Nguyen Kim Nien (residing in Truong Son hamlet), both in Thanh Mai commune, were discovered and fined by the authorities in early 2023 for deforestation in Thanh Ha commune. The area destroyed by these two subjects was later determined to be located on lot 7, 12, compartment 4, plot 170, sub-area 1008, map sheet number 2 (production forest), in the Giang Man mountain area, located in Thanh Ha commune.
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The scene of the deforestation was discovered on April 18, 2023 at Do Mountain in Thanh Mai Commune. Photo: CSCC |
Recommendation for strict handling
Also according to Mr. Hoang Van Thuc: Thanh Ha is a locality with a large natural area, up to 4,242.53 hectares, of which the forestry land area is 2,936.45 hectares. On this forestry land area, there are 1,257 hectares of planted forest, the remaining 1,679 hectares are natural forest. Currently, in Thanh Ha commune, forestry land has been allocated to about 872 households for management.
However, due to the large area of Thanh Ha commune, complex terrain, difficult transportation, and the area of planted forests interspersed with natural forests, deforestation is always a constant concern. Although the locality has coordinated with the Forest Protection Force many times to conduct inspections and organize propaganda for households to sign commitments, many cases have been severely punished after being discovered.
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Many trees were cut down close to the roots and lay scattered at the scene of the deforestation. Photo: CSCC |
Not to mention, forest protection in this border area also faces many difficulties because the production forest area is interspersed with natural forest. Many areas have been assigned to individuals for care and protection. Therefore, the responsibility of the forest owner must be placed first. However, there are cases where the forest owner is the one who destroys the forest to expand the production area.
To protect the forest in the border area, Mr. Hoang Van Thuc said that in the near future, the locality will conduct a review and propose solutions to this problem. In particular, allocating land and forests to people for management is also a solution to limit deforestation.
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Nghe An Newspaper reporters work with representatives of Thanh Ha Commune People's Committee. Photo: Nhat Lan |
“However, through reviewing the groups of subjects related to deforestation, we found that the most direct deforestation is caused by unemployed people and families in difficult circumstances who go into the forest to cut wood for use. In addition, there is a group of subjects who are forest owners who arbitrarily cut down natural forests to plant acacia trees. This encroachment can take place quietly, taking advantage of the remote terrain, making it difficult for authorities to inspect, so they encroach silently, each time cutting down about 5-10m... Therefore, in cases where deforestation is discovered or caught, it is necessary to handle it strictly. It is even necessary to revoke the forest land use right certificates of forest owners who regularly allow deforestation on the land they manage. Because the State has assigned it to you, but you do not fulfill your responsibilities, it must be revoked and handed over to someone else to manage more effectively,” Mr. Thuc emphasized./.