145ha of forest land returned to national park

BÌNH PHƯỚC — At least 145ha of land has been returned to Bù Gia Mập National Park by local residents in the central province of Bình Phước, according to the local forest management board.

Vương Đức Hòa, deputy director of the board in Bù Gia Mập District, said the households who returned land have received other land through a relocation project.

Over the past 10 years, the province has converted forest land for 130 households with more than 160ha of encroached forest land.

The relocation project aims to recover forest land illegally occupied by locals in the province.

In previous years, the forest was a hot spot for deforestation and forest land invasion, Việt Nam News Agency reported.

To protect the forest, the management board has assigned forest land for local resident groups and border posts for protection.

Public awareness of forest protection has been enhanced over the years, resulting in a reduction of tree felling, wildlife hunting and forest land encroachment.

Located north-west of Bình Phước Province on nearly 26,000ha, Bù Gia Mập National Park is home to many rare and precious species.

It is also a watershed protective forest to ensure water sources for the reservoirs of Sork Phu Miêng, Cần Đơn and Thác Mơ hydropower plants. — VNS