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Green rich forests, now listed as ‘poor forests’, were felled to make room for rubber and hydropower projects.
Since the government released the decision on developing rubber plantations in Central Highlands in 2009, local authorities have licensed 700 afforestation projects (planting forests, upgrading soil and growing rubber) on a total area of 215,720 hectares of forested land.
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Since the government released the decision on developing rubber plantations in Central Highlands in 2009, local authorities have licensed 700 afforestation projects (planting forests, upgrading soil and growing rubber) on a total area of 215,720 hectares of forested land. |
Dak Lak provincial authorities allowed 90 businesses to do field work on 104 projects planting forests, rubber and other crops. However, the projects have not been implemented.
Meanwhile, 10,000 hectares of forests have been devastated and appropriated.
Due to the careless survey, many rich forests in Dak Lak turned into poor forests and were allocated to businesses.
In 2010, Hoang Gia Phat Trade, Service and Import/Export was allocated 977 hectares of forested land in Wards 134 and 138 in Ea Jloi commune of Ea Sup district.
This included 193.5 hectares of poor forests reserved for rubber growing.
The allocated forest was listed as ‘poor’, but in fact, the density of forest trees is very thick. There are trees with the diameter of 15 - 60c, and many kinds of rare and precious wood.
People rushed to grow rubber even in areas with conditions unfavorable for rubber.
In Ea H’leo district of Dak Lak province, Hoang Nguyen Company and Tan Tien Investment JSC were assigned to grow rubber in the area, where there were dipterocarp forests with rocks and gravel.
After three years, Hoang Nguyen could only grow 80 hectares of rubber, but the quality of the rubber was very low.
Since 2010, Dak Nong province has allocated 31,600 hectares to investors to implement 41 agricultural and forestry projects. This includes 14,300 hectares of natural forests for management and protection.
Just several years later, 4,800 hectares of natural forests were destroyed, while 8,300 hectares of forested land were appropriated and tilled by locals.
In Tuy Duc district alone, three enterprises were found losing nearly all the forestland they were allocated, including Kien Truc Moi JSC (643.1 out of 924.7 hectares).
Most recently, the provincial authorities released a decision on forcing five enterprises in the province to pay compensation for VND13 billion for the lost forests.
In Gia Lai province, investors leased land to develop nine afforestation and livestock projects, but most of the projects have been ineffective.
Acacia grown by Le Khanh Import/Export JSC withered. Meanwhile, a large area of forestland has been appropriated by locals.
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