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VietNamNet Bridge - The 7,100-hectare Khe Ro primeval forest in Bac Giang province’s Tay Yen Tu Natural Sanctuary is becoming bare in areas as its ancient trees have been chopped down by illegal loggers.
When reporters, who posed as ecotourists, asked about the way to the primeval forest, local residents said they feared the forest would disappear one day because it is “being slaughtered” every day.
From Na O Hamlet of An Lac Commune, they had to follow a zigzagging trail to go to the forest.
As soon as they reached the forest edge in Khau Mu area, numerous people on motorbikes heavily laden with precious wood were being carried away for sale.
Many large ironwood tree trunks were seen against the wall on the roadside, while groups of men were seen sawing the tree trunks nearby.
Before leaving for the forest, the travelers were told to be cautious with the rugged terrain there, but were surprised when they saw the smooth trails.
The trails might have become worn because of the footsteps of the illegal loggers who go in and out of the forest regularly to carry wood away for sale.
As the travelers went further into the forest, they saw more ancient trees felled and lying on the ground. The loggers saw the trees and make bars of wood to carry away.
There was no forest ranger or policeman in the forest.
There were only strong young men gazing at the strangers who appeared in the forest.
Though the reporters wished to go further to explore more about illegal logging, they had to go out of the forest as they met aggressive men with knives on hands who tried to block their way.
The “tour guide” told reporters that illegal loggers usually carry wood from Khau Chon to Khau Mu and then to places in Na O Hamlet, from which it is carried to An Lac.
“Traders come directly to the wood warehouses in the commune to see the wood and make transactions,” he explained.
An ironwood plate two meters long can be sold for up to VND10 million.
Tay Yen Tu Natural Sanctuary, which belongs to the Yen Tu relic and scenic site, one of three important relic sites in the Yen Tu landscape, is located in Bac Giang and Quang Ninh provinces.
The primeval forest in An Lac commune (Son Dong district) has 236 species of plants and 255 precious medicinal herb species. There are 37 species of mammals, 73 birds, and 18 reptiles, including seven species of rare animals.
Dai Doan Ket
From Na O Hamlet of An Lac Commune, they had to follow a zigzagging trail to go to the forest.
As soon as they reached the forest edge in Khau Mu area, numerous people on motorbikes heavily laden with precious wood were being carried away for sale.
Many large ironwood tree trunks were seen against the wall on the roadside, while groups of men were seen sawing the tree trunks nearby.
Before leaving for the forest, the travelers were told to be cautious with the rugged terrain there, but were surprised when they saw the smooth trails.
The trails might have become worn because of the footsteps of the illegal loggers who go in and out of the forest regularly to carry wood away for sale.
As the travelers went further into the forest, they saw more ancient trees felled and lying on the ground. The loggers saw the trees and make bars of wood to carry away.
There was no forest ranger or policeman in the forest.
There were only strong young men gazing at the strangers who appeared in the forest.
Though the reporters wished to go further to explore more about illegal logging, they had to go out of the forest as they met aggressive men with knives on hands who tried to block their way.
The “tour guide” told reporters that illegal loggers usually carry wood from Khau Chon to Khau Mu and then to places in Na O Hamlet, from which it is carried to An Lac.
“Traders come directly to the wood warehouses in the commune to see the wood and make transactions,” he explained.
An ironwood plate two meters long can be sold for up to VND10 million.
Tay Yen Tu Natural Sanctuary, which belongs to the Yen Tu relic and scenic site, one of three important relic sites in the Yen Tu landscape, is located in Bac Giang and Quang Ninh provinces.
The primeval forest in An Lac commune (Son Dong district) has 236 species of plants and 255 precious medicinal herb species. There are 37 species of mammals, 73 birds, and 18 reptiles, including seven species of rare animals.
Dai Doan Ket
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