Handling individuals and groups related to the deforestation case in Nam Can commune (Ky Son)

The content of the newspaper is well-founded.

On April 1, 2022, Nghe An Newspaper published an article"Irregularities surrounding deforestation in border areas", reflecting that on March 17, after receiving the report, the Ky Son District Forest Protection Department coordinated with many relevant forces to inspect and verify the deforestation case that occurred in Truong Son village, Nam Can commune. However, the process of handling the case revealed many abnormalities. Especially the most unusual ones in the inspection records. From there, public opinion raised many questions about whether or not the perpetrator of deforestation was receiving a reduced sentence as well as suspicions about the purpose behind the deforestation, because that area belongs to a high-value stone quarry that is waiting for a mining license.

Scene of the incident. Photo: Tien Dong

As soon as the newspaper published, theNghe An Forest Protection Departmentalso requested the Ky Son District Forest Protection Department to coordinate with the Ky Son Protective Forest Management Board to re-report the incident specifically, in detail, and accurately. In particular, on April 8, 2022, the Provincial People's Committee also issued Official Dispatch No. 2443/UBND-NN requesting the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ky Son District People's Committee to coordinate in inspecting and handling the issue raised by Nghe An Newspaper related to the deforestation in the border area.

On April 12, the People's Committee of Ky Son district sent a report to the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee. According to the report of the People's Committee of Ky Son district, the number of trees cut down in Sub-area 416 of Nam Can commune was 11 trees, the wood type was common wood, the average diameter of the trees was from 30 - 65 cm, the total volume of wood was 15.63m of round wood. The locations of the cut down trees were all within the land managed by the Protective Forest Management Board. The People's Committee of Ky Son district also admitted that there was exploitation of trees in the forest as reported by the newspaper.

Loading wood onto the truck to take to the Ky Son Forest Protection Department headquarters. Photo: Tien Hung

In addition, the People's Committee of Ky Son district has also requested specialized agencies to re-examine and verify the quantity and types of wood collected at the scene. According to the information we reported and the opinions of those present at the scene, among the 11 collected trees, there was at least 1 xoan tree (also known as xoan tree). The report of the People's Committee of Ky Son district is suspected to be a xoan dao tree (also belonging to the xoan family), belonging to group VI wood in the list of common wood species and to confirm the above issue, it is necessary to consult the opinion of the appraisal agency.

The People's Committee of Ky Son district also admitted that the report that among the 11 trees, there were trees that were not in group VIII was correct and well-founded. However, the above incident was due to the inspection team's mistake and negligence in the process of determining the type of wood, not the intention to cover up or make a difference in the type of wood to reduce the penalty, because the same type of common wood, the same volume of violation, all will be handled the same.

On the way to Pu Chang mountain (Nam Can commune, Ky Son), where the incident happened, there are also giant rocks left by the mineral exploration unit lying around. Photo: Tien Dong

However, Ky Son district said that this incident was partly due to objective factors, and partly due to the limited capacity and expertise of the inspection team. The district People's Committee has requested the specialized agency to report and clarify the contents reported by the Newspaper. Thereby, there is no intention to omit or reduce the number or volume of violations to cover up or reduce the crime for violators or for any other purpose.

Disciplined individuals and units involved

Also according to the feedback report ofPeople's Committee of Ky Son district, as soon as the Forest Protection Department's report results were available, on March 24, 2022, the District People's Committee issued Decision No. 2017/QD-UBND to establish an interdisciplinary team of the district to inspect and expand the scene, verify and handle violations. At the same time, it directed the review to clarify the responsibilities of collectives and individuals at agencies and units related to the forest exploitation case in Nam Can commune.

Currently, the Forest Protection Department has also disciplined the forest ranger Ha Minh Dong, who is in charge of Nam Can commune, with a reprimand. The Forest Protection Department's leadership team has been deeply criticized and reminded to draw lessons from their experience in directing forest management and protection activities.

Regarding the inconsistency in determining the number of felled trees in the records from March 17 to March 25, 2022, the People's Committee of Ky Son district affirmed that there was an inconsistency in the quantity and volume of illegal timber through the inspections as reported by the Newspaper.

Trucks carrying wood away from the scene. Photo: Tien Hung

The Ky Son Forest Protection Management Board also disciplined Mr. Thai Khac Bao - the forest protection officer in charge of Nam Can commune with a reprimand; reviewed and reminded Mr. Nguyen Trong Hao - Head of Huu Kiem Forest Protection Management Station and the collective leadership of the Forest Protection Management Board to draw profound lessons.

In addition, the People's Committee of Nam Can commune has reviewed, reminded, and drawn profound lessons from the role and responsibility of the collective leadership of the People's Committee of the commune in not proactively grasping information, promptly preventing and handling the incident.

Also related to the area where the illegal deforestation occurred in Nam Can commune, the scene of the incident covers an area of ​​about 1,000 square meters. However, this area was licensed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for Vietnam Mineral Exploitation and Trading Company Limited to explore minerals since 2013 with an area of ​​more than 12 hectares. In 2019, this unit continued to have its exploration license extended until February 22, 2020. Currently, this unit's exploration license has expired.

According to our investigation, the mountain where the incident occurred is located in both production and protection forests. Photo: Tien Dong

According to our investigation, the mountain where the incident occurred, in addition to the production forest land area as reported by the People's Committee of Ky Son district, also has an area of ​​protective forest land.

According to Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan - Deputy Head of Nghe An Forest Protection Department, whether it is a production forest or a protection forest, exploitation must have a plan and scheme approved by the competent authority. In particular, if one wants to exploit forest products or minerals on protection forest land, the purpose of use must be changed and this must be approved by the Prime Minister.

Currently, besides Luong Van Phanh (who admitted to cutting down 4 trees and was fined 17.5 million VND), the person who cut down the remaining 7 trees has not been found.