Investigation underway after nearly 95ha of forest destroyed in central Vietnam

Officials have ordered the Hoai An Forest Ranger Unit to urgently verify and clarify the forest destruction at Subzone 157 in Kim Son.

Alongside the criminal investigation, authorities are also reviewing the responsibility of agencies and organizations tasked with forest management in the affected area.

The destruction was discovered in Compartments 4 and 6 of Subzone 157, located in the Hoc Moc area of Nghia Dien Hamlet.

The Hoai An Forest Ranger Unit has formally launched a criminal case and transferred the file to police investigators to continue the probe.

Initial investigations have identified several individuals suspected of involvement, and authorities are continuing to question them to determine the full scope of responsibility.

Preliminary inspections show that the total area of illegally logged forest is nearly 95 hectares, covering both natural forest and planted forest.

Of this, more than 66 hectares was under the management of the Kim Son Commune People’s Committee, while over 27 hectares was managed by the Hoai An Protection Forest Management Board.

Investigators said the forest destruction took place over a long period.

In several sections, after trees were cut down and the land was cleared by burning, acacia trees were planted in their place.

The site shows widespread evidence of freshly cut tree stumps.

All timber from both the planted forest and natural forest had already been felled and transported out of the area by the time authorities arrived.

Authorities determined that the illegal logging and land clearing occurred between March and June.

Leaders of the provincial Forest Protection Department also confirmed that both natural forest and planted forest were destroyed in this case.

They added that the destroyed planted forest originated from areas that had previously been encroached upon and cleared by local residents in past years, before being replanted under forest rehabilitation efforts.