Deforestation case in Mai Son commune (Tuong Duong): Will consider and handle the responsibilities of related organizations and individuals

On March 4, 2024, the People's Committee of Tuong Duong district issued Report No. 74/BC-UBND to the Provincial People's Committee, reporting on the case of illegal deforestation in sub-area 512 of Huoi To 1 village, Mai Son commune.

The content of Report No. 74/BC-UBND shows that on January 25, 2024, the local forest rangers and forces in Mai Son commune discovered a case of natural forest destruction, belonging to lot 17, compartment 3, sub-area 512; then made an initial record and verified the subject of the destruction. However, this was close to the Lunar New Year of Giap Thin, the local government was concentrating its forces to take care of poor households to celebrate Tet, so the verification and handling were not carried out in a timely manner.

On March 1, 2024, the District People's Committee directed the Forest Protection Department to coordinate with the District Police and Mai Son Commune authorities to inspect and verify at the scene. Through inspection, it was determined that the total area of ​​destruction was 0.652 ha; the total number of trees cut down was 142 trees including species of cassia, chestnut... with an average root diameter of 10 cm to 20 cm. The total volume measured at the scene was about 11.57 m³. Compared with the results of the announcement of the forest status in 2023, the area that was cut down has the status of mixed natural bamboo - wood forest (HG2), belonging to the production forest planning, belonging to lot 17, compartment 3, sub-area 512, the forest owner is the People's Committee of Mai Son commune.

Initially, it was determined that 4 people with permanent residence in Huoi To 1 village confessed to having cut down the above-mentioned area. The local authorities summoned these people and made initial records related to the violations. According to the initial statements of the 4 people, the deforestation took place before the Lunar New Year 2024; the purpose of the deforestation was to take land for agricultural production (planting cassava).

As for the area that was cut down, which belongs to the production forest planning, it is being managed by the People's Committee of Mai Son Commune. However, according to the Management Board of Huoi To 1 Village, the entire area that was cut down and the land area along National Highway 16, calculated from the edge of the positive slope up to 100m, many years ago, there was a separate convention of the village for the villagers to garden and do agricultural production. This is against the purpose of use but is related to the customs and practices of the indigenous people, so for a long time, the situation of people doing agricultural production on the forest land has not been completely resolved.

In the year 2000, implementing the Socio-Economic Development Program for Communes in Extremely Difficult Mountainous and Remote Areas issued by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 135/QD-TTg dated July 31, 1998, households were supported by the State to plant meter trees on the above-mentioned area. Over many years, meter trees did not grow, many timber trees (sang le, chestnut, dinh...) regenerated naturally; every year, people still produced agriculture, planted cassava, planted xoan and acacia trees. At the scene, it was also shown that, in addition to the naturally regenerated timber trees that were cut down, the surrounding area was basically the area where people had been planting cassava, mixed with acacia, xoan and many remaining meter trees.

Up to this point, the District People's Committee has directed the Forest Protection Department to coordinate with the District Police, the Procuracy and the Commune People's Committee to examine the scene, investigate and verify the subjects, organizations and individuals related to the above deforestation case for handling according to the provisions of law.

Regarding the cause of the incident, according to the People's Committee of Tuong Duong district, although the incident was discovered early, the coordination and direction in handling the incident between the local authorities and functional forces was not really drastic and timely; the Mai Son commune authorities have not managed well the forest area assigned by the State to the People's Committee of the commune; there is still a sense of waiting and relying on the responsibility of forest protection for the functional sectors.

Along with these causes, according to the People's Committee of Tuong Duong district, there are objective causes. That is, the lives of people in Mai Son border commune in particular and Tuong Duong district in general are still very difficult, the people's economy mainly depends on the forest, creating great pressure on forest protection work. In recent years, cassava is a key agricultural crop, bringing relatively higher value than other crops in the area, the purchase price of the following year increases compared to the previous year. Therefore, the people's demand to expand cassava production every year is very large, while the area of ​​agricultural land is too small, leading to the situation of people encroaching on natural forests for agricultural production.

Meanwhile, Mai Son commune is too large, far from the local Forest Ranger station, and transportation is difficult; the distance from the local Forest Ranger station to the commune in charge is more than 120 km and must pass through Ky Son district, making it difficult for inspection, supervision, and consultation of local Forest Ranger officers in the commune.

To rectify the management and protection of forests in the area, according to the People's Committee of Tuong Duong district, it will direct relevant sectors in the area and local authorities where the illegal deforestation occurred to focus on investigating, verifying and completing the dossier to handle the case in accordance with the provisions of law; review and handle the responsibilities of organizations and individuals related to the above deforestation. At the same time, expand inspections in the area to prevent, detect and promptly handle the situation of people clearing and burning natural forests to grow cassava and produce swidden fields.

Tuong Duong District People's Committee will also focus on directing local departments, branches and units to consistently implement the viewpoint on forest protection work in the spirit of Conclusion No. 61-KL/TW dated August 17, 2023 of the Secretariat on continuing to implement Directive No. 13-CT/TW on strengthening the Party's leadership in forest management, protection and development. At the same time, step up propaganda work among the people to raise awareness and sense of responsibility for forest protection; focus on timely and effective implementation of forestry programs and policies to gradually improve people's lives, so that people can truly feel secure in their attachment to forest protection work, live off the forest, limit deforestation for agricultural production, contributing to reducing pressure on forest protection work...

Nhat Cuong