Admitting his mistake, the business owner who encroached on coconut groves in Hoi An says he will replant the affected areas.

A passenger pick-up point in the Cam Thanh coconut forest - Photo: BD

Mr. Le Van Nhuc (commonly known as Nhut), director of Cam Thanh Coconut Forest Ecotourism Company Limited, said that the extended structures will be dismantled. At the same time, all the debris dumped in the coconut forest will be removed and young coconut trees will be planted to restore the area.

* The Cam Thanh coconut forest not only has immense value in terms of habitat and environment, but it is also a source of livelihood for the community. Why would a business providing services right within the coconut forest destroy it?

- Mr. LE VAN NHUC: I am aware of the value of the coconut forest, but because I was impatient and there were many tourists at that time, I expanded and encroached on the land to create seating for visitors.

Why did he cut down the coconut trees and build a concrete and steel frame structure in the mangrove forest?

- I accept responsibility for all my mistakes and hope to rectify the consequences. The encroached and expanded area was mostly vacant land with no coconut trees. I only destroyed a small portion.

Debris and rocks are dumped onto the Cam Thanh coconut forest for illegal construction - Photo: BD

* Specifically, what is the exact amount of land encroached upon by the new land filling? What is the remaining area that was already there?

- I expanded and encroached on approximately 60 square ^meters . The remaining more than 200 square ^meters is an illegally constructed house located on land without forest cover. I renovated it to make it larger to accommodate guests.

* Now that the coconut forest has been cleared and houses have sprung up, how will the business remedy the situation?

- I deeply regret my actions and was unaware of the serious consequences. My understanding of the law was insufficient.

After the commune officials came down to draw up a report on the afternoon of March 19th, tonight and tomorrow (March 20th) I will focus on dismantling all the illegally constructed space.

The newly added soil will cover some of the coconut trees, and I will have an excavator remove it as well. Then, I will replant all the lost coconut trees.

I only hope that the authorities will give me a chance to correct my mistakes and be able to work and support my family.

The commune chairman said there was no deforestation, then was surprised by the current situation.

As reported by Tuoi Tre Online , in the early afternoon of March 19th at the headquarters of the Cam Thanh Commune People's Committee, Mr. Tran Chien - the commune chairman - firmly asserted to a Tuoi Tre Online reporter that there was no destruction of the Cam Thanh coconut forest.

However, just about an hour later, when the reporter requested to visit the restaurant of Cam Thanh Coconut Forest Tourism and Ecology Company Limited to witness the scene, Mr. Chien and the commune officials agreed.

Seeing rocks and soil piled up on the coconut forest, causing trees to lean precariously, Mr. Chien admitted that the current situation is "very different from before, and there is a lot of illegal construction."

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nhan-sai-chu-doanh-nghiep-lan-rung-dua-o-hoi-an-noi-se-trong-khoi-phuc-phan-rung-bi-lap-20240319213053031.htm