Although the controversial tourism development plan for the Son Tra Peninsula in Danang City is still waiting for final approval from the prime minister, a vast area of forest has already been cleared and illegally posted no entry signs are apparent.

A No entry sign is put at a forest area on Son Tra Peninsula 

Following reports from local people, reporters from Lao Dong (Labour) Newspaper arrived at the Son Tra Nature Reserve and saw ‘forest plants, No entry’ signs in several areas.

In the eastern side of Son Tra Mountain, No entry signs are also seen up along the entrance to Truong Mai Resort. Trees have also been felled in the forest.

The same scene was also found on the northern side of the peninsula where hundreds of hectares of forest have been cleared for half a month to make way for new roads. 

A local people, Tran Van Hoang, said that he visited Son Tra very often but was angry when being banned from the forest recently. 

Forest trees are cut down

"Why do they ban us? I don't know who put up these boards but until the plan is approved, the forest is for everyone," Hoang said.

"We see that the banned areas are all in the development plan, and it looks like the plan has been approved already," Hoang added.

Many local people are complaining about fire danger following the forest cutting in the dry season. Fears have also been raised as the living area of wild animals in the forest is being narrowed.

Meanwhile, authorities in Son Tra District People's Committee said that they have only heard about the situation and would carry out an investigation.

dtinews