Ca Mau Reclaims Land for Abandoned Tree Sapling Project After 17 Years

Ca Mau province has officially reclaimed over 10 hectares of land that was leased to Doc Lap Import Export Trading Co. Ltd. for a project to produce 4 million tree saplings per year. The project has lain dormant for 17 years, prompting the provincial People's Committee to issue a notice of land revocation.

The land, located in An Phu Hamlet, Khanh An Commune, was initially leased in June 2009 for a period of 30 years to establish a high-quality forest tree seedling production center. However, the company failed to put the land into use and missed project deadlines. Despite being notified of violations, the company did not apply for an extension and could not provide evidence of force majeure.

According to provincial authorities, the land revocation falls under provisions of the Land Law and a government decree concerning land use violations. The company will not receive compensation for the land, associated assets, or remaining investment costs. The provincial tax department will review outstanding financial obligations, while local authorities are tasked with managing the site to prevent encroachment or unauthorized development.

An inspection by the Ca Mau Provincial Department of Inspection in June revealed that Doc Lap Import Export Trading Co. Ltd. was no longer operating at the site. No offices, workshops, or personnel related to the project were found. The site, which was supposed to be operational by March 2010 with an investment of over 4.2 billion Vietnamese dong, now consists mainly of miscellaneous plants, banana trees, and a severely dilapidated wooden shed.