Illegal logged timber is transported along the Da River in northern Dien Bien Province's Huoi So Commune of Tua Chua District. Local forestry officials claimed to be unaware of the situation. — VNA/VNS Photo Hai An

DIEN BIEN (VNS)— Under a hot afternoon sun in December, dozens of motorbikes carrying pieces of wood descend to the Huoi Long ferry in Tua Chua District's Huoi So Commune.

The motorbikes were carrying at least 40 planks, each is about 3-4m long and 20-30cm wide. The smell of wood makes it evident that they have recently been cut and milled.

For quite some time now, communal authorities have been struggling with the growing problem of locals logging across the Da River to meet their needs for housing, livestock fencing, and fuel.

The Da River runs from Yunnan Province in China, through Lai Chau, where it forms part of the border with Dien Bien Province, and into Son La and Hoa Binh provinces. The river's total length is 910km, with more than 520km of which lying within Vietnamese territory.

Since construction of the Son La Hydropower plant, residents of Huoi So Commune on both sides of the river have benefited from improved waterway transportation to Son La and Lai Chau.

But that has also made it easier for them to cut timber and carry it along the river.

Vietnam News Agency reporters who travelled to the area witnessed dozens of illegal logging areas from Huoi Long ferry to the central area of Huoi So Commune, about 15km away.

The deputy head of Tua Chua District's forestry bureau, Nguyen Van Hai, said he did not believe the illegal logging situation in the district was as bad as it was in some other areas.

"We have done what we can. If there's no direction from the district authorities, it's difficult for us," Hai said.

Huoi So Commune People's Committee Vice Chairman Ly A Chinh said that illegal logging has increased because many households in the area were relocating and building new homes.

Residents were supposed to inform the district's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development about the amount of wood they needed for construction but many had only informed the heads of their hamlets, Chinh said.

According to Tua Chua District's Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, a programme to provide housing for the poor under Government Decision 167 had concluded in December 2010 after building about 1,300 houses for the poor in the district. However, there has been no further housing support in the commune since that time.

Forestry officials in Tua Chua District said they were unaware of the situation.

At a conference held last week to review progress in forestry management, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Ha Cong Tuan called for stronger law enforcement and stricter penalties against criminal activity in the nation's forests, including complicity of forestry officials who function without full transparency.

Over 27,000 violations of forestry laws were detected in 2012 and about 3000ha of forest was lost in 2012 to illegal logging, the conference was told. — VNS