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Deforestation continues as agencies blame each other
Reporters recently departed from Border Guard Station No 741 of the Dak Lak Provincial Border Guards, and after an hour, reached the area where forests have been destroyed, located in sub-zone 408 of Yak Don National Park.
On the way, they saw many small trees on the ground that may have been felled by illegal loggers to open a path to carry wood out of the forests.
Going deep into the forest and crossing a dried up stream, the reporters saw two go do trees (Afzelia xylocarpa) on the ground, each of which had diameter of 60-80 cm, cut into many logs.
There were also dozens of felled precious trees on one hectare, and wood plates ready to be carried away.
A report from the Yok Don National Park showed that on January 26, the Forest Rangers’ Unit No 8, during patrol, discovered deforestation in sub-zone 408.
They discovered 23 felled trees, including 19 go do (Afzelia xylocarpa), two cam lai (Dalbergia) and one sao den (Hopea odorata). The total amount of wood left on the site was 45 cubic meters.
| Illegal loggers have been using motor saws in Yok Don National Park and felling dozens of precious trees for a long time. But no agency has taken responsibility for the deforestation. |
Sub-zone 408 is located in an area adjacent to the border line with Cambodia, put under control of the Border Guard Station No 741. This is the forbidden border belt area. However, illegal loggers can penetrate the area and cut trees.
Pham Tuan Linh, deputy director of Yok Don National Park, admitted that the park’s management board, as the forest owner, has to take responsibility for the deforestation.
However, he stressed that the forbidden area is under the strict control of the border troops. Ordinary people and forest rangers must get permission from border troops to enter the area. Therefore, it is not the national park which must take major responsibility in this case, he said.
“We are waiting for the conclusions about damage assessment to be released by the Dak Lak provincial forest rangers’ unit before carrying out prosecution and an investigation,” Linh said.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Mai The Bui, Chief of the Dak Lak Border Guard Command, said the area where the forest was devastated, about 5-6 km from the border guard station, is not a ‘border belt area’, but a ‘border area’ where people are allowed to enter.
He said the forest owner must take main responsibility, while the army is in charge of national security.
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