Strictly handle violations in forest protection work

(Baonghean) - Que Phong is one of the localities with the largest forest coverage in the province. However, in reality, forest protection in this border district still has many problems. Nghe An Newspaper interviewed Comrade Lu Dinh Thi, Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Secretary of Que Phong District Party Committee about forest protection.

Buffer zone of Pu Hoat Nature Reserve. Photo: Sy Minh.

PV:Currently, Que Phong has one of the highest forest coverage rates in the province. However, in recent times, there have been a number of serious deforestation cases in the district. What is the district's direction on handling these cases, sir?

Comrade Lu Dinh Thi:During the period of 2010-2015, Que Phong has implemented many solutions to improve forest quality and forest cover. Including: Implementing land and forest allocation to each household; integrating investment programs and projects according to Decision 147/TTg, Program 30a, afforestation to replace slash-and-burn cultivation, forest environmental service fund and investment in afforestation from agricultural production support capital; every year the district assigns departments, unions, and Forest Protection Departments to coordinate with local authorities to sign commitments with each household not to clear slash-and-burn cultivation, and not to let forest fires occur. And finally, the district has attracted businesses to invest in planting raw material forests. Therefore, the district's forest cover has increased to 73-74%; no forest fires have occurred.

However, recently, illegal exploitation of forest products has occurred in the district in the forests of Pu Hoat Nature Reserve and Pu Huong Nature Reserve. In terms of viewpoint, the district is determined to strictly handle the right people, right crimes, and right laws of those who destroy forests.

Regarding the case of illegal logging of Sa Mu Dau trees in Pu Hoat Nature Reserve, the court held a mobile trial of the forest destroyers in Thong Thu commune - the area where the illegal logging of Sa Mu Dau trees was carried out with severe sentences. This is also a solution to propagate and popularize the law on forest protection and deter those who intend to destroy the forest. Immediately after this incident occurred, the district also sent official dispatches, instructions and telegrams to local authorities in the border areas of the two reserves to coordinate with the forest rangers and forest owners to strengthen protection work.

Regarding the responsibilities of the parties involved, the District Party Committee is assigning the District Party Committee's Inspection Commission to work to examine the specific violations. This must assign specific responsibilities to the forest owner, the Forest Ranger Department, and relevant local authorities. The District Party Committee's Standing Committee will have a working session on this issue. Pu Hoat Nature Reserve must also review its responsibilities before the District Party Committee and the District Party Committee's Standing Committee for allowing this deforestation incident to occur.

In Pu Huong Nature Reserve, after the incident, the district held a meeting with Pu Huong Nature Reserve, relevant local authorities, Forest Protection Department, and District Police. The next step is to continue to establish interdisciplinary inspection teams to inspect and expel exploitation sites in this Reserve. The police force has established a working group to investigate and arrest the deforestation subjects for strict handling. We will also clarify the responsibilities of all levels, sectors, and forest owners in the coming time.

Authorities are patrolling the forest in Que Phong district. - Photo: Nhat Lan

PV:It is known that in Que Phong area, there is a regulation on forest protection coordination signed between relevant sectors. However, deforestation incidents still occur? So, is the coordination still loose?

Comrade Lu Dinh Thi:Although there are coordination regulations between relevant sectors such as police, military, district forest rangers, forest owners, etc., in retrospect, I think the involvement is not drastic, lacks synchronization, lacks inspection and supervision; lacks meetings and discussions according to coordination regulations.

From now on, the district must tighten the coordination regulations, assign the district People's Committee, especially the Vice Chairman of the district People's Committee in charge of agriculture, forestry and fisheries to chair monthly and quarterly meetings. The recent deforestation incidents are a lesson for forest owners, as well as local authorities, to have good coordination and to take synchronous and drastic action so that forest protection work can be better; strengthen inspection and control work according to the motto of protecting forests at the root.

PV:The forest area is large while the forest protection work has many challenges. So what is the overall solution of the district, comrade?

Comrade Lu Dinh Thi:In the coming period, Que Phong's forestry goal is to do a good job of forest protection, care, protection, improvement of mixed forests, and forest fire prevention. Direct and closely monitor slash-and-burn farming, prevent and promptly handle localities, organizations, and individuals who illegally clear forests, ensuring that the forest cover rate in the district is maintained at over 73-74%.

Therefore, the district will issue a specialized Resolution on forest protection and conservation at the end of the fourth quarter of 2015. In addition, we will continue to strengthen propaganda work to help people understand the law on forest protection; at the same time, along with a number of existing policies and mechanisms, the district also has a number of specific policies and mechanisms to support people living in the fringes and buffer zones of forests to develop the economy and increase their income. On the province's side, we suggest that it is necessary to strengthen the construction of control stations and facilities and equipment to support forest rangers; and have policies and mechanisms to support people living in the buffer zones of conservation areas.

Pv:Thank you comrade!

Performed by: Nhat Le