VietNamNet Bridge – Forest rangers of Phu Quoc National Park forest protection unit discovered that almost 10,000sq.m of forests were destroyed in Ganh Dau Commune, Phu Quoc Island District.

Almost 10,000 sq forest in Ganh Dau Commune in Phu Quoc Island District are destroyed as a local resident wants to sell land. — Photo tienphong.vn

Head of the forest rangers unit Tra Tho said encroachers used an excavator to cut the trees.

Nguyen Thi Cong, a local resident, reportedly said she had hired the excavator to clear the trees because she thought the land belonged to her family.

She said she asked a relative to help her get the land-use right certificate over the plot.

Forest rangers seized the excavator and fined Cong VND50 million (US$2,300).

Police are investigating the case to decide whether to prosecute the encroachers or not.

Phu Quoc Island in the southern Kien Giang Province has 29,596ha of special-use forests and more than seven 7,000ha of protected forests.

VNS