Tighten the protection of landscape pine forests

Central Forest Ranger Department coordinates patrols to protect landscape and protective pine forests

"Killing" many decades-old pine trees

In the second half of August, in plots 4 and 6 of subdivision 155, Thuy Xuan ward ( Hue city), the landscape pine forest was damaged. The act of destroying this pine forest area by drilling holes in the tree trunks and pouring chemicals into them was intended to make the pine trees dry and unable to recover. Specifically, in plot 19, plot 6, subdivision 155, there were 91 pine trees planted in 1994 and plot 11a74, plot 4, subdivision 155, there were 29 pine trees planted in 1980 that were damaged. At the scene, it was shown that many pine trees had dry trunks and yellow leaves, making it difficult to recover, and were at a very high risk of death. This is a landscape and protective forest subdivision managed by Tien Phong Forestry State-owned Company Limited (Tien Phong Company).

Mr. Ngo Thanh, Deputy Director of Tien Phong Company, said that immediately after discovering the incident, the unit reported it to the Hue City Forest Protection Department. Currently, the unit has not yet identified the vandal. This is a case of disregarding the law, intentionally destroying a pine plantation planned for protection on a large scale. The company is strengthening patrolling, monitoring, and checking the area, keeping the scene of the incident intact; at the same time, coordinating with functional agencies and local authorities to investigate and identify the vandal.

Through investigation, it is known that this is not the first case of encroachment on landscape and protective pine forests in the area. Previously, in early July this year, the authorities also discovered many decades-old pine trees in plot 1, sub-area 154 (Thuy Xuan ward), managed by Tien Phong Company, which had dried up and died, with signs of being drilled and chemically treated as above. According to statistics, more than 30 ancient pine trees have died, showing signs of being affected by humans. This situation also occurs in some other landscape and protective forest areas such as Thien An hill, Chin Ham area... According to Mr. Ngo Thanh, the pine trees that were drilled, punched, and chemically treated in plot 1, sub-area 154, were 8-9m high, 80-110cm in circumference, located near the front of Provincial Road 25, passing through Thuy Xuan ward...

To prevent the above situation, the Hue City Forest Protection Department has implemented many solutions, including increasing night patrols in areas with signs of forest encroachment. The unit coordinated with the investigation agency, the Thuy Xuan ward government and Tien Phong Company to consolidate files related to the cases, and strengthen forest management and protection through landscapes in the area. Along with that, the department has also studied the plan to set camera traps to record violations.

Mr. Le Ngoc Tuan, Head of the Hue City Forest Protection Department, said: The unit has directed specialized departments to coordinate with the Forest Protection Department in the central city and forest owners to organize inspections, prepare criminal records, and transfer them to competent authorities to receive and handle cases of damaged landscape pine forests. The case is currently being investigated by the police.

Tighten management

In less than 2 months, there have been many cases of destruction of landscape and protective pine forests in the city center, showing laxity in the management and protection of forests by functional agencies and units. The method of destruction by drilling holes in tree trunks and pouring chemicals also shows the intentional destruction. Mr. Tran Xuan Thien, a resident of Thuy Xuan ward, said that the situation of spontaneous shops springing up to serve tourists at landscape pine forest locations has the risk of affecting the forest area in this area.

“People are very upset that the scenic pine forest in the area is being destroyed. If this continues, I am afraid that the landscape value of this pine forest will no longer be intact in the near future,” said a resident living next to Thien An hill.

In fact, the central forest area in the southwest of the city has nearly 2,000 hectares of pine forests, interspersed with residential areas, cemeteries... Some areas of special-use, protective, production and unplanned pine forests currently managed by the ward People's Committee have no owners and are interspersed with cemeteries and other forest owners, causing difficulties for management.

According to the Head of the Central Hue Forest Protection Department, Le Nhan Duc, every year, the unit regularly coordinates with Mobile Forest Protection Teams - PCCCR No. 1, No. 2 and the police force to organize dozens of inspections of the implementation of the forest management and protection plan of forest owners regarding the duty regime, patrol and guard, force organization, means, information, etc. In addition, the unit also regularly sends officers to the base, deploying inspection plans at the scene of pine landscape forests in areas at risk of fire and encroachment such as Ngu Binh, Tam Thai, Thien Thai, Chin Ham, Dong Tranh, Vong Canh mountains, etc.

Discussing effective solutions in protecting decades-old landscape pine forests in the area, Mr. Le Nhan Duc said that the unit will strengthen coordination with agencies, especially with forest owners to strengthen the protection of existing forest areas in the area under their management, especially focusing on special-use, landscape and protective forests; attaching the responsibility of forest management and protection to forest owners, preventing and promptly handling violations of forest management and protection, ensuring compliance with forestry laws, not allowing the encroachment of landscape forests to become a hot spot.

Regarding this issue, Mr. Le Ngoc Tuan added that the City Forest Protection Department has directed the Hue Central Forest Protection Department to develop a coordination regulation in forest management and protection work with functional units and People's Committees of wards such as An Cuu, Thuy Xuan, Kim Long, Huong An, Thuan An, Hoa Chau and Tien Phong Company... In which, focusing on improving the state management capacity of forestry of the authorities of wards with forests and enhancing the responsibility of state forest owners and other forest owners in managing the entire area of forests and assigned forestry land...

Article and photos: Ba Tri

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/kinh-te/siet-chat-cong-tac-bao-ve-rung-thong-canh-quan-157671.html