Forest devastation continues as agencies neglect their jobsVietNamNet Bridge - The deforestation cases found recently, including 10,000 hectares in Quang Tri province, the fokienia forest devastation in Quang Nam province, and the use of 575 hectares of forest for a husbandry project in Binh Phuoc province, all show problems at supervising agencies. The deforestation cases found recently, including 10,000 hectares in Quang Tri province, the fokienia forest devastation in Quang Nam province, and the use of 575 hectares of forest for a husbandry project in Binh Phuoc province, all show problems at supervising agencies. FAO once ranked Vietnam second in the world in the number of primitive forest devastation cases, just after Nigeria. From 2008 to 2013, the Central Highlands lost 130,000 hectares of forest, including 107,400 hectares of natural forest and 22,200 hectares of planted forest.A report released at a conference in June discussing solutions to restore forests in the Central Highlands held showed that in 2010-2014, the forestland in five provinces of the Central Highlands fell by 180,000 hectares. Another large volume of fokienia wood was also found hidden on the grounds of the Nam Giang border gate customs agency.Deputy chair of Quang Nam province Le Tri Thanh said the illegal loggers in these cases may have been under the protection of high-ranking officials.

Source: VietNamNet News September 06, 2016 00:45 UTC