According to the Hue Forest Protection Department, the pine trees in the protection forest of Thuy Xuan Ward were drilled with holes and poisoned by vandals, causing mass deaths. Tien Phong Forestry One Member Limited Company manages the forest.
Hundreds of old pine trees that have withered and died, amid suspicions of sabotage (Photo by Vi Thao)
Many of the pine trees have already withered, with yellowing leaves, dried trunks and branches, and very low chances of recovery. Most of them bore a drilled hole near the base, indicating signs of chemical poisoning.
The ravaged pine area sits along the Cam Lo-La Son Expressway, over a one-kilometre stretch of residences, amid industrial acacia plantations.
Local authorities are investigating the mass deaths of pine trees (Photo by Vi Thao)
Authorities have cordoned off the site to serve the investigation and track down those responsible for the pine forest sabotage.
On August 18, forest rangers in Hue City found 120 resin pines aged 31-45 years in Thuy Xuan Ward had been drilled and poisoned.
In mid-June, Tien Phong Forestry One Member Limited Company also discovered six resin pine trees along the road to Khai Dinh Mausoleum in Thuy Xuan Ward that were similarly destroyed by being drilled and poisoned.