The coastal protection forest in An Loc village, Quang Cong commune, is barren after 3.1 hectares of sicklepod trees were sold off by the former Quang Cong commune before the merger.

In early July, the Northern Hue City Forest Protection Department inspected the protection forest in An Loc village (formerly Quang Cong commune, now part of Phong Quang ward) and discovered a large area of sicklepod trees had been cut down.

Through on-site assessment, the forest rangers determined that 3.1 hectares of sicklepod forest had been felled, including 2.5 hectares of coastal protection forest and nearly 0.6 hectares of production forest. A total of 1,461 sicklepod trees, planted nearly 20 years ago to prevent sandstorms and saltwater intrusion, were cut down. The locations of the felled trees have been marked for investigation.

Sicklepod tree branches lie scattered on the sand dunes after the purchasing company logged the sicklepod forest.

A few remaining sicklepod trees stand isolated amidst the cleared area.

Most of the timber has been transported away, leaving only some diseased trunks and dry branches. The cleared forest area is located near the coast of An Loc village, formerly Quang Cong commune, an area that has experienced severe coastal erosion.

A remaining sicklepod tree stump with a large diameter, showing healthy growth.

At the scene in lots 152 and 161, compartment 1, sub-compartment 89, numerous sicklepod trees with diameters of 6-30 cm had been cut down at the base.

Nguyen Dinh Thong, vice chairman of the People's Committee of Phong Quang ward and former chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Cong commune, former Quang Dien district, admitted that the sicklepod forest area on the coastal sand dunes in An Loc village was liquidated by the Standing Committee of the former Quang Cong commune. This was carried out in late April and early May, before the commune merger, for 20 million VND. The proceeds from the sale were intended to be used to compensate households for forest care and to purchase new seedlings.

Next to the 2.5 hectares of coastal protection forest sold off by Quang Cong commune, the sand dunes are desolate, with barren trees. Some casuarina trees planted years ago are growing slowly.

The coastal protection forest area in An Loc village (formerly Quang Cong commune, now part of Phong Quang ward) is now barren, with no tree canopy cover. Meanwhile, the protection forest in Vinh Tri residential group (Thuan An ward), located adjacent, still has a dense canopy.

Le Ngoc Tuan, director of the Hue City Forest Protection Sub-department, stated that the unit is investigating the felling of 2.5 hectares of protection forest. According to Tuan, the coastal protection forest plays a vital role in blocking sandstorms and mitigating the impact of natural disasters during the rainy and typhoon seasons.

Restaurants and homestays have been built in the area that previously suffered from erosion, where locals used to plant casuarina trees to block wind and retain soil. After the construction of a coastal embankment, this area has been concreted, with many restaurants and homestays illegally built.

Previously, the former Quang Dien district authorities had requested these establishments to suspend operations and refrain from any further expansion or construction. However, the restaurants and homestays have continued to receive guests, operating in violation of regulations.

From an aerial view, the coastal protection forest area liquidated by the former Quang Cong commune is located next to the An Loc village resettlement area. The residents of this resettlement area were relocated due to severe coastal erosion in An Loc village in previous years.

To address the erosion, Hue City built an embankment and relocated residents to resettlement areas. After the relocation, the Quang Cong commune authorities allowed some individuals and businesses to build restaurants and homestays on the eroded land without going through a land-use rights auction.

Vo Thanh