The survey team measured the base of a long-leafed bamboo tree – Photo: NGUYEN LUONG
On the morning of September 6, Dr. Vu Duc Binh – Deputy Director of the North Central Forestry Science Center – said that the unit had just discovered a population of long-leafed bamboo pine, wild ancient tea and le duong trees during a forest survey. These new discoveries are very valuable for conservation science and local livelihoods.
From September 2, a working group including the North Central Forestry Science Center in coordination with the Quang Tri Community Development Organization and the Chenh Venh Village Community Forest Management Board, sponsored by the humanitarian relief organization CRS, conducted forest surveys and measured natural forest carbon in Chenh Venh Village (Huong Phung Commune, Huong Hoa District, Quang Tri).
The delegation divided into investigation routes and surveyed nearly 700 hectares of this community forest.
During that process, the team discovered a population of about 20 hectares of long-leafed bamboo pine (scientific name is Podocarpus neriifolius D. Don), with trees up to 90cm in diameter. “Long-leafed bamboo pine is a very slow-growing species, with trees with such diameters being up to 500 years old,” said Dr. Binh.
Longleaf pine is distributed in Bac Huong Hoa and Dakrong district but not concentrated.
A very tall bamboo pine tree – Photo: NGUYEN LUONG
In addition, the survey team recorded a population of about 500 wild tea plants with an area of about 20 hectares at an altitude of over 1,000m. “If this population is well protected and exploited, it will produce very good Sa Mu tea products. In Luang Prabang (Laos), they make this product very well,” the survey team assessed.
Mr. Ho Van Thuan – a local resident – said he often comes here to pick leaves and wild tea shoots to cook and drink like green tea. Mr. Thuan said these tea trees are about 100 years old.
The sunflower has beautiful flowers and medicinal value – Photo: NGUYEN LUONG
The delegation also discovered a population of the Lycium barbata, a plant that is only recorded to be distributed in Northwest Vietnam at an altitude of over 1,000m. The recording of the Lycium barbata distribution in Quang Tri is very valuable. The Lycium barbata is not only beautiful but also has valuable medicinal value.
The above discoveries are all the first in Quang Tri, located at an altitude of over 1,000m, and are considered significant for conservation science and local livelihoods.
Ancient tea leaves are often picked by locals to cook and drink – Photo: NGUYEN LUONG
Go to Bidoup – Ba Mountain to find thousand-year-old pine trees