Quy Lang Ironwood Forest

(Baonghean)Few places boast such precious ironwood forests as Lang Thanh commune (formerly known as Quy Lang), Yen Thanh district. No one in Quy Lang knows the exact age of this ironwood forest. According to the elderly villagers, it was planted by their ancestors at least 300 years ago...

I was born in Quỳ Lăng, and growing up I saw vast, lush green forests of ironwood trees, each one tall and with a rough, gnarled trunk. Fifteen years ago, beneath the ironwood trees were vibrant pineapple plantations. When the pineapples ripened, the people of Quỳ Lăng would use bicycles, with two baskets tied to the back, to transport the fruit to markets from Yên Thành down to Diễn Châu and Quỳnh Lưu to sell. We children, going to school in the morning and tending cattle in the afternoon, often sneaked into the ironwood forest to steal pineapples. Now, returning, the ironwood trees are still there, but the pineapple plantations are gone.

Quỳ Lăng ironwood forest (Lăng Thành, Yên Thành).

From the center of the commune to the nearest teak forest is only 1 km. That's Ru Chua, and further afield are Hoc Nong, Dong Bau, Ve Thang, Hon Sao, Dong Nhiem… every area has large, tall teak trees, well protected. According to statistics from Lang Thanh commune, the entire teak forest in the locality currently has 2,104 trees, concentrated in an area of ​​106 hectares. Along with the teak trees are countless other miscellaneous trees, but teak accounts for up to 70% of the forest. Because they were planted a long time ago, the diameter of the teak trunks ranges from 60 cm to nearly 1 meter. What is valuable is that the teak of Quy Lang is the "caterpillar" and "green" variety, with a solid core and beautiful patterns, making it excellent for house construction or making household furniture. With such an area and number of trees, it can be affirmed that nowhere else in Nghe An province has a teak forest like that of Quy Lang.

Since 1995, implementing the policy of allocating forest land for management and protection, the local authorities have assigned all of the ironwood forest to households for management and protection. Each family is assigned a certain area, and the number of ironwood trees and other trees within that area are counted and recorded annually by the local authorities. If a family loses one ironwood tree, the commune imposes an administrative fine of 2 quintals of rice and compensation for the value of that tree. Losing one other tree results in a fine of 1 quintal of rice. Therefore, for many years, the ironwood forest in Quỳ Lăng has remained intact. Families assigned to these gardens are responsible for clearing undergrowth annually to prevent forest fires and to provide firewood for fuel.

The family of Mr. Nguyen Cong Tien in Hamlet 8, who leased 4 hectares of ironwood forest in the Hon Sao area, said: Their forest area has 40 ironwood trees and dozens of other trees. Following the commune's forest protection regulations, the family has always managed the forest strictly, ensuring not a single tree is lost. They have also preserved a local pineapple plantation within the ironwood forest. Every year, before summer, the whole family goes into the forest to clear undergrowth, prune unnecessary branches, creating favorable conditions for tree growth and fire prevention. Many of the trees in the ironwood forest are used in traditional medicine, and many traditional healers come to collect leaves. Previously, there was a man named Mr. Giap in the village who had a special talent for curing villagers with leaves harvested from the ironwood forest. After his death, the villagers built a shrine to worship him. A few years ago, the villagers renovated it into a temple, called the "Nghè Temple," right in the ironwood forest managed by Mr. Tien. In addition, in the area of ​​the forest where the pagoda is located, a few years ago, the local authorities renovated the Upper Pagoda (also known as Thượng Sơn Pagoda) into a rather attractive spiritual site.

The land of Quỳ Lăng, closely associated with the ironwood forest, is home to the ever-flowing Sừng pond, winding through the forest areas and creating a picturesque landscape. Speaking about the benefits of the Quỳ Lăng ironwood forest, Mr. Hoàng Danh Thọ, Secretary of the Commune Party Committee, stated: Besides its value as a preserved historical site inherited from our ancestors, the Quỳ Lăng ironwood forest also creates a beautiful natural landscape and ecological environment, providing an abundant water source that has been integral to the lives of the people of Quỳ Lăng for generations. Therefore, the ironwood forest and Sừng pond are deeply ingrained in the hearts of every resident. Currently, the Quỳ Lăng ironwood forest is receiving attention from local authorities and is being managed as a special-use forest, gradually being developed into an attractive eco-tourism destination in Yên Thành district.

Xuan Hoang