Forests in the Central Highlands region are shrinking rapidly,losing nearly 130,000 hectares during the 2007-12 period due toshortcomings in management and protection.

The figure was provided by the Directorate of Forestry, which is calling for drastic measures to solve the situation.

Asa result, the natural forest acreage in the central highlands provincesincluding Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, and Lam Dong, is nowonly 1.8 million hectares, according to the Directorate's report.

DakLak province over the past five years discovered over 9,000 violationsof forest protection regulations, damaging 8,533 hectares of forests.Meanwhile, nearly 6,000 cases have been reported in Kon Tum.

Serious deforestation also occurred in Gia Lai province.

Accordingto Nguyen Thi Tra, from Gia Lai province's Union of Science andTechnology Associations, the loss of forests in the province as well asin the region resulted from the conversion of forestland to rubberplantations without concerted management among related ministries anddepartments.

Nearly 8,000 hectares of forests, consequently, had been eliminated completely, she added.

Unofficialstatistical data revealed that the Central Highlands so far has grantedlicences to 700 forestry projects, covering an area of 216,000hectares, including 100,000 hectares for rubber plantation.

However,lack of budget as well as irresponsibility of many project owners pavedthe way for serious forest destruction and encroachment.

Insufficiencyof staff is also blamed for the destruction as 56 forestry companieswere assigned to manage up to one million hectares of forests throughoutthe region.

Besides, local authorities' loose managementof 1,500 wood processing enterprises is another cause leading to illegallogging of natural forests.-VNA