VietNamNet Bridge – A vast forest of ancient trees in Bac Tra My district of Quang Nam province has been chopped down by illegal lumberjacks and gold diggers. Meanwhile, local authorities say they have not been reported about this.

In order to reach out to the devastated forest, one had to travel more than 100 kilometres from Tam Ky City and then walk through some big slopes. Illegal lumberjacks has set up a cart-track which links to the wood sawing place, where mud always reaches above people’s knees, thus making it very difficult to access to the devastated area.

Local authorities: “we don’t know”

The pathway has been opened after a lot of big trees with the diameter of 0.5-1 meter were chopped down. Showing the timber lying on the earth, a local resident said: “The trees have been chopped down by the illegal lumberjacks and gold digger, so as to pave the way to the wood exploitation area and the gold digging place on the Lon River.”

When reporters appeared, it turned abnormally quiet. Some people disappeared into the jungle. A series of big trees which need to be embraced by three people were seen lying on the ground. Most of them were precious and valuable, including ironwood, bassia and teakwood.

In order to exploit the valuable ancient trees, illegal lumberjacks organize the groups of 10 and more people. They carry meals and drinks with themselves to the forest, where they set up tents and live there. Of course, they also bring specialized saws – the tool useful for them to chop down trees.

After illegal lumberjacks finish destroying a forest area, they would move for other areas where they continue their jobs. It is estimated that illegal lumberjacks can chop down one cubic meter of lumber every day.

While tens of big trees have been chopped down by illegal lumberjacks, local authorities still say they have not been reported about this. Especially, the house of Ho Van Tran, Deputy Chair of the Tra Ka commune people’s committee, is located right on the “illegal lumberjacks’ way.”

When asked if local authorities have heard about the serious forest devastation, Dang Phong, Chair of Bac Tra My district’s authorities, said: “I have heard about the forest devastation in Tra Ka commune of the Lon river valley already. However, we still have not got detailed information about the devastation level, therefore, we still cannot give exact answers right now.”

“If this happens, this should be attributed to the lack of forest rangers,” he added.

The river destroyed by illegal gold diggers

Not only the vast forests in Tra Ka commune, but the Lon river valley has also been destroyed. In the past, the river was green, while trees grew well and animals lived on the two sides of the river. At that time, people could easily wade across the river to the rice fields.

However, things have become quite different. Gold diggers have made the river 10 more meters deeper, which serves the gold digging. A lot of tents have been set up on the two banks of the river without any obstacles.

Local residents said that there are some groups of gold diggers working there, including the group headed by VN Hoang and PV Quag from Tam Thai Commune of Phu Ninh district, and a group headed by Duc and Thanh from Quang Ngai province

Since the day the Lon river has been controlled by gold diggers, the river valley has been cut into small pieces, while local residents in the downstream areas have to bear the red mud and the chemical substances used to select gold.

Dat Viet