Forest rangers at the Phu Ninh Protected Forest in the central provinceof Quang Nam take pride in the vast lush forests they have devoted theirlives to protecting.
The forest grows many kinds ofprecious timber trees, especially those called trai, or Tembusu,according to Director of the Forest Management Board Nguyen Xuan Phuoc.
The Tembusu (or Fagraea fragrans) is listed as avulnerable and endangered species by the International Union for theConservation of Nature (IUCN).
"The tree produces veryhard wood that can last for over 100 years, particularly since termitesand weevils cannot eat this kind of wood. People always use it forflooring their homes," Phuoc said, adding that other parts of the treeare used in herbal remedies.
The decoction of the bark is used as a febrifuge, and that of the twigs and leaves is used to treat dysentery.
Many Tembusu trees grow on local islets, including Su, Rung Dinh andTuan Tra surrounding Phu Ninh Lake, one of the country's largestirrigation works, located 7km to the west of the province's Tam Ky city.
"Most of the Tembusu in the area often have a boleof only 35-40cm in diameter because they are naturally regeneratedtrees. Before they formed the lake, local authorities had allowed peopleto chop down all the trees in the area in 1979," explained the Phu NinhProtected Forest Management Board's Tu Yen Forest Ranger StationDirector Hoang Ngoc Anh.
The Tembusu trees have been destroyed by illegal loggers in recent years, according to Anh.
"After felling a tall Tembusu tree, poachers only take away part ofits trunk and leave the rest. It often takes the tree 40-50 years ofgrowth before it is considered profitable to be cut down. Therefore, weare always filled with pity whenever we discover a Tembusu tree has beenchopped down," Anh said, adding that local forest rangers have facedmany difficulties in protecting the Tembusu and other precious timber inthe forest.
A shortage of staff is among thechallenges facing local authorities in protecting the forest. Inaddition, the lake has an area of 23,400ha, and illegal loggers oftencarry the timber across the water at night, making it difficult forlocal rangers to catch them.
To avoid illegallogging, local rangers have redoubled their efforts, making rounds ofthe forest not only during the day but also at night.
"To prevent illegal loggers from spotting us, we hide our boat beforemaking our rounds in the forests. We spend hours patrolling at night orlaying an ambush overnight despite the danger of encountering snakes andinsects in the forest because poachers often carry off the wood at thistime. Yet, the loggers also take advantage of the darkness to flee andleave the wood when they are caught by us," Anh said.
Illegal logging takes place intermittently in the area, making it even more difficult to protect the precious timber.
"The Phu Ninh Protected Forest Management Board even conducted raidson local carpenters' shops to find and seize wood that has beenillegally acquired," Anh added.
Besides this,research on selection, propagation and cultivation techniques for theTembusu was conducted by the forest management board and submitted tohigher authorities in late April.
"The protectedforest is suffering from the threat of destruction, which will surelyaffect its protective ability as well as its capacity to adjust andmaintain the water levels of the Phu Ninh lake. Therefore, it isessential to protect and develop native plants in the region includingthe Tembusu to keep the forest green.
"Currently,the country has only conducted a few researcheson propagation andcultivation techniques to plant the Tembusu in protected forests. So, ifour research is effective, we will be able to widely propagate thetrees and contribute to the stable protection and development of theseforests," Phuoc said.-VNA
The forest grows many kinds ofprecious timber trees, especially those called trai, or Tembusu,according to Director of the Forest Management Board Nguyen Xuan Phuoc.
The Tembusu (or Fagraea fragrans) is listed as avulnerable and endangered species by the International Union for theConservation of Nature (IUCN).
"The tree produces veryhard wood that can last for over 100 years, particularly since termitesand weevils cannot eat this kind of wood. People always use it forflooring their homes," Phuoc said, adding that other parts of the treeare used in herbal remedies.
The decoction of the bark is used as a febrifuge, and that of the twigs and leaves is used to treat dysentery.
Many Tembusu trees grow on local islets, including Su, Rung Dinh andTuan Tra surrounding Phu Ninh Lake, one of the country's largestirrigation works, located 7km to the west of the province's Tam Ky city.
"Most of the Tembusu in the area often have a boleof only 35-40cm in diameter because they are naturally regeneratedtrees. Before they formed the lake, local authorities had allowed peopleto chop down all the trees in the area in 1979," explained the Phu NinhProtected Forest Management Board's Tu Yen Forest Ranger StationDirector Hoang Ngoc Anh.
The Tembusu trees have been destroyed by illegal loggers in recent years, according to Anh.
"After felling a tall Tembusu tree, poachers only take away part ofits trunk and leave the rest. It often takes the tree 40-50 years ofgrowth before it is considered profitable to be cut down. Therefore, weare always filled with pity whenever we discover a Tembusu tree has beenchopped down," Anh said, adding that local forest rangers have facedmany difficulties in protecting the Tembusu and other precious timber inthe forest.
A shortage of staff is among thechallenges facing local authorities in protecting the forest. Inaddition, the lake has an area of 23,400ha, and illegal loggers oftencarry the timber across the water at night, making it difficult forlocal rangers to catch them.
To avoid illegallogging, local rangers have redoubled their efforts, making rounds ofthe forest not only during the day but also at night.
"To prevent illegal loggers from spotting us, we hide our boat beforemaking our rounds in the forests. We spend hours patrolling at night orlaying an ambush overnight despite the danger of encountering snakes andinsects in the forest because poachers often carry off the wood at thistime. Yet, the loggers also take advantage of the darkness to flee andleave the wood when they are caught by us," Anh said.
Illegal logging takes place intermittently in the area, making it even more difficult to protect the precious timber.
"The Phu Ninh Protected Forest Management Board even conducted raidson local carpenters' shops to find and seize wood that has beenillegally acquired," Anh added.
Besides this,research on selection, propagation and cultivation techniques for theTembusu was conducted by the forest management board and submitted tohigher authorities in late April.
"The protectedforest is suffering from the threat of destruction, which will surelyaffect its protective ability as well as its capacity to adjust andmaintain the water levels of the Phu Ninh lake. Therefore, it isessential to protect and develop native plants in the region includingthe Tembusu to keep the forest green.
"Currently,the country has only conducted a few researcheson propagation andcultivation techniques to plant the Tembusu in protected forests. So, ifour research is effective, we will be able to widely propagate thetrees and contribute to the stable protection and development of theseforests," Phuoc said.-VNA
