VietNamNet Bridge - Illegal loggers continue to cut down trees, while more forest land is being cleared for tourism development or hydropower plants.

The reports from executive bodies presented at a conference on forest protection held in Nghe An province on March 17 showed that the forestry sector had ‘gained important achievements’.

The forest coverage has increased from 39.7 percent in 2011 to 40.84 percent in 2015, while the planted forest timber output has increased by 3.3 times, from 5.16 million cubic meters in 2011 to 17.3 million cubic meters in 2016, serving as an important material source for the wooden furniture industry.

The wood processing industry has been developing strongly with the participation of the investors from different economic sectors. There are about 3,500 enterprises in the field, mostly privately run and foreign-invested.

The wood processing industry has been developing strongly with the participation of the investors from different economic sectors. There are about 3,500 enterprises in the field, mostly privately run and foreign-invested.

The reports said that the violations of the laws on forest protection and development have been on the decrease. 

However, National Assembly’s deputies disagreed when discussing the draft law on amending the 2004 forest protection and development on March 16.

Chair of the National Assembly’s National Defence & Security Committee Vo Trong Viet said in the localities where he has visited, the forests had been devastated

Nguyen Van Dung, deputy director of PanNature, a non-government organization dedicated to protecting the environment, commented that the deforestation is getting more serious, and it is difficult to stop because of the high profits for illegal loggers. 

Truong Van Du, head of the forest rangers’ unit in Ea Sup district, said it is the high season for illegal loggers to fell trees, because it is easier to enter forests during the dry season.

Illegal logging is not the only threat against forests. Most recently, Central Highlands’ people have been worried about the implementation of Chu Pong Krong power plant.

The Dak Lak provincial authorities want to clear 5.41 hectares of SUF to make room for a hydropower plant on Krong No River. 

Tran Duc Thanh from the Central Highlands Steering Committee noted that the Prime Minister decided to close the natural forests, which says that forests will not be allowed to be used for project development, including projects which receive approval. 

News about forest devastation cases occurring throughout the country have appeared in newspapers recently. Deforestation has also been a hot item on the agenda of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee.

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