The Hanoitimes - This request was made by Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai said at a conference reviewing the five-year plan on forest protection and development held in Hanoi on December 9. Thu Minh … [Read more...] about Raising public’s awareness of forest protection and development
Forest protection
Deputy PM Hai urges replicating effective forest protection and development models
The government official was speaking at a meeting held by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on Wednesday to review the 5-year implementation of the forest protection and development programme during 2011-2015. Over the last five years, the programme implementation has helped protect and develop forest coverage, increasing from 39.7% in 2011 to 40.43% in 2014, and expected to reach 40.73% in 2015. The forestry sector’s annual production increased almost two times compared to the 2006-2010 period, at an average of 5.95% a year, compared to 3.1% a year for 2006-2010. The export value of wood and non-timber products increased nearly 1.5 times, generating an estimated revenue of US$6.8-7 billion in 2015. Deputy PM Hai praised positive results in forestry production and protection in the past years, saying that the forestry sector has shifted towards the market mechanism. Despite some forestry production models generating VND30-40 million per ha, even hundreds of … [Read more...] about Deputy PM Hai urges replicating effective forest protection and development models
Forest protection officers tie up, attack civilians in southern Vietnam
Several forest protection officers in the southern Vietnamese province of Dong Nai have been assaulting a family of shrimp farmers and destroying their property, as they were allegedly ‘snitched’ on by the family. Nguyen Thi Anh Ngoc, 34, who runs a small shrimp farm along the Thi Vai River in Dong Nai, said that she and her family members have been terrorized by many local forest rangers. Prior to these incidents, some strangers wearing the uniform of forest protection officers came to her lodge at the shrimp farm and required Ngoc’s family to unload their house, before breaking part of the construction, she recounted. On Friday morning last week, police arrived at Ngoc’s house after she reported the case to gather her statements. A group of 15 people dressed in forest ranger uniform charged into her house shortly after the police had left, tied up Ngoc’s father and went on to hit her, Ngoc said. “Some people in the group hit Ngoc when she … [Read more...] about Forest protection officers tie up, attack civilians in southern Vietnam
Southern localities review forest protection activities
Kien Giang (VNA) - Officials from 19 southern provinces gathered to review outcomes of their forest protection programmes since the beginning of the year in Kien Giang on November 5. The area is home to 747,000 hectares of forest, accounting for 5.4 percent of the nation’s woodland. By the end of October, local authorities handled 1,758 out of 1,875 illegal cases that were detected, with 22 facing criminal proceedings. Illicit exploitation and trade of forestry products was reported to concentrate in provinces that are rich in natural forests or located along the border with Cambodia, such as Binh Phuoc, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Tay Ninh and Dong Nai. A large number of woods seized by forest rangers in Tay Ninh and Binh Phuoc were transported in from Cambodia. There were 140 violations of wildlife protection laws, mainly taking place in Dong Nai, Tay Ninh and Ho Chi Minh City. Meanwhile, 49 forest fires damaged more than 141 hectares across Dong Thap, Long An, Kien Giang and An … [Read more...] about Southern localities review forest protection activities
Forests devastated as forest protection company lends hand to illegal loggers
VietNamNet Bridge - In 2014-2015 alone, 104 huong (Pterocarpus) trees, listed in Group 1, the group of precious wood, were chopped down by illegal loggers in Kbang district of Gia Lai province. In mid-November 2015, three others were felled with the ‘support’ of Krong Pa Company’s officers. The forest in Kbang district has been attracting illegal loggers for many years. In the forestland area under the Krong Pa Forestry Company, which has mostly Pterocarpus trees, illegal loggers have been ‘protected’ by the company. Therefore, they can easily do what they want. More than 300 cubic meters of precious wood have been taken away by illegal loggers. However, the director of the company was only reprimanded for the lost precious wood and has moved to the Gia Lai provincial Forestry Sub-department, where he works at the forest protection division. The deforestation continued the day a new director took the office. Report No 237 dated November 18 from the … [Read more...] about Forests devastated as forest protection company lends hand to illegal loggers