On May 6, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Gia Lai province said that it had directed the Provincial Forest Protection Department and the Phu My Protection Forest Management Board (Phu My Protection Forest Management Board - forest owner) to verify and clarify the area of planted forest in plot 1a, sub-zone 166 (Phu My Tay commune) being destroyed and converted to crops contrary to regulations.
This forest area was invested by the State from 1998 under Project 661, with cashew trees, black muong trees and acacia trees. However, the contracted household arbitrarily destroyed it to plant other trees.
In particular, the Department requested to clarify the damage to state capital sources, determine the responsibility of the collective leadership of Phu My Nature Reserve Management Board and related individuals.
Assigning the Provincial Forest Protection Department to direct the Phu My Regional Forest Protection Department to coordinate with the Phu My Tay Commune People's Committee to verify the fact that Mr. Bui Van Thang - former Director of Phu My District Forest Protection Department (old) - signed a contract to contract forests to Mr. Dinh Ba Trang (resident of Phu My Nam commune), but in fact Mr. Thang was the one who directly managed, exploited and benefited.
At the same time, clarify the origin of the planted forest area invested by the contractor household from 2007, until 2012, Mr. Thang proceeded to exploit, then continued to invest in planting forests and exploited about 2,420m2 on a total area of 3.6ha in plot 1a.
If signs of violations of land law or taking advantage of positions and powers to occupy land for personal use are detected, propose handling according to regulations," the leader of Gia Lai Provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment requested.
Phu My Forest Protection Management Board is responsible for providing dossiers and documents, coordinating with Phu My Regional Forest Protection Department to verify the case. At the same time, determine the cause, clarify the responsibilities of relevant individuals and collectives and propose remedial solutions.
As Lao Dong Newspaper has reported, in 1998, Deo Nhong Agro-Forestry Farm (now Phu My Forest Protection Management Board) implemented protection forest planting in plot 1a, sub-zone 166 with state budget capital.
In the period 2000-2007, Deo Nhong Agro-Forestry Farm signed contracts to subcontract to 2 households, and then liquidated them. From 2008 to 2012, the forest area was directly managed by Phu My Forest Protection Management Board, not subcontracted to anyone.
Project 661 ended in 2010, but on January 5, 2012, Mr. Thang - then Director of the old Phu My District Forest Protection Management Board - still signed a contract to subcontract 3.6ha of forest to Mr. Trang. However, in reality, Mr. Thang was the one who directly managed, exploited and benefited from this planted forest area, Mr. Trang only signed the contract.
In 2020, Mr. Trang proposed to return the contracted area, but Mr. Thang did not liquidate the contract as prescribed, continuing to maintain it to legalize exploitation and benefit himself.
Mr. Thang's continued exploitation, investment in afforestation and benefiting without being prevented reveals signs of lax management. The responsibility belongs to the leadership of Phu My Nature Reserve Management Board and related individuals through each stage.
Regarding the area of 2,420m2 of planted forest after 2012, functional agencies determined that Mr. Thang invested capital himself, without using the State budget, so there is not enough basis to handle the act of illegally exploiting planted forests. However, Mr. Thang's occupation of land under the management of Phu My Forest Protection Management Board for personal use shows signs of violating land law.
