Several shortcomings in the criminal handling of forest destruction offenses: Practice in Lam Dong Province

The offense of forest destruction under Article 243 of the Criminal Code provides an important legal basis for addressing acts that damage forest resources. Practice in Lam Dong Province shows that illegal deforestation remains complex. During the first six months of 2026, from December 11, 2025 to June 10, 2026, the province recorded 300 violations of the Forestry Law, including 173 cases of illegal deforestation involving 29.9985 hectares of damaged forest, of which 14 cases were referred for criminal handling. However, several difficulties remain in determining the affected forest area, forest classification, the value of damage, the distinction between administrative and criminal liability, and the collection and assessment of evidence. This study analyzes these shortcomings and proposes several recommendations for improvement.