Nearly 100,000 hectares of forests destroyed annually in Vietnam
Copyright 2000 Agence France Presse
October 27, 2000
Nearly 100,000 hectares (247 000 acres) of forests are being destroyed in Vietnam each year where massive deforestation has become an issue of major concern for authorities, the Communist Party daily, Nhan Dan, reported Friday.
"Deforestation is frequent and occurs in several forms, and attacks against forest wardens are increasing rapidly," the Nhan Dan said in an editorial.
The Nhan Dan criticised local authorities, particularly in the mountainous regions of northern and central Vietnam, for failing to clamp down on the farmers responsible for chopping down trees.
The Nhan Dan called for a coordinated effort by police, forestry and military forces to protect the forests and to "severely punish corrupt officials" and "the forest bandits" responsible for the damage.
On Thursday, the Saigon Giai Phong daily reported that 12 forest wardens had been killed and 490 others injured since 1995 in clashes with illegal farmers.