Blood spattered while hunting for wild areca roots to sell to Chinese traders

(Baonghean.vn) - In the past, bonsai enthusiasts often went into the forest to dig or buy wild areca trees to plant as an elegant hobby. However, currently, the roots of this tree are being eagerly purchased by traders. Where there is demand, there is supply, many people have braved the danger to go deep into the forest to dig up areca roots to sell.

People rush to "turn over the forest" to hunt for areca roots

Mr. Nguyen Lien, a person who digs for wild areca roots, said: Wild areca used to be quite abundant in Tan Ky. This species of areca has a slender trunk, feather-shaped compound leaves, and beautiful red fruit. People living around the mountainous forest area often dig for wild areca to sell to the "community" of bonsai enthusiasts. However, now many people are rushing to hunt for this type of tree root to sell to traders.

The areca palm is slender, has feather-shaped compound leaves, and has red fruit. This tree is currently being sought after by many people. Photo by Tien Dung.

Following Lien, we climbed to the top of Bo Bo and then went deep into the forest for nearly an hour before we saw a few wild areca trees hidden in the dense, shady canopy of the forest. Lien and her “comrades” cut down the trees and dug up the roots.

Lien said: On such a day, his group also dug up about 10 kg of areca roots to import to traders at a price of 120,000 - 150,000 VND/kg.

If you find ripe areca nuts, the price is very high, about 300,000 VND/kg, but the ripe areca season must be summer, from May to July.Although it is a dangerous job, many people still risk their lives to climb mountains and hunt for wild areca roots to make a living.

According to our research, every day many people flock to the top of Pu Loi, Pu A and Bo Bo range of Tan Ky - the border between Do Luong, Quynh Luu, Yen Thanh districts to hunt for tree roots and wild areca fruit to sell to traders.

Wild areca roots are being purchased by traders at 120,000 - 150,000 VND/kg, so many groups of people go into the forest every day, uproot and dig up areca roots. Photo: Tien Dung

Where do the wild betel nuts go?

We approached Hung, a trader who buys areca roots from Nam Dinh. We learned that he specializes in buying herbs to import for agents to make a profit. For about 5 years now, Hung has been buying red ginseng. This red ginseng is mainly used to soak in wine for men to increase their vitality. When the red ginseng in the forests of Nghe An is exhausted, traders are rushing to buy wild areca roots.

“I saw that it was profitable so I bought and sold it to traders, and I only heard that they collected the goods to export to China to make medicine. That was just a rumor, but actually I don’t understand what they were buying these wild areca roots and areca nuts for?” – Hung added.

It is difficult to find wild areca roots deep in the forest. Wild areca used to be abundant in the mountainous areas of Tan Ky. But now, many people hunt for them, so this tree has gradually become depleted. Photo: Tien Dung

Currently, not only in Tan Ky but also in the highlands of Western Nghe An such as Anh Son, Con Cuong, Tuong Duong, Quy Chau... people are also rushing to hunt for wild areca roots.

Currently, traders not only buy wild areca roots but also buy sim roots and fern roots at the price of 20,000-30,000 VND/kg. The purpose of buying wild roots is not clearly defined, but it has caused many forests to be plowed and devastated, and some types of trees are being destroyed every day.

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Tien Dung