Some 151 pine trees planted over 30 years in the jungle of 8,500 s.q meters in the central highlands town of Da Lat in Lam Dong Province were poisoned with toxic chemicals.
The jungle is just one kilometer far from the People’s Committee in Ta Nung Commune.
Before, management board of Lam Vien forest in coordination with local forest rangers and forestry brigade in Ta Nung Commune discovered 151 pine trees had been toxified with herbicide. These trees with its root diameter of 12-60 cm and height of 12-16 cm were poisoned.
At the spot, foresters collected an empty jar of herbicide and a cellphone. From the evidence, related agencies summoned some locals for investigation.
Most of pine trees are drilled three to seven holes in its roots and culprits poured weed -killer into the holes to kill the trees. Leaves of pine trees changed its color. Many trees with diameter of 40-60cm had been chopped down before.
Forester Lieng Hót Quil said pouring herbicide into holes in tree is not new way to kill pine tree yet it is hard to discover and it takes a short time for criminals to toxify all forest of tree.
Further investigation will be carried out.
