VietNamNet Bridge – As much as 257 ha of protected forest in Ninh Tay Commune, in the central province of Khanh Hoa, was illegally handed over to an individual to develop a goat farm and build a house in March.

Illegal constructions in the protected forest area in Ninh Tay Commune, Ninh Hoa Town in the central province of Khanh Hoa. — Photo vov.vn

The illegal forest allocation made by the Ninh Hoa Commune’s Protected Forest Management Board was uncovered last month thanks to media reports.

Nguyen Thanh Cong Tuan, from Cam Ranh, was allocated 257 ha of protected forest for protection and management but instead developed a goat farm and built a house in the forest area.

Late last month, Khanh Hoa Province’s Agriculture and Rural Development Department examined the forest allocation decision and then asked the forest management board to annul the deal with Tuan. He was ordered to move the goat farm out of the forest area.

Le Tan Ban, director of the agriculture department said the forest management board decided to allocate the protected forest area to Tuan without reporting it to the department. This was why the violation had not been detected until now.

The public is concerned about this case because few people from ethnic groups in the localities are benefiting from Government policy on forest allocation in which they should have been allocated forest area for protection, management, use and poverty reduction.

Ninh Tay Commune has over 420 ha of protected forest with many kinds of precious timber but for years, violations relating to timber logging and forest land use have been reported.

Source: VNS