The scene of forest destruction in Ya Tờ Mốt Commune, Ea Súp District, the Central Highlands province of Đắk Lắk. — VNA/VNS Photo Tuấn Anh

HÀ NỘI — Deputy Prime Minister Lê Văn Thành has asked ministries and localities to strengthen forest management and protection, and deal with illegal deforestation and encroachment on forest land.

In the Direction 05/CT-TTg sent to localities on Wednesday, Deputy PM Thành said that in recent years, ministries and localities have actively strengthened forest protection and development and stabilised people's lives.

However, violations related to forests in some provinces were still complicated. Many large-scale illegal deforestation cases have occurred, causing damage to forests, affecting the environment and causing public concern.

To effectively prevent deforestation and implement international commitments at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, the Government requested provinces and cities to strictly manage forests.

They must closely coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) in completing the National Forestry Master Plan for 2021-30, with a vision to 2050, to strict and effectively manage forests.

Violations related to forest protection must receive timely and serious punishment.

Provinces and cities must direct the forest rangers to examine and evaluate the entire natural forest area to promptly detect, prevent and strictly handle acts of encroachment on forests.

MARD continues to advise competent authorities to issue policies to improve forest management efficiency and coordinate with central and local authorities to strengthen inspection and handling of large-scale and complex violations of forest management and protection.

Concerned organisations should apply modern and high technology in forest management and protection, and in early detection of forest loss and fires.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment must urgently review and complete regulations to manage land, strengthen inspection, and prevent and handle cases of improper land use.

The Ministry of Public Security will assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with MARD and other competent agencies in investigating and strictly handling illegal deforestation and encroachment on forest land, especially in coastal provinces and the Central Highlands.

They will direct and support localities to investigate and strictly punish criminal cases related to forests, especially forest destruction. — VNS