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| Police investigate logs cut down in Chư Păh forest. — Photo vov.vn |
Viet Nam News
GIA LAI — The People’s Committee of Gia Lai Province on Tuesday asked local authorities to investigate and prosecute lumberjacks operating in the northeast Chư Păh forest region.
The Central Highlands province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the People’s Committee of Chư Păh District have been asked to conduct investigations and submit a report by February 20.
Before the Tết (Lunar New Year) holidays in the end of January, the northwest Chư Păh forest management board had caught two people red-handed while they were transporting timber out of the forest using two oxen.
At least 73 logs that had been cut down were found in forest zone No 174. However, on the morning of February 1, 20 armed people had stolen 45 of the 73 logs. The remaining 28 logs are still there in zone 174.
This is the second incident of timber theft recorded in Gia Lai Province in the past six months. The first one took place in Ia Grai District’s Ia Chia Commune, which shares a border with Kon Tum Province. However, the stolen timber was seized.
The border areas between Gia Lai and Kon Tum provinces have recently become a hot spot for deforestation. The two provinces’ forest management forces have stepped up patrol to prevent the cutting down of trees. — VNS
