Economy

Nghe An bamboo is difficult to sell, broken and degraded.

Hoai Thu - Thanh Phuc • DNUM_BAZAJZCACE 11:40

Bamboo and mulberry growing areas in Que Phong have had almost no buyers for 2 years, reducing the main source of income for the locals. In many places, mulberry trees have begun to degenerate and fall.

bna_lung-qp...-06e03b6c33146eb3f8362a96c6536003(1).jpg — In many villages and hamlets in the highland districts of Nghe An, lung is the main source of income for the people; of which, Que Phong district has about 17,000 hectares, ranking first in the list of localities with the largest lung forest area in the province. The lung forest areas in Que Phong district are mainly concentrated in Dong Van and Thong Thu communes with nearly 830 hectares. The rest are distributed in other communes. Photo: HT

ban_nguyen-lieu-lung(1).png — Lung is a raw material for small-scale industry, handicrafts, and paper materials, bringing a significant annual income to people in the highlands, with about 3-4 million VND/ha. Especially, the Lung forest areas have been granted FSC certification, helping to clarify the origin of raw materials, creating conditions for export. Photo: TP

Để khai thác được cây lùng người dân phải trèo đèo lội suối, vượt thuyền qua vùng lòng hồ chặt từng cây mang về — The forests are all located in remote areas, on mountains or around hydroelectric reservoirs. Therefore, to care for, protect and exploit the trees, people have to climb mountains, wade through streams, and cross the reservoirs by boat to reach the planting area, care for them or cut down each tree to bring home. Photo: HT

cây lùng ở Thong Thụ, Đồng Văn mọc ở các vùng núi cao, cách xa khu dân cư có nơi trên 40km hoặc quanh vùng lòng hồ thuỷ điện — In Thong Thu and Dong Van communes, the tree grows in high mountainous areas, far from residential areas, some places over 40 km bordering Thanh Hoa province. The entire Thong Thu commune has about 500 hectares of bamboo that have been granted FSC forest certification. According to Mr. Luong Ngoc Huan - Chairman of the Commune People's Committee, currently, the consumption of bamboo is facing difficulties because there are almost no purchasing businesses. There are only a few traders purchasing in small quantities. Photo: TP

Công việc chặt lùng đồi hỏi người có sức khoẻ dẻo dai — Dong Van commune has more than 330 hectares of cypress trees that have been granted FSC certification and are ready for harvest, but are currently unsold. In addition to being difficult to sell, many cypress forests in Thong Thu and Dong Van communes are degenerating, with trees falling due to weather effects. The cycle of cypress trees is about 6-10 years to flower once. Every year when the trees flower, cypress trees die en masse, the trees dry up and turn yellow and then die. In the photo: The work of cutting cypress trees requires people with good health and rich experience in the forest. Photo: HT

bna_lung-f3601f6cdb98bcb4a60452b79a161486(1).jpg — Ms. Luong Thi Tien - Head of Muong Hinh village, Dong Van commune said that for about 2 years now, the linden trees in Dong Van commune have not been sold because no one has come to buy them. Therefore, not only has the main source of income of the people decreased, but many linden forest areas have begun to degenerate, flowering trees have died, or broken down. Photo: HT

"Lung trees are the main source of income for local people here. About 3 years ago, lung trees were purchased for about 12-13 thousand VND/kg. Every day, there were several trucks coming to purchase about 3 tons of lung. On average, it brought in an income of about 30-40 million VND for households. However, for the past 2 years, lung trees have not been sold, and people have not gone into the forest to exploit them anymore," said Mr. Luong Van Thuong - Deputy Secretary of the Commune Party Committee. Photo: TP

People of Muong Hinh village, Dong Van commune transporting fish from Hua Na hydroelectric reservoir to their homes. Photo: HT

Lán khai thác lùng ở Đồng văn bỏ hoang đã hơn 2 năm xập xệ đổ nát — The mining shed in Dong Van commune has been abandoned for more than 2 years and is now dilapidated. Photo: TP

According to officials and many people in Thong Thu and Dong Van communes, in 2024, more and more areas of the forest are experiencing flowering and mass death of trees, causing damage to raw materials as well as people's income. The locality has reported to the District People's Committee, proposing solutions to support people in consuming raw materials. Previously, in Que Phong, Khanh Tam enterprise purchased raw materials for people, but for more than 2 years now, the enterprise has been operating at a standstill, almost not purchasing, and even owing many households large sums of money for purchasing raw materials. Many households of this enterprise owe hundreds of millions of dong. Photo: HT

People of Muong Hinh village, Dong Van commune harvest bamboo shoots. Clip: HT - TP

Hoai Thu - Thanh Phuc