Thua Thien-Hue (VNA) - Police and forest rangers of Hue city in the central province of Thua Thien-Hueare in co-operation to identify the persons who illegally cut down 3,000sq.m ofspecial-use pine forest last month.

The police seized several cubic metresof wood and many other tools at home of some suspected people to supportfurther investigation.

In late August, an inspection team madean inspection of the management and use of forest and forestry land in An Tay wardand discovered 3,000sq.m of pine forest had been cut down.

The 254 trees illegally cut down wereperennial trees aged above 30 years old.

The special pine forest was plantedfrom 1986 to 1989 under the management of An Tay ward.

Notably, the trees were cut down in thedaytime, however, the locals were not aware.

The forest is located on outskirts ofthe city along a busy road and surrounded by residential areas.

[PM asked for strong measures to co♑pe wit🦩h deforestation]

The trees were cut down and the woodwas transported from the forest by trucks, but the local authority did notnotice, locals said.

According to a report sent to thecity’s People’s Committee, Pham Thi Phuong Mai, chairwoman of the An TayPeople’s Committee, said when the inspection team discovered the forest beingcut down, there was no longer any trace of any suspicious activity or person.

At the scene, only the tree stumps werepresent, the report said.

Mai took responsibility for the laxmanagement of the local authority, which led to the illegal deforestation.

“The ward has more than 1,000ha ofnatural land, two-third of which are forest. The ward managed 14ha of forestswhich are scattered in different areas. Thus, the management faced manydifficulties since there are just two employees for inspection and supervision”,Mai said.-VNA