VietNamNet Bridge - In 2014-2015 alone, 104 huong (Pterocarpus) trees, listed in Group 1, the group of precious wood, were chopped down by illegal loggers in Kbang district of Gia Lai province. In mid-November 2015, three others were felled with the ‘support’ of Krong Pa Company’s officers.

 

 

In 2014-2015 alone, 104 huong (Pterocarpus) trees, listed in Group 1, the group of precious wood, were chopped down by illegal loggers in Kbang district of Gia Lai province.

The forest in Kbang district has been attracting illegal loggers for many years. 

In the forestland area under the Krong Pa Forestry Company, which has mostly Pterocarpus trees, illegal loggers have been ‘protected’ by the company. Therefore, they can easily do what they want. 

More than 300 cubic meters of precious wood have been taken away by illegal loggers. However, the director of the company was only reprimanded for the lost precious wood and has moved to the Gia Lai provincial Forestry Sub-department, where he works at the forest protection division.

The deforestation continued the day a new director took the office. 

Report No 237 dated November 18 from the Kbang district’s Forest Rangers’ Unit showed that the unit found in Ward 90 and Ward 93 two Pterocarpus trees, with the length of 7 meters and stump with a diameter of nearly one meter, which had been felled. 

The forest rangers believed the trees had been chopped down just for a short time before the rangers discovered them, as the leaves were about to wither. Illegal loggers had taken away core timber, while 2,682 cubic meters of timber were found on the site. 

Illegal loggers escaped amid the powerless forest protectors.

No one can explain why no culprit involved in the cutting of 104 huong trees has been found.

The forest rangers in the locality said the struggle with illegal loggers involves bloodshed. The illegal loggers are so aggressive that they are willing to attack the police to rescue accomplices.

On December 14 night, Krong Commune People’s Committee and Krong Pa Company officials caught redhanded Ha Van Quy and Tran Duc Tuan when they sawed 5 cubic meters of timber.

Just one day later, seven men attacked the policemen and the officers on the way of escorting two loggers to the district agency in an attempt to rescue them.

No one can explain why no culprit involved in the cutting of 104 huong trees has been found.

Director of the Krong Pa Forestry Company Vo Ngo reported that illegal loggers have escaped in the darkness. Meanwhile, deputy chair of Krong Commune Dinh Ble said the team has not found the subjects.

Kbang District Party Committee Secretary Truong Van Dat, who had to come to the site in person to lead the investigation, said some officers of the Krong Pa Forestry Company have lent a hand to illegal loggers.

There are 303 Pterocarpus trees left in the Kbang forest.

 

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Lao Dong