Police in Gia Lai Province are investigating the destruction of a pine forest in Ayun commune, the head of the Gia Lai Protection Forest Management Board said on November 11.
The diameter of the felled pine stumps ranged from 50cm to 70cm (Photo: Kien Le).
According to a report by the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment, the illegal logging was discovered on October 16 in Sub-area 438, which is managed by the Gia Lai Protection Forest Management Board.
An inspection found that nearly 700 pine trees had been felled. The entire affected area was planted with pine trees in 1998 and designated as a protection forest under the board's management.
Sections of protected pine forest were cut down by illegal loggers (Photo: Pham Hoang).
At the scene, numerous decades-old trees had been cut down, leaving behind only stumps measuring 50-70cm in diameter.
A series of pine trees planted in 1998 were cut down, leaving only stumps and branches at the scene (Photo: Pham Hoang).
The board's head said authorities were investigating the case to determine the full extent of the damage and identify those responsible.
The provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment has also instructed its subordinate units to step up patrols and inspections in the forests under their management, and to detect and prevent violations as soon as they emerge.
