From the series of articles "Clarifying the negative impacts of Ngoc Linh ginseng cultivation on Puxailaileng protective forest": There will be a comprehensive assessment workshop!
Regarding the planting of Ngoc Linh ginseng in Puxailaileng protective forest in Na Ngoi commune, recently, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development issued Document No. 5581/SNN-KHTC to the People's Committee of Ky Son district, the Forestry Sub-Department, the Ky Son Protective Forest Management Board and Ngoc Linh Ginseng Pharmaceutical Group Joint Stock Company.
Clarify and correct the content of the Newspaper's reflection
On December 13, 2024, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development issued Official Dispatch No. 5581/SNN-KHTC on cooperation and association in growing medicinal plants under forest canopy inKy Son Protective Forest Management Boardsent to the People's Committee of Ky Son district, the Forestry Department, the Ky Son Protective Forest Management Board and Ngoc Linh Ginseng Pharmaceutical Group Joint Stock Company.
The content of Official Dispatch No. 5581/SNN-KHTC shows that the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has received a report from the Forestry Sub-Department on the results of the inspection and verification of information reported by Nghe An Newspaper on the cultivation of medicinal herbs by Ngoc Linh Ginseng Pharmaceutical Group Joint Stock Company in Na Ngoi commune, Ky Son district (Report No. 1142/BC-CCKL dated November 12, 2024).
Based on the provisions of law, based on the assigned functions, tasks and powers, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development requests Ngoc Linh Ginseng Pharmaceutical Group Joint Stock Company to strictly implement Decision No. 512/QD-SNN-QLKTKHCN dated August 10, 2023 of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on approving the Cooperation and association plan for planting medicinal plants under the forest canopy at the Ky Son Protective Forest Management Board.
In case of arising practical issues, it is necessary to submit to the competent authority for consideration and adjustment before implementation; but it is necessary to ensure the principle of strict compliance with legal regulations, ensuring that the protection forest objective is better managed, protected and developed.
With the Ky Son Protective Forest Management Board, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development directed: "Continue to seriously implement the contents of cooperation and association in accordance with Decision No. 512/QD-SNN-QLKTKHCN dated August 10, 2023 that has been approved. Closely monitor and regularly inspect the implementation contents of Ngoc Linh Ginseng Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company at the approved joint venture and association locations; approve and adjust the technical design documents for planting medicinal plants under the forest canopy in accordance with the provisions of law".
At the same time, request: “Clarify and correct related contents as reflected by Nghe An Newspaper on October 29-30, 2024 and consider the responsibilities of relevant organizations and individuals (if any). Well perform the role and responsibility of forest owners in managing, protecting and developing forests in the assigned forest areas; coordinate with local authorities and functional agencies, promptly detect and prevent violations of the law on the assigned forest areas and forestry land”.
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development also assigned the Forest Protection Department to continue directing the Ky Son Forest Protection Department to strengthen the management, protection and development of forests in the area; effectively implement forestry policies to ensure maximum transfer of resources so that people can actively participate in forest protection and development. Timely and seriously handle violations of forestry laws; regularly monitor and supervise cooperation and linkages in forest development, ensuring the creation of new and sustainable livelihoods for people, especially ethnic minorities living and residing legally in the locality. And "Direct the Ky Son Forest Protection Department to coordinate with the Ky Son Protective Forest Management Board to advise the Ky Son District People's Committee to thoroughly resolve the limitations and shortcomings (if any) as reflected by Nghe An Newspaper issued on October 29-30, 2024".
Also in Official Dispatch No. 5581/SNN-KHTC, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development assessed Ky Son district as a locality with a large area of forest and forestry land, with great potential for forestry development, enhancing the multi-use values of forests, especially precious medicinal plants. Currently, the district is piloting a number of models of planting medicinal plants under the forest canopy.
Therefore, to ensure investment efficiency and create new and sustainable livelihoods for local people, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development recommends that the People's Committee of Ky Son district: "It is necessary to consider organizing a workshop to evaluate models of growing medicinal plants under forest canopy in the area, especially precious medicinal plants. At the same time, it is recommended that the People's Committee of the district continue to strengthen leadership and direction of forest management, protection and development activities in the area".
Comprehensive evaluation workshop will be held
Regarding the planting of Ngoc Linh ginseng by Ngoc Linh Ginseng Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company in Na Ngoi commune, Ky Son district from October 29 to 31, 2024, Nghe An Newspaper published a series of articles "Clarifying the negative impacts of Ngoc Linh ginseng planting on Puxailaileng protective forest". Upon receiving the information reported by Nghe An Newspaper, the Forestry Department and the People's Committee of Ky Son district directed the functional units to inspect and clarify. Through inspection, it was determined that the planting of Ngoc Linh ginseng was not in accordance with the approved design documents, and had an impact on the protective forest.
However, with solid evidence, on November 18, 2024, Nghe An Newspaper continued to publish an article "After inspecting the cultivation of Ngoc Linh ginseng in Puxailaileng protective forest: Violations must be promptly and seriously corrected!". The content affirmed that the cultivation of Ngoc Linh ginseng has had negative impacts, changing the status and narrowing the area of Puxailaileng protective forest. Thereby, it is recommended that the authorities pay attention to correction.
Recently, Nghe An Newspaper reporters learned that after the authorities temporarily suspended new activities in the cooperation area, linking the planting of medicinal plants under the forest canopy in Puxailaileng protective forest, Na Ngoi commune, Ngoc Linh Ginseng Pharmaceutical Group Joint Stock Company sent a document to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, requesting to adjust some contents in the technical design documents.
However, in the response document, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development informed Ngoc Linh Ginseng Pharmaceutical Group Joint Stock Company that the adjustment of the technical design documents is the responsibility of the Ky Son Protective Forest Management Board. At the same time, it affirmed that the adjustment of the technical design documents must comply with the provisions of the Forestry Law and related Decrees, ensuring the parallel implementation of the goal of developing medicinal plant cultivation under the canopy of protective forests, but must not reduce the forest area, quality, affect forest regeneration and the protective capacity of the forest.
According to the responsible person of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, currently, Ngoc Linh Ginseng Pharmaceutical Group Joint Stock Company still has to temporarily suspend new activities in growing medicinal plants under the forest canopy at the Ky Son Protective Forest Management Board.
Because through verifying the information reported by Nghe An Newspaper, the inspection teams pointed out some shortcomings, requiring adjustments to the technical design documents; at the same time, they said that, along with the request for the People's Committee of Ky Son district to consider organizing a workshop to evaluate models of growing medicinal plants under forest canopy in the area, in the coming time, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will also organize a workshop on this content.
The person in charge of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said: “The Department will invite scientists to attend the workshop to ensure objectivity when evaluating the cultivation of medicinal plants under the forest canopy…”.
