Standing tall on the border of Xuan Khang commune (Nhu Thanh district) and Tan Binh commune (Nhu Xuan district) of Thanh Hoa province, an ancient tree - a green lim tree nearly a thousand years old - is considered by the Thai ethnic people as the remaining "treasure" of the old forest, representing the strong vitality and sustainable solidarity of the community.
From the intersection of Xuan Khang commune (Nhu Thanh district), I followed provincial road 520C to Duc Binh village, Tan Binh commune (Nhu Xuan district) to see the only remaining ancient green lim tree, nearly a thousand years old.
In the memories of the indigenous Thai people, this place used to be filled with ancient green lim forests, but after many historical ups and downs, only one ancient lim forest remains.
The green lim tree before our eyes was recognized as a Vietnam Heritage Tree in 2022. People still call it Thiet Lim.
This ancient tree is about 50m high and nearly 2m in diameter. The canopy is not too wide but the trunk is tall and straight, standing tall like a symbol of strong vitality in the mountains and forests.
Getting closer to the tree, you can easily see the scars that have been left behind over time. Some of the scars have even rotted and had to be covered with cement to protect them from termites.
The tree trunk still has traces of two old saw cuts, one of which is quite deep into the trunk.
Mr. Nguyen Tien Nam, former Secretary of the Tan Binh Commune Party Committee, explained: The time when the green lim tree was cut down was around 1989, when he was still the Secretary of the Tan Binh Commune Party Committee. Immediately after receiving information that a group of people were using hand saws to cut down the last green lim tree, he personally went with commune officials and villagers to prevent it, asking the group not to cut it down.
After the incident, the People's Committee of the commune also assigned the villagers to take turns guarding and strictly protecting the ironwood tree.
The nearly 1,000-year-old green lim tree is a Vietnam Heritage Tree. This ancient tree stands majestically on the border of Xuan Khang commune (Nhu Thanh district) and Tan Binh commune (Nhu Xuan district) of Thanh Hoa province and is considered by the Thai ethnic people here as a "treasure", the dwelling place of gods.
Mr. Nam said that for generations, the identity and customs of the Thai people have mainly depended on the forest. Large trees that have existed for hundreds of years are considered by the people to be the dwelling place of gods and the souls of the deceased, so cutting them down is taboo and not allowed. The only ones who can encroach on ancient lim trees are “forest bandits”, people from other places.
During the war years, the green lim forest was exploited by Nhu Xuan farm to serve the country's missions. Lim wood was used to build railway tracks; to make grenade handles; gun butts...
However, in later stages, there were periods when the green lim forest was overexploited. That was due to profiteering from open forest policies by many subjects, laxity in management... As a result, the ancient green lim forests were gradually wiped out, forming bare hills.
In the period of 2011-2013, Ben En National Park implemented the project “Conservation and development of green lim species”, which included the restoration and conservation of thousand-year-old lim trees. Also in this period, Ben En National Park implemented the demarcation of about 1,000 hectares of natural green lim and planted about 5 hectares of lim forest (seed sources were taken from ancient lim trees and natural lim seeds in the forest) to serve the development and conservation of the species.
By 2022, the Ben En National Park Management Board will continue to prepare documents and have the ancient green lim tree recognized as a Vietnamese heritage tree. This recognition is of great significance, not only helping to preserve valuable genetic resources and protect old trees, but also showing respect for a symbol protected by the village.
Currently, the ancient lim tree has been protected by a fence; vines and bushes have been cleared; fungicides and termites have been sprayed around the base; growth stimulants and wound healing drugs have been sprayed...
Mr. Nguyen Van Bang, Vice Chairman of Tan Binh Commune People's Committee, said that in addition to the task of protecting heritage lim trees, the symbol of the village, Tan Binh Commune has also established 3 forest protection teams with 21 members to participate in managing and receiving contracts to plant new green lim forest areas every year.
Up to now, the green lim forest area within the administrative boundary of the commune managed by Ben En National Park has basically been covered with green, with no more bare land or hills.
Ms. Le Thi Thu, Secretary of the Duc Binh village Party Cell and also a member of the forest protection team here, could not hide her joy when talking about the policies on forest allocation, planting and protection in recent times, which have helped the people of Duc Binh village have more funds to invest in social security projects, as well as people have more income from planting and protecting forests.
According to data from Ben En National Park, since its establishment in 1992, the task of conserving and replanting green lim forests has always been focused on. In addition to synchronously implementing strict protection measures for an area of more than 10,500 hectares of forest with naturally regenerated green lim trees, from 2011 to present, with State budget funds, cooperation programs and funding from international organizations, Ben En National Park has replanted over 300 hectares of green lim trees. In the period of 2023-2030, Ben En National Park will continue to strive to replant an additional 200 hectares.
In general, the area of newly planted green lim forests, cared for according to technical procedures, the trees grow and develop well. For green lim areas in natural forests, the management and protection work is strict so that illegal exploitation does not occur.
Source: https://danviet.vn/day-la-cay-lim-xanh-gan-1000-nam-tuoi-con-sot-lai-cua-rung-gia-thanh-hoa-cay-co-thu-cao-hon-50m-20241111074547109.htm
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