Unlocking the potential of ornamental plants and animals.
(Baonghean) - Nghe An is a region with great potential for ornamental plants and animals. With 83 km of coastline, 6 estuaries and streams, and abundant marine life – 207 species of aquatic animals – utilizing shrimp, crabs, clams, snails, mussels, etc., can create many fascinating ornamental plant products. Nghe An is also rich in rocks, with continuous limestone areas stretching from Hoang Mai to Hong Linh, including red, green, white, terraced, and various types of rocks – skillful hands and collectors can create many attractive ornamental plant products. Nghe An's driftwood is abundant, including many rare and precious species, with a large concentration in Quy Hop, Tan Ky, Ky Son, and Do Luong. Do Luong driftwood participated in the Ho Chi Minh City Ornamental Plant Festival and the 1000th Anniversary of Thang Long - Hanoi exhibition, and was highly sought after. Nghe An also boasts a large bird population. According to the survey, there are currently 335 species, many of which are rare ornamental birds, such as: peacock, pheasant, finch, kingfisher, thrush, heron, myna, starling, parrot, nightingale, bulbul, dove, partridge…
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In terms of plant life, Nghe An province boasts an abundance of vegetation. According to the Nghe An Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, forest land and forestry land account for 71% of the province's natural area. The Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve, covering over 1 million hectares, has been recognized by UNESCO as a world biosphere reserve with rich biodiversity. Initial findings have identified 1,193 plant species belonging to 163 families and 537 genera, and 342 animal species. In the barren, hilly areas, although covered with pine, melaleuca, and eucalyptus trees, there are many beautiful ornamental plants under the canopy, such as: Ficus microcarpa, Ficus benghalensis, Ficus microcarpa, Ficus religiosa, Myrtle, Melastoma, Ficus microcarpa ...
In the gardens of the people of Nghe An province, there are many "environmental" plants such as five-leafed ginseng, ironwood, water banana, evergreen... There are many plants that are both ornamental and medicinal, such as bloodwort, cypress, starfruit, pomegranate, crape myrtle, rose, aloe vera, trumpet vine, royal jasmine, chrysanthemum... Plants that are both ornamental and "functional foods," if we know how to plant them and choose the right soil, are very useful, such as: *Lagerstroemia*, green tea, *Clerodendrum*, *Tinospora cordifolia*, *Aglaonema*, *Aglaonema*, *Acacia mangium*, fig, lemon, starfruit, mandarin orange... These are native plants that have lived with people for a long time, serving them, but people have not truly cared for and appreciated them to make people and the landscape more beautiful, harmonious, and friendly; not to mention many long-established imported plants, some of which have become ancient, typical examples being coniferous trees such as pine and casuarina, which are very easy to beautify.
Recently, the Nghe An Ornamental Plant Association surveyed 461 trees belonging to 43 species, ranging in age from 100 to 1,000 years old, many of which are associated with historical, cultural, and spiritual relics. If preserved, these would not only be "treasures" of Nghe An but also of the nation. Nghe An currently has 5 ornamental plant craft villages recognized by the Provincial People's Committee. These are the villages of Hong Phu (Quynh Hong), Nghi Lien, Nghi Kim, Nghi An, and Hung Dong (Vinh City). However, the economic efficiency of these villages is not yet very high, due to fragmented facilities and a lack of systematic technological investment. Nevertheless, these represent breakthroughs in the development of the craft industry.
The Ornamental Plants Association has been advising Party committees, government authorities, the Fatherland Front, and the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development and Culture at all levels to preserve and promote the diversity of ornamental plants, aiming to build a movement and bring this valuable source of ornamental plants into service for daily life.
Ho Duc Thinh (Quynh Luu Student Association)
