Cameras to be used to protect Gia Lai forest

Authorities in Gia Lai Province have suggested installing cameras to protect the local forest.

  

Gia Lai forest destroyed by loggers

The forest in Hra Commune, Mang Yang District has recently been heavily damaged. The site is only 5km away from Hra Commune People's Committee's headquarters, yet the local authorities said they didn't know anything.

According to a report released at the meeting, eight crates of timber have recently been seized. The authorities then discovered 24 newly-cut trees with diameters of 15-67cm.The police have detained four suspects and seized timber, four motorbikes and one sawing machine. The investigation is being expanded.

Mang Yang District People's Committee ordered the police and forest rangers to search for the loggers and investigate the case.

Tran Dinh Hiep, party secretary of Mang Yang District, said, "We have asked to review the patrol schedules of the teams in 12 communes. Individuals and units that showed lax management have been reprimanded."

Several solutions have been proposed including creating ditches and installing cameras at vulnerable locations. The CCTV cameras will help authorities notice if there are any suspicious people in the forest, especially in areas with valuable trees.

Mang Yang Forest Protection Department will complete the procedures and make a proposal to allocate the forest to the villagers of De Kon or the Management Board of Ha Ra Protection Forest to manage and help to monitor the forest.

Tran Thanh Tuan, Chairman of Hra People's Committee, said, "We lack personnel to patrol the forest."

Hra Commune People's Committee said they would hold a meeting with the Management Board of Ha Ra Forest, MDF Company and Kong Chieng Forestry Company to discuss the best way to protect the forest.