Tuong Duong: Massive exploitation of the cu li tree.
•March 24, 2015 09:37
(Baonghean.vn) - In Tuong Duong district, people are in the season of harvesting the "cu li" plant - a valuable medicinal herb also known as "kim mao cau tich," and referred to by other names such as "cu long," "cu lien," and "long khi."
On the hilltop of Vẽ mountain, in Yên Na commune, Tương Dương district, locals gather cu li trees after transporting them from the forest to sell to traders.
This plant has been harvested and used as medicine by locals for a long time; some people in the lowlands use the hairs of this plant to stop bleeding.
To dig up the cu li plant, people have to leave at dawn, climb the steep Vẽ pass, and find their way to the high, humid mountainous area where this plant grows. In the evening, groups of people carry the cu li down the mountain.
The villagers used baskets to carry the coolies back to the gathering point at the foot of the mountain.
Here, the coolies have their fur trimmed to the request of traders.
Besides the hairs which are used to stop bleeding, the core of the tuber is used as medicine to nourish the liver and kidneys, strengthen tendons and bones, and relieve rheumatism.
Previously, the cu li plant grew abundantly in the Vẽ mountain area of Yên Na commune, but now, to harvest it, one has to go to more remote mountainous areas.
According to residents of Yen Na commune, those who harvest civets usually work in groups, often couples. If they are lucky enough to find a good patch of trees, they can dig up about 100-150 kg of civets per day.
Whatever amount of wood the civets harvest, they sell it all. Traders bring scales right to the foot of the mountain to buy it at a price of 16,000 to 18,000 VND per yến (10 kg).
The Chinese elm is a valuable medicinal plant, known as "mao cẩu tích" in traditional Chinese medicine. However, over-exploitation by the people has led to its increasing scarcity. Without proper management and planning, this medicinal plant will certainly disappear in the future, like several other valuable species.
Video clip: Locals gather cu li plants waiting for traders to buy them.
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