The Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee on Friday asked the authorities in Bao Lam District to temporarily suspend the chairmen of Loc Phu and Loc Ngai communes while investigating their responsibilities in the poisoning of over 250 pine trees in a local forest.
In their document sent to Bao Lam District and other localities, the committee stressed that from now on, the leaders of communes and wards would be suspended if forest destruction occurs in their areas.
The committee has also asked for intensified inspection of forest management in the whole province and strict punishment of any violations.
During a patrol in early July, local forest rangers discovered that a total of 252 pine trees were dying from herbicide poisoning in an area of 8,300 square metres. The trees had drilled holes of between 10-15 cm and herbicides poured into them.
The forest area is managed by Dam Bri Protective Forest Management Board and a local firm. Some 103 trees are recovering after receiving care and treatment.
Lam Dong Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has asked for an investigation into the case. The department noted that the situation might have been caused by lax management by local authorities and the collusion of local officials.
There have been similar recent cases in the province where Illegal loggers have cut down, burnt, or used chemicals to poison the trees to use the forest land for farming.
Earlier in 2019, over 300 pine trees in Bao Lam District and over 3,000 others in Lam Ha District were also killed.
