A passenger terminal at Cam Thanh coconut forest - Photo: BD
Mr. Le Van Nhuc (commonly known as Nhut), director of Cam Thanh Coconut Forest Ecotourism and Tourism One Member Co., Ltd., said that the expansion would be dismantled. At the same time, all the debris in the coconut forest would be scooped up and young coconut trees would be replanted.
* Cam Thanh coconut forest not only has great value in terms of habitat and environment but also is a living space for the community. Why do businesses providing services right in the coconut forest destroy the forest?
- Mr. LE VAN NHUC: I am also aware of the value of the coconut forest, but because I am impatient and there are many tourists during this period, I have expanded and encroached to make a place for guests to sit.
* Why did you destroy the coconut trees and build a steel-framed concrete structure on the coconut forest?
- I accept all mistakes and hope to correct the consequences. The encroached and expanded area is mostly vacant land, without coconut trees. I only destroyed a small area.
Rubble and rocks dumped onto the Cam Thanh coconut forest floor for illegal construction - Photo: BD
* Specifically, how much land is encroached on the new coconut forest? How much is the old area available?
- I expanded and encroached on about 60m2 . The remaining 200m2 is an illegal house built long ago on land without forest. I renovated it to make it larger to welcome guests.
* Now that the coconut forest has been filled and houses have been built, how will businesses overcome this?
- I am very regretful and did not realize the consequences were so serious. My understanding of the law is incomplete.
After the commune came down to make a record on the afternoon of March 19, tonight and tomorrow (March 20), I will focus on dismantling all illegally built spaces.
The new soil will be poured to cover some coconut trees. I will also use an excavator to scrape them up. Then I will replant all the lost coconut trees.
I just hope the authorities give me a chance to correct my mistakes and make a living to support my family.
The commune chairman said there was no deforestation and then was surprised by the current situation.
As reported by Tuoi Tre Online , in the early afternoon of March 19 at the headquarters of the People's Committee of Cam Thanh commune, Mr. Tran Chien - the commune chairman - firmly affirmed to Tuoi Tre Online reporters that there was no such thing as Cam Thanh coconut forest being destroyed.
However, only about an hour later, when the reporter asked to go to the restaurant of Cam Thanh Coconut Forest Ecotourism and Tourism Company Limited to witness, Mr. Chien and the commune officials agreed.
Seeing rocks and soil falling on the coconut forest and trees leaning, Mr. Chien admitted that the current situation is "very different from before, there is a lot of illegal construction".
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