Illegal loggers devastate Lam Dong forest

The pine forest in Bao Lam District of Lam Dong Province has been severely impacted as trees in a 20ha area have been cleared in recent years.

"Some pine stumps have been burnt to erase traces of the chopping but others still show fresh saw cuts."

"We witnessed people hoeing land to cultivate cassava or coffee trees in the exact area the pine trees once stood," said the reporter.

The 20ha area is part of the 1,000ha pine forest that was afforested by the French in the early 20th century. The Bao Lam Forest Management Unit was finally given land control rights after years of ineffective management by local people and companies.

Forest management staff member Hoang Van Cu said there were many illegal loggers with very sophisticated and ferocious deforestation tactics. Typically, loggers drill into the wood and fill the holes with acid or pesticides that kill the trees before they are cut down.

"They worked at night in groups, so that we could not control the situation," said Cu.

Chairman of the nearby Tan Lam Commune's People's Committee Pham Minh Chien said most illegal loggers were local residents. More than 10 households have built houses or cultivated land illegally in the forest area.

"Illegal loggers usually cut the pine trees down very fast using a saw and then transport the wood in large trucks to areas where they can be chopped into smaller pieces," said Chien.

"Loggers have not received any reaction from the sector management unit."

Chien said the Bao Lam economic police and forest management staffs had inspected and worked with the local authorities and residents on several occasions, but illegal logging was still an issue.

Mineral exploitation harms environment

Illegal exploitation of stones and minerals in the Tay Nguyen (Central Highland) Dak Lak Province has caused environmental pollution and a waste of natural resources.

Only 60 out of 335 businesses, units and individuals in the province have licences for mineral exploitation.

Illegal mineral exploitation in combination with mine explosions have destroyed many mountains and forests.

Energy saving projects win ‘Green' competition

An energy saving project involving neon lights, an "intelligent" street light savings management system and making "half-organic" coal from waste won prizes in the final round of the "Green Ideas 2010" contest organised on Saturday in HCM City.

A group of students in Ha Noi won the top prize money of VND30 million (US$1,400) for a project that will develop a machine to save 30 per cent of energy used for neon lighting systems in schools, offices and workshops.

The "Intelligent saving management system" project submitted by Nguyen Thanh Phuong from HCM City won the VND20 million second prize. It aims to control street lighting systems after 10pm by using light, movement and sound censors to turn them on and off.

The third prize of VND15 million was taken by a group of students from Ha Noi who came up with a project to make "half-organic coal" from waste produced by a guild village. The students plan to mix coal and waste from cattle to create a new kind of fuel.

This year's "Green Ideas" contest focused on how to sustainably use energy by looking for new, practical and effective solutions to use recycled and renewable energy. It aimed to increase community awareness of the need to save energy and come up with coping strategies for climate change.

Apart from the prize money, the winners will get financial support of up to VND250 million ($12,000) per project from Toyota Motors Viet Nam to implement it and bring into daily life.

Ninh Thuan to build waste incinerators

An Giang Plant Protection Services Company in southern Ninh Thuan Province plans to build three incinerators, which will be the first in the province.

Accordingly, two incinerators would be built in Nhu Binh and Hoai Trung hamlets in Phuoc Thai Commune and the other in Phuoc Hau Commune to burn empty pesticide containers in the paddy fields. Each incinerator is 140cm high and 120cm wide and costs VND7 million (US$325).

The incinerators aim to limit the habit of it throwing away bottles containing leftover chemicals, which have polluted water resources, as well as to boost people's awareness of environmental protection.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News