VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) plans to check on forest rangers throughout the nation, especially in the central and Central Highland areas.
This follows recent reports that some forest managers are in league with thieves illegally destroying the forests for profit.

Early this month, two forest managers from the central province of Nghe An's Pu Huong Nature Reserve were caught aiding thieves cutting down hundreds of trees.

The country has more than 11,000 forest managers, according to statistics of MARD's Viet Nam Administration of Forestry.

Chief inspector of MARD Pham Van Hien told the Nong thon ngay nay (Countryside Today newspaper) that the ministry had set up inspection teams to check on forest managers in central Ha Tinh and Quang Binh provinces.

Two forest managers have already been caught helping forest thieves. Details are yet to be announced.

Hien said that after the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, inspectors would focus on Central Highlands Dak Lak and Dak Nong provinces, where many trees have been stolen.

He added that a scheme to rotate forest managers from region to region was needed to prevent them from joining the illegal loggers.

Hien said inter-commune and inter-district forest protection forces should be set up to strengthen the capacity of rangers.

Nguyen Dinh Xuan, director of the Lo Go-Xa Mat National Park in the southern province of Tay Ninh, said inspections should be held regularly to detect violations.

"MARD has left it so late to set up inspections," he said.

Deputy director of the Viet Nam Administration of Forestry Ha Cong Tuan said violators would be strictly punished.

"I hope that people will help and encourage forest managers in the struggle against those destroying forests," he said.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News