Anh Son District People's Committee informed the results of handling the case 'A series of ancient trees protecting the Lam River bank in Anh Son district were mercilessly cut down'

As informed, before reflecting in the photo report "A series of ancient trees protecting the banks of Lam River in Anh Son district were mercilessly cut down.” posted on baonghean.vn on December 23, 2024, the People's Committee of Anh Son district established a Working Group to verify the scene, then issued Official Dispatch No. 3219/UBND.NN dated December 24, 2024 directing specialized departments and related units to focus on handling the tree cutting in the alluvial area along Lam River in Vinh Son commune.

On December 25, 2024, Anh Son District People's Committee continued to have Report No. 722/BC-UBND informs the results of receiving, processing, and resolving information from Nghe An Newspaper reflecting "A series of ancient trees protecting the Lam River bank in Anh Son district were mercilessly cut down".

Below is the full text of Report No. 722/BC-UBND of Anh Son District People's Committee:

1. The course of the incident

According to the Report of Vinh Son Commune People's Committee, after the flood in September 2024, on the alluvial land along Lam River of the commune, some trees fell, some trees were at risk of falling, so the Commune People's Committee proceeded to sell 12 trees (including fallen trees and trees close to the riverbank at risk of falling).

On October 7, 2024, the Commune People's Committee sent a notice to the villages and announced on the Commune Radio Station about the sale of trees along the Lam River alluvial plain under the management of Vinh Son Commune. At the same time, the Commune People's Committee established a Pricing Council.

On October 8, 2024, the Sale Council went directly to the site to work with the auction participants to directly measure the trees expected to be sold (12 trees; 12.46m3). As a result, Mr. Phan Quoc Chien, Vinh Tien village, Vinh Son commune, closed the price according to the price given by the Commune People's Committee (9,000,000 VND). However, during the exploitation process, the number of trees purchased at the price agreed with the Commune People's Committee exceeded.

After discovering the incident, the People's Committee of Vinh Son commune established a working group to inspect and make a record of the scene of the incident. On the afternoon of November 20, 2024, the working group of the People's Committee of Vinh Son commune inspected the scene and discovered that the number of trees exploited exceeded the number of trees sold by 20 trees (trees with a rim of over 40 cm).

The Commune People's Committee has assigned Mr. Phan Quoc Chien (the tree buyer) to stop tree exploitation activities until further notice from the Commune People's Committee. At the same time, assigned Mr. Nguyen Huu Ngoc (the household assigned to protect the tree garden at the commune's alluvial ground) to protect the number of trees in the garden, and at the same time report to the competent authority when detecting any tree exploitation in the garden.

On November 27, 2024, Vinh Son Commune People's Committee worked with Mr. Phan Quoc Chien. During the working process, Mr. Phan Quoc Chien reported the total number of exploited trees sold for an amount of 13,038,000 VND (thirteen million thirty-eight thousand VND).

On November 27, 2024, the People's Committee of the commune invited Mr. Nguyen Dinh Thanh, Mr. Nguyen Doan Xay, Mr. Dang Van Quyen - permanent residents of Vinh Tien village, Vinh Son commune, Anh Son district (those hired to cut and transport trees) to clarify related contents.

On December 13, 2024, the People's Committee of Vinh Son commune made a record of temporary detention of exhibits, issued a decision to temporarily detain exhibits for the illegally logged timber and tools and means related to the timber exploitation process. The related assets have been listed and strictly protected by the People's Committee of the commune (13 logs; Volume 7.24 m3).

Currently, the People's Committee of Vinh Son commune continues to implement the contents according to the direction of the District People's Committee, coordinate with functional agencies to clarify the matter, promptly resolve it in accordance with the law to create consensus among the people.

2. Process of receiving and processing feedback information

After receiving information from Nghe An Newspaper published at 20:21 on December 23, 2024 reflecting: "A series of ancient trees protecting the Lam River bank in Anh Son district were mercilessly cut down", on the morning of December 24, 2024, Anh Son District People's Committee issued Decision No. 3814/QD-UBND on the establishment of a Working Group to direct and handle the exploitation of trees along the Lam River alluvial plain in Vinh Son commune as reflected by Nghe An Newspaper.

The working group is led by Mr. Hoang Xuan Cuong - Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee as Head of the Working Group; Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Head of the District Forest Protection Department as Deputy Head; members include leaders of the Anh Son Protective Forest Management Board, officials of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Forest rangers in charge of the area and technical officials of the District Forest Protection Department. On the same morning, the Working Group inspected the site of the alluvial area along the Lam River in Vinh Son Commune as reported by Nghe An Newspaper.

3. Inspection results of the Working Group according to Decision No. 3814/QD-UBND dated December 24, 2024 of Anh Son District People's Committee

On December 24, 2024, the Working Group under Decision No. 3814/QD-UBND dated December 24, 2024 of the District People's Committee conducted a field inspection of the alluvial area along Lam River in Vinh Son Commune as reported by Nghe An Newspaper. The results of the inspection and verification are as follows:

- Location of the incident (location): According to the Map according to Decision 48/2014/QD-UBND dated August 15, 2014 of the People's Committee of Nghe An province on adjusting the planning of 3 types of forests in Nghe An province, the above exploitation area belongs to land plot 714, map sheet No. 1, lot 4, Section 8, Sub-area 920. Riverbank area of ​​hamlet 1, Vinh Son commune, Anh Son district, Nghe An province. Planning: Outside the forestry planning.

Field inventory results: Total measurements at the scene include 41 stumps, 01 fallen tree still lying at the scene, the tree trunk diameter ranges from 10cm - 75cm. At the scene, only valueless branches and tops remain (tree species: coi, lieu bieu, sung, rang).

4. Results of the District People's Committee's handling

On the morning of December 24, 2024, the Working Group under Decision No. 3814/QD-UBND dated December 24, 2024 of the District People's Committee inspected the site of the alluvial area along Lam River in Vinh Son Commune as reported by Nghe An Newspaper.

On the same afternoon, the District People's Committee issued Official Dispatch No. 3219/UBND.NN dated December 24, 2024 to direct specialized departments: Agriculture & Rural Development, Natural Resources and Environment, Finance - Planning; Department of Justice; District Police; Anh Son District Forest Protection Department; Vinh Son Commune People's Committee based on the functions and tasks of the unit to focus on handling the tree cutting in the alluvial area along Lam River in Vinh Son Commune as reported by Nghe An Newspaper, specifically:

- Assign Anh Son District Forest Protection Department: Take the lead in coordinating with specialized departments under the District People's Committee, Vinh Son Commune People's Committee and related units to inspect, verify and determine the planning area of ​​3 types of forests in Vinh Son Commune to have a basis for handling the case according to regulations.

Direct local forest rangers to support the People's Committee of Vinh Son commune to organize statistics on the quantity and volume of wood that has been cut down on the alluvial land along Lam river in Vinh Son commune.

Coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to advise the District People's Committee to handle violations in the forestry sector (if any).

Assign the Departments of Agriculture & Rural Development, Natural Resources & Environment, Finance & Planning, and Justice to: Coordinate in inspecting and verifying the purpose, origin of land use and the management, protection and use of assets managed by the Commune People's Committee. Guide the Vinh Son Commune People's Committee to review regulations, procedures, auction authority, and asset management to correct and cancel policies and procedures that have been organized and implemented in the liquidation and auction of assets that are contrary to the law and handle violations (if any) to ensure compliance with the law.

- Request the District Police to: Verify and inspect the case reported by Nghe An Newspaper to handle the case in accordance with the provisions of law (if there are signs of violation).

- Assign the Party Committee and People's Committee of Vinh Son commune: Lead and direct the People's Committee of the commune and related organizations to coordinate in verifying and clarifying violations, the amount of damage, and identifying violators for timely handling according to regulations.

Focus on directing specialized departments to verify violations and the volume of wood cut down, work with subjects to clarify violations, and promptly handle violations in accordance with regulations.

Review regulations, procedures, auction and asset management authority to correct and cancel policies and procedures that have been organized and implemented in liquidation and auction of assets that are contrary to the law and handle violations (if any) to ensure compliance with the law.

Direct the authorities to take measures to protect the scene of the tree cutting and temporarily detain the remaining evidence of the violation.

Develop a plan to remedy the consequences (plant trees to compensate) of illegal tree cutting in the alluvial land along Lam River in Vinh Son commune.

Currently, the District People's Committee is directing departments and branches to perform tasks according to Official Dispatch No. 3219/UBND.NN dated December 24, 2024 of the District People's Committee; The District Police are focusing on investigating, verifying and clarifying violations (if any) for handling according to the provisions of law.