VietNamNet Bridge – The red pine trees in the mountainous areas of Lam Dong province have been disappearing at a rapid rate.

Red pine, or Taxus Wallichiana Zucc, can be found in the northern part of Lam Dong province and the neighboring area with Khanh Hoa province.

The plant, under the government’s decree No 32, is listed in the IA group, i.e. the group of rare, precious and endangered forest plant species which must not be exploited and used for commercial purposes.

Recent scientific research has found that red pine leaves and bark contain 10 – DB III, a substance which can be used to make Taxol – the main material to prepare medicines for treating cancer diseases.

Precious herbs

The report by the Lam Dong provincial forest rangers’ unit shows that many red pine logging cases have been discovered recently, including ones on Voi mountain in Duc Trong District, in Tram Hanh commune of Da Lat City and Da Nhim commune of Lac Duong district.

The information about the high value of red pine has prompted people to chop down red pine trees for sale. Many others tramp to the areas to pick up red pine leaves and barks for cancer patients, despite the scientists’ warnings that drinking red pine leaf and bark extracts is dangerous for humans.

People also believe that furnishings made of red pine would bring good luck to landlords. This makes red pine more valuable in the eyes of people and triggers a new wave of people seeking red pine trees.

According to Nguyen Van Nhan, head of the management board of the Dai Ninh protective forest, which is in charge of managing the red pine populations in Voi mountain area, in the past, red pine was not favored because of the low quality timber and the bad odor.

However, things changed after people heard about the magical effects of red pine leaves and barks in treating disease.

“We have been placed on full alert because more and more people try to log pine trees,” Nhan complained.

The red pine population in Lam Dong province are in danger not only because of the massive logging, but also because of natural decline due to disease and other factors.

A recent survey found that Lam Dong has over 600 big red pine trees with the diameter of over 25 cm. There are only some 300 trees with the diameter of 6-25 cm.

Most of the big trees are suffering from pestilent insects, and have become hollow or are missing their uppermost branches. The number of next-generation trees is limited, and they have poor natural regeneration capability.

Red pine needs protection

The management board of the Dai Ninh protective forest has been assigned to rescue the red pine trees that have remained untouched by illegal loggers.

Pham Manh Thuy from the management board said that most of the big trees left have been surveyed, given codes and positioned with GPS (global positioning system) for better management.

Nguyen Van Nhan, head of the board of management, said that 48 local households have been assigned the task of protecting the red pine population in the area.

Thien Nhien