Protective forest destroyed for farms in Phu Yen

Farmers in Phu Yen Province's Phu Mo Commune have illegally destroyed 50 ha of forest land in just two weeks.

Forest destroyed for farming

Many trees were cut off and left on the ground. In many areas, the forested land was completely burnt down. According to a local, only a few households destroyed the forest land in early July. However, after noticing that was no action taken by the authorities, more people are destroying the forest.

La O Hoa, chairman of Phu Mo Commune People's Committee, said, "Dong Xuan District People's Committee approved of the decision to allocate forest land to local households so that they can earn a living from them. However, after hearing the news, some people destroyed the forest in order to claim the land for themselves."

Hoa said they had reported to the district authorities to punish violators and persuade the local people to stop destroying the forest.

Pham Trung Chanh, vice chairman of Dong Xuan District People's Committee, said, "The protective forest is near the cultivated land so the situation is complicated. Currently, we have made several households to make commitments to stop destroying the forest. The deforestation problem in Phu Mo has also improved."

The provincial forest protection department was asked to measure the destroyed forest lands as evidence to deal with violators.

Le Van Be, head of Phu Yen Forest Protection Department, said that most of the trees that had been destroyed weren't large. Initial survey shows that 50ha has been destroyed, 10 ha of which was protective forest.