Bắc Trà My District rangers in Quảng Nam Province discover illegal deforestation in Nước Oa River's forest. Photo baomoi.com

QUẢNG NAM — The central province of Quảng Nam’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) has reported that Bắc Trà My District rangers in co-ordination with the provincial forest management office and local police are rushing to investigate reportedly illegal deforestation in the locality.

The illegal deforestation incidents occurred at Nước Oa River’s upstream forest in Bắc Trà My District. The acts have been recently reported by local media.

A DARD official said the provincial forest management office is working with Bắc Trà My District’s Protective Forest Management Board, as well as the people's committees of three communes where the illegal deforestation occurred, to inspect the scene.

At least 16 trees were chopped down in the protective forest in the area between the district's Trà Giác, Trà Tân, Trà Sơn communes, local media reported.

Rangers also found many trees cut into small pieces in streams and at the forest's edge. At the scene, rangers seized 26cu.m of timber.

Lê Trọng Trung, DARD Director, said recent deforestation incidents showed the shortcomings of forest management and protection work by relevant agencies.

The violation occurred in the protection forest near the Nước Oa hydroelectricity plant, however the plant has been slow to provide information to the local authorities. — VNS