The forests are still "bleeding".

(Baonghean) - The activities of illegal loggers in Que Phong are becoming increasingly sophisticated, cunning, and reckless. Previously, illegal loggers took advantage of resettled residents to mix illegally logged timber with house timber to "slip through checkpoints." Now that the resettlement areas are completed, illegal loggers are hiring locals to use buffaloes to haul timber to stream banks, then transporting it away by motorbike under the cover of darkness, even using pickup trucks to transport timber at high speeds.

For example, on May 31st in Na Xai village, Hanh Dich commune, when a task force from the Mobile Forest Protection Team No. 2 discovered a car carrying illegally logged timber, the driver did not stop but recklessly drove the car straight into the patrol motorcycle of the inspection team. Fortunately, the forest ranger managed to jump out of the car in time. Furthermore, forest ranger Bach Duc Hanh, in charge of Tien Phong commune, Que Phong district, after discovering a motorbike carrying illegally logged timber, requested the driver to stop, but the driver, named Thanh (residing in Tien Phong commune), pulled out a sword and resisted. Besides these incidents, there have been many other clashes between illegal loggers and forest protection officers.

We visited Dong Van commune, where Mr. Lang Van Tuan, Chairman of the Dong Van Commune People's Committee, said: Dong Van has four resettlement areas for the Hua Na Hydropower Plant, with over 300 households living near the forests. Since the beginning of the year, the commune has actively propagated and encouraged people not to enter the forest to transport timber for illegal loggers, especially not to use motorbikes to transport smuggled timber. Recently, the commune discovered a group of people from Quynh Luu and Quy Chau collaborating with local residents to illegally cut down trees in the forest, but local authorities promptly intervened. The reason is that the lives of the people in Dong Van are still very difficult.

Timber being transported by motorbike was seized at the Dong Van Forestry Control Station.

Mr. Bui Van Thanh, Head of the Dong Van Forest Control Station, said: "The station manages and protects over 70,000 hectares of forest in Thong Thu and Dong Van, but the force is thin, with only 5 forest rangers. To strengthen forest management and protection, the station has coordinated with the Thong Thu Border Guard Post to patrol and control. Emphasis is placed on forest protection awareness campaigns in villages, especially in the resettlement areas of the Hua Na Hydropower Plant. While the number of motorbikes transporting illegally logged timber has decreased, some individuals are still recklessly using pickup trucks to transport smuggled timber. For example, on June 25th, the station discovered an individual in Chau Binh - Quy Chau using a pickup truck to transport nearly 1 cubic meter of timber, disguised with wood underneath and scrap metal on top."

Mr. Le Hai Ly, Head of the Que Phong Forest Protection Unit, stated: The Forest Protection Unit focuses on protecting forests at their source. First, we are "reorganizing" the personnel at the forest protection stations. Young, healthy forest rangers are being deployed to difficult and complex stations, including the main stations: Dong Van Forest Management and Protection Station, Ban Muong - Chau Kim Station, Tien Phong Station, Chau Thon Station, and Hanh Dich Station. Five of these stations have personnel stationed at the forest entrances 24/7. The Unit closely coordinates with the Mobile Forest Protection Team and Fire Prevention and Control Team No. 2, relevant agencies, the police, and border guard posts to strengthen forest patrols and protection, promptly detecting and handling violations. We advise local Party committees and authorities to sign commitments and develop regulations and customs for forest protection; and we are promoting the dissemination of forest protection laws to all segments of the population. The current challenge is that households in the Hua Na Hydropower resettlement area lack agricultural land, while many resettlement areas are located deep within the core of special-use and protection forests. In some places, households are burning forests to create fields or exploit timber for house construction, a trend that is recurring. This is also a reason why illegal loggers easily take advantage of the local people to cut down trees.

To effectively protect forests in Que Phong, a coordinated and comprehensive effort is needed among all levels and sectors.

Text and photos: Van Truong