Temporarily suspending Ngoc Linh ginseng cultivation in Puxailaileng protective forest

On October 31, 2024, the Forest Protection Department issued Document No. 1105/KL-QLBVR, directing the Ky Son Forest Protection Department, Mobile Forest Protection Team and PCCCR No. 1 to inspect and verify the information reported by Nghe An Newspaper on the planting of Ngoc Linh ginseng by Ngoc Linh Ginseng Pharmaceutical Group Joint Stock Company at plot 8, sub-area 490, Na Ngoi commune, Ky Son district, which has a negative impact on Puxailaileng protective forest.

According to initial information received by Nghe An Newspaper, the inspection was carried out on November 5, 2024. Through the inspection, it was determined that the scope of Ngoc Linh Ginseng Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company's fence to protect the Ngoc Linh ginseng growing area was about 3.6 hectares; within this scope, beds were made and plastic tarpaulin roofs were erected on the Ngoc Linh ginseng growing beds with a total area of ​​about 0.9 hectares.

Conducting an inspection of the entire Ngoc Linh ginseng growing area, the Inspection Team noted negative impacts on the forest ecosystem, including the raking and clearing of scattered bamboo roots near the Ngoc Linh ginseng growing beds; erecting plastic roofs over the Ngoc Linh ginseng growing beds...; at the same time, it was determined that forest fire prevention and fighting work was not ensured according to the provisions of law. From the on-site inspection, the Inspection Team assessed that the activities to grow Ngoc Linh ginseng were not in accordance with the approved technical design documents.

Faced with this reality, the Inspection Team temporarily suspended Ngoc Linh ginseng growing activities at plot 8, sub-area 490, Na Ngoi commune, Ky Son district until receiving opinions from competent authorities.

Previously, speaking with Nghe An Newspaper reporter on November 3, 2024, Mr. Le Hoang - Director of Ky Son Protective Forest Management Board said that the board had worked and requested Ngoc Linh Ginseng Pharmaceutical Group Joint Stock Company to stop growing Ngoc Linh ginseng, and remove people from the forest to ensure compliance with the commitment. "The board will be determined, only if it fulfills its commitment will it continue, otherwise it will stop..." - Mr. Le Hoang said.

On August 10, 2023, by Decision No. 512/QD-SNN-QLKTKHCN, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development approved the cooperation and association plan for growing medicinal plants under the forest canopy at the Ky Son Protective Forest Management Board. The two cooperating and associating entities include Ngoc Linh Ginseng Pharmaceutical Group Joint Stock Company (investor); Ky Son Protective Forest Management Board (participant in the association).

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development requests Ngoc Linh Ginseng Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company to perform the obligation of "Organizing plans for forest protection and development, forest fire prevention and fighting in accordance with the provisions of law"; Ky Son Protective Forest Management Board is responsible for "Inspecting and supervising the implementation of plans by participating parties in forest protection and management associated with planting medicinal plants under the forest canopy in the area in accordance with the provisions of the Forestry Law and current legal provisions".

By October 2023, Ngoc Linh Ginseng Pharmaceutical Group Joint Stock Company will begin planting Ngoc Linh ginseng in Puxailaileng protective forest, in compartment 8, sub-compartment 490, Na Ngoi commune, Ky Son district.

However, on November 6, 2023, the inspection team of the People's Committee of Na Ngoi commune and local forest rangers inspected the Ngoc Linh ginseng plantation site and discovered that people from Ngoc Linh Ginseng Pharmaceutical Group Joint Stock Company were clearing and raking bamboo to create a flat surface. Because this is a protective forest with a mixed wood-bamboo forest status, the act of clearing bamboo in the protective forest is a violation of the law, so the inspection team drew up a record and requested to stop all activities that negatively impact the forest.

Despite being reminded, during the inspection on December 5, 2023, the inspection team of the People's Committee of Na Ngoi commune and local forest rangers continued to discover that people of Ngoc Linh Ginseng Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company repeated the act of clearing and raking bamboo to create a surface for growing Ngoc Linh ginseng.

In addition, it was discovered that ginseng had been planted outside the area permitted by the competent authority (encroaching on plot 5 of sub-area 490), and the design of the ginseng planting bed was different. In response to these actions, the People's Committee of Na Ngoi commune continued to make a record and requested: "Immediately stop letting people rake bamboo shoots to plant ginseng in plot 8, sub-area 490, Na Ngoi commune"; "From now on, plant Ngoc Linh ginseng under the forest canopy in plot 8, sub-area 490 in accordance with the original design documents...".

On October 28, 2024, Ky Son Forest Protection Department presided over and coordinated with the Na Ngoi Commune People's Committee and Ky Son Protective Forest Management Board to inspect the implementation of the plan to link medicinal plant planting under the canopy at Ky Son Protective Forest Management Board.

After inspecting the actual scene, the Inspection Team determined that there were some problems, including: digging and making beds in the forest to plant Kim Tuyen orchids; arbitrarily clearing some scattered bamboo roots in the area to create a flat surface to plant Ngoc Linh ginseng.

At the same time, it was concluded that the vegetation treatment was not in accordance with the approved cooperation plan. Because in the cooperation plan, the association stated: "The land preparation process must be carried out in a way that has the least impact on the forest environment. Therefore, the medicinal plants planted in the project are all carried out in a nearly natural way, the plants are planted in holes with a diameter of about 10 cm, at a density appropriate to each type of plant, without plowing or cultivating in the forest to plant medicinal plants".

One of the problems that the Inspection Team pointed out was that the work of forest fire prevention and fighting in the cooperative and joint areas has not received attention. Specifically, temporary shelters for workers were built haphazardly in the cooperative and joint areas, posing a great risk of causing forest fires. The investor has not equipped the necessary tools for forest fire prevention and fighting in the cooperative and joint areas. Workers live for long periods in the forest but they are not instructed or equipped with the necessary knowledge about forest fire prevention and fighting...

Based on the results of the field inspection, on the same day, October 28, Ky Son Forest Protection Department issued Document No. 70/CV-KL to rectify the implementation of the plan to link medicinal plant planting under the forest canopy with Ky Son Protective Forest Management Board and Vietnam Ngoc Linh Ginseng Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company.

At the end of October 2024, from verifying the citizen's petition, Nghe An Newspaper reflected the Ngoc Linh ginseng growing activities of Ngoc Linh Ginseng Pharmaceutical Group Joint Stock Company at plot 8, sub-area 490, Na Ngoi commune, Ky Son district through the article "Does the cultivation of medicinal herbs by Ngoc Linh Ginseng Pharmaceutical Group have a negative impact on the Puxailaileng upstream protection forest?".

On October 31, 2024, the Forest Protection Department issued Document No. 1105/KL-QLBVR, directing the Ky Son Forest Protection Department, Mobile Forest Protection Team and PCCCR No. 1 to verify the information reported by Nghe An Newspaper that Ngoc Linh ginseng cultivation has a negative impact on Puxailaileng protective forest.

The Forest Protection Department requested the Head of the Ky Son Forest Protection Department to preside over and coordinate with the Mobile Forest Protection Team & Fire Prevention Team No. 1, the local government of Na Ngoi commune and relevant units to verify and clarify the related contents as reported by Nghe An Newspaper.

Handle or advise competent authorities to handle violations of Forestry laws in accordance with regulations (if any). Report specific explanations, clearly identify responsibilities in forest management and protection for relevant groups and individuals in the above violations, propose solutions to thoroughly prevent illegal deforestation (if any).

Work specifically with Ngoc Linh Ginseng Pharmaceutical Corporation on the above-mentioned contents reported by Nghe An Newspaper, to clarify the nature of the incident and coordinate to handle and prevent illegal deforestation.

Direct local forest rangers to coordinate with forest owners and local authorities to strengthen forest inspection and monitoring measures, grasp all developments in local forest security to promptly detect, combat, prevent and strictly handle violations in the forestry sector in accordance with regulations.

Regarding the Ky Son Protective Forest Management Board, the Forest Protection Department requested to verify and clarify the information reported by Nghe An Newspaper. Report the verification results; clarify the management entity, forest owner, area, scope, role and responsibility of the Board, and of Ngoc Linh Ginseng Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company for the forest area reported by the Newspaper.

At the same time, the Forestry Sub-Department requested the above-mentioned relevant units to urgently carry out inspection work and report the results on November 8, 2024.