Do Dinh Tien has been dismissed as director of Tam Dao National Park for hindering the operations of the Tam Dao Bear Rescue Center, according to a decision issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Deputy minister Ha Cong Tuan, who signed the dismissal decision, said that Tien will no longer be the director of the park starting from May 1. Deputy director Ha Cong Khai will replace him.

Tien has been removed from his post one year before reaching retirement age.

From 2011 to the time of his dismissal, Tien repeatedly tried to deter operations of the Tam Dao Bear Rescue Center, a project approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The rescue center’s management board has accused Tien of putting pressure on authorities to ask them to close the center, aiming to take part of the center’s land for an ecotourism project, which his relatives own 10 percent of the shares in.