Fined VND 325 million for invasive in Xuan Thuy National Park

Administrative penalty decision No. 2331 has just been signed by the Vice Chairman of Nam Dinh Provincial People's Committee on November 22, 2023. The subject being punished is Mr Nguyen Van Phe - the person who arbitrarily sucked sand and cut down casuarina trees and mangrove trees in the Lu dunes area (belonging to Xuan Thuy National Park) in August 2023.

Previously, the Con Lu area (Giao Thuy district) was located in the ecological restoration subdivision, belonging to Xuan Thuy National Park in the administrative boundary of Giao Lac commune, bordering Giao Xuan commune. Mr. Nguyen Van Phe's family arbitrarily mobilized machines to suck sand to improve the yard and cut down casuarina trees and mangrove trees.

When the incident happened, the working group included representatives of the People's Committee of Giao Lac commune, Xuan Thuy National Park, Giao Xuan Hai Forest Ranger District, and Ba Lat Border Guard Station inspected the above-mentioned Con Lu land area.

The authorities discovered that Mr Nguyen Van Phe arbitrarily mobilized machines to suck sand to improve the yard and cut down casuarina trees and mangrove trees, so they made a record and ordered him to stop the violation.

At the scene, the authorities determined that 50 Avicennia trees had been cut down (an area of about 240 m2). There are many bamboo poles with strings stretched across the dune area that are about 100m long, a new watchtower has been built, and 9 concrete poles are about 4 - 5m high, with an area of over 36 m2.

The working group discovered an inactive, unattended sand vacuum machine located at a high dune, with a new sand suction pit about 50m2 in size and about 2m deep. Many bamboo poles with strings stretched across the dune area with a length of about 100m.

Inspecting the administrative boundary of Giao Xuan commune, it was discovered that about 1km from the border location to the southwest, a sand suction hole with the size of about 500m2 appeared. The hole is about 1.5m deep, 2 vacuum cleaners are not working, and no one is keeping watch of them, in the above location there are scattered Avicennia plants with a height of about 50 - 70cm.

This is not the first time Mr. Nguyen Van Phe has conducted a violation. Previously, on June 7, the above working group inspected the Con Lu area and discovered an incident of sand pumping to improve the beach and cutting down casuarina trees and mangrove trees here by several people under Mr Phe's order.

The working group determined that the total area of deforested trees was about 460 m2 of regenerated mangrove trees, 4,000 m2 of casuarina trees and about 4,220 m2 of alluvial land have been arbitrarily renovated at the Con Lu ecological restoration sub-zone of Xuan Thuy National Park.

Standing Vice Chairman of Nam Dinh Provincial People's Committee Tran Anh Dung signed a decision to sanction administrative violations against Mr Nguyen Van Phe (Ngo Dong town, Giao Thuy district, Nam Dinh province) with a fine of VND 325 million.​​