Clarifying the deforestation case on an area of ​​1.41 hectares in Lam Dong

On November 4, the leader of the People's Committee of Quang Lap commune said that he was requesting the Commune Police to clarify and consolidate the dossier to handle the group of subjects who illegally destroyed 1.41 hectares of forest at the end of October 2025. Previously, the People's Committee of the commune had invited the suspect to work, but the subject did not appear according to the invitation.

The damaged forest area according to preliminary inspection is 14,100 square meters. Photo: VNA

According to the report of Don Duong Forestry Company, on October 21, the company's specialized forest protection force organized a patrol at plot 7, sub-area 333A in the boundary of Quang Lap commune. Here, the force discovered 4 subjects committing illegal deforestation. When the force approached and used a mobile phone to record, the subjects discovered and ran away. Checking the scene, the patrol force seized a backpack containing a number of personal items including 3 hand saw casings, a wallet containing personal documents including 2 citizen identification cards in the names of Ms. Ma K. and Mr. Va Nhong Ng.

On October 22, the company's professional agency used equipment to delineate the damaged area, initially determining the damaged area to be 1.41 hectares (14,100 m2); of which 1,300 m2 of forest was illegally destroyed; 12,800 m2 of low-level forest trees were cut down, and shrubs were cleared under the canopy of large forest trees. The volume of damaged forest products, through preliminary measurements over the entire area of ​​violation, was 76.2 m3 with 382 large forest trees cut down.

After discovering the incident, Don Duong Forestry Company Limited coordinated with the authorities and local authorities to invite the subjects to fight and handle the case in accordance with the law. On October 23, the People's Committee of Quang Lap commune invited Ms. Ma K. to work (the invitation was given to the subject in person), but the subject did not show up to work according to the invitation.

The leader of the People's Committee of Quang Lap commune said that the authorities then summoned the subject to the People's Committee headquarters for questioning. Currently, the local government is assigning the Commune Police to continue to investigate and consolidate the case file for handling according to the law.

According to the reporter's investigation, the area that was destroyed belongs to the protected forest. This area is located near P'ro Lake, where many organizations and individuals are building tourism models. Public opinion suspects that the 4 subjects above are just hired workers, not the masterminds in the above incident.

According to information from the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Lam Dong province, in October 2025, in Lam Dong province, there are 2 localities that are hot in the situation of deforestation for illegal mineral exploitation, deforestation to occupy land in forests and forestry land. Those are Quang Lap commune (old Don Duong district area) and Ta Nang commune (old Duc Trong district area), the hottest situation is deforestation for illegal gold mining.

Based on the report of the Forest Protection Department on the two communes of Quang Lap and Ta Nang, on October 24, 2025, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of the province issued Document No. 5073/SNNMT-KL on strengthening the management of mineral resources associated with the management and protection of forests in the province. The Department requested the Provincial Police to direct professional departments and commune-level police to strengthen the situation control, detection, investigation and handling of illegal exploitation, transportation and trading of minerals, especially in hot spots and border areas; at the same time, organize inspections and strictly and decisively handle cases of illegal mineral exploitation occurring in Quang Lap and Ta Nang communes.

Leaders of People's Committees of communes, wards and special zones are required to direct local functional forces to closely monitor changes in minerals and forests, ensure timely detection, prevention and handling of violations; resolutely and strictly handle cases of deliberately exploiting minerals to destroy forests, encroach, occupy and destroy forest land;

The location of the deforestation is near P'ro lake area, where there are many private tourism models in Lam Dong province. Photo: VNA

Forest owners are required to increase the application of digital technology, flycam equipment, and combine remote sensing image monitoring to closely monitor changes in forest resources and forestry land; promptly detect, prevent and handle violations occurring in the assigned forest areas for management...

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/xa-hoi/lam-ro-vu-pha-rung-tren-dien-tich-141-ha-o-lam-dong-20251104122331860.htm