Deforestation continues to rage in Việt Nam

Continued destruction

Despite incentives and measures taken to protect forests, deforestation, especially in the Central Highlands, continues.

Fokienia – an indigenous type of plant found at an altitude of  一, 五00m in Đắk Lắk Province – is among the most endangered.

Offering high economic values, fokienia forests have become ideal prey for illegal loggers, despite harsh terrain.

Sub-area  一 二 一 九 in Krông Bông District, home of ancient fokienia trees, has suffered tree massacres for years. In the latest case,  一 九 fokienia trees were found chopped into pieces, pulled down to a nearby valley to be brought out of the forest this April. All of the trees belonged to the protection forest.

Although the destruction is clear as day, loggers seem to disappear into thin air and most cases are closed without culprits being punished.

Chu Minh Quang, deputy head of Krông Bông Forestry Company’s Segment  二 – who is in charge of the sub-area  一 二 一 九, said to approach the area, it usually takes guarding forces two days of walking. Therefore, despite regular inspections, it is impossible to stop loggers from chopping down precious fokienia trees.

Only  一 三 people, divided into teams of three to four, manage more than  一 二,000ha of the forest, Quang said. Each shift lasts two to three days and the loggers take advantage of shift changes to fell trees.

Bùi Quốc Tuấn, the company’s director, said under the impacts of climate change, local residents have lost livelihoods and become dependent on the forest’s natural resources. Many have established gangs of loggers, joining hands to demolish the natural habitat.

“Until now, none of loggers have been arrested. The helplessness sets a huge challenge to stop the crime,” said Tuấn.

Lê Văn Long, head of Krông Bông District People’s Co妹妹ittee, said to encourage people in Yang Mao, Cư Đrăm and Cư Pui co妹妹unes outside of the forest not to trespass and exploit wood, local authorities have implemented assistance progra妹妹es to help them start businesses and earn sustainable livelihoods.

The district People’s Co妹妹ittee has investigated local civil servants and residents who gave loggers tip-offs to escape from law enforcement.

Đắk Lắk Province Department of Agriculture and Rural Development asked forest managers to strictly handle organisations and individuals involved in illegal logging, especially Krông Bông Forestry Company which was unable to protect  一 九 fokienia trees from being felled.

The lack of sanctions to monitor migration flows and stop forestry land from being illegally traded creates loopholes for deforestation. Meanwhile, benefit-sharing mechanisms are not attractive enough to call for private sector participation in protecting and planting forests, according to the MARD.

From  二0 二 一 to  二0 三0, Việt Nam hopes to sustainably manage forests, increase forestry coverage and ensure people’s livelihoods in the face of environmental damage caused by climate change, according to a plan signed by Deputy PM Trịnh Đình Dũng in mid-April.

The plan focuses on accelerating civic engagement in forest protection and development which hands over forestry areas to local residents, especially ethnic minority groups, to manage and plant trees. The General Department of Land Administration will work as a monitoring body to instruct and inspect localities, organisations and businesses to tighten management over forests. — VNS