There is a valuable forest of Săng Lẻ trees in Bình Chuẩn (Con Cuông).
In Na Co village, Binh Chuan commune, Con Cuong district, tourists are amazed by the beauty of the natural Săng Lẻ forest, which has long been protected by the local people as a treasure.
This natural forest of Săng Lẻ trees is located in Na Co village, Binh Chuan commune, Con Cuong district, bordering Tuong Duong and Quy Hop districts. Following a trail along the mountainside and crossing a stream, you'll find a stunning forest of Săng Lẻ trees, with towering trunks and lush foliage standing close together, many with trunks so large that a person couldn't wrap their arms around them.
In the hot summer, just walking through this sandalwood forest, you can feel the cool air, and no one would notice the scorching, dry heat and hot winds from Laos outside. Therefore, some people liken this sandalwood forest to a green lung that regulates the climate and conserves water for the people of Na Co village, Binh Chuan commune (Con Cuong).
Săng lẻ wood belongs to wood group 3 and is commonly used for building houses, boats, and making household items such as tables, chairs, beds, and cabinets. Surprisingly, despite being located near National Highway 48C, the Săng lẻ forest has remained untouched by logging for a long time.
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Mr. Kha Van Trang, head of Na Co village, Binh Chuan commune, said: "This forest of sandalwood trees, about 10 hectares, has existed for a long time, estimated to be 50-60 years old. For a long time, the people of Na Co village have voluntarily protected it. Now, the State continues to entrust the people of Na Co village with the responsibility of protecting the community forest."
The Na Co village has established a self-governing forest protection team with 10 members. The team takes turns patrolling the forest three times a week, either day or night, and conducts surprise patrols with local forest rangers. Recently, they have detected and prevented several individuals from entering the forest to cut down trees or bring fire into the forest to catch bees.
Even the villagers of Na Co, if they see any suspicious strangers entering the forest while working in the fields, have a responsibility to warn them and immediately report it to the forest protection self-management team for timely action.
Mr. Nguyen Khac Hoa, a forest ranger in Binh Chuan commune (under the Con Cuong District Forest Management Unit), shared: "Na Co village protects over 100 hectares of forest, including nearly 10 hectares of Săng Lẻ forest. For a long time, we have received meager support from forest environmental service funds and national target programs. Sometimes we don't even have enough money for fuel costs, but the self-managed forest management team and the people always protect the forest voluntarily, to preserve the 'green lungs' and protect the living environment for the people here."
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The mangrove forest is well-protected, and its ecological environment is preserved, so the Chà Lan stream is full of water year-round, providing the local people with water for daily life, rice cultivation, and livestock farming. Many tourists traveling on National Highway 48C have come to take photos and admire this rare natural forest.
This rare forest of Săng Lẻ trees is located next to National Highway 48C, so Con Cuông district is planning to develop it into one of its ecotourism destinations.