Co Tu people protect the forest

Customary law of forest protection

Tay Giang district has more than 91 thousand hectares of forest. Of which, natural forests account for more than 70% with many rare and precious woods such as ironwood (250 hectares), rhododendron (430 hectares), and giổi (300 hectares), along with the diversity of rare and precious flora and fauna remaining on the Truong Son range. In particular, the Pơ mu population distributed over an area of nearly 500 hectares is considered a treasure in the Tay Giang forest area. Currently, the Pơ mu population is strictly protected by the local government and people, almost intact with more than 2,000 trees, including 1,146 trees recognized as Vietnam Heritage Trees. This is considered one of the rarest and most precious timber forests remaining in the Central Highlands region in particular and the whole country in general.

*Forest Thanksgiving Ceremony of the Co Tu people in Tay Giang district*

This is possible because for many years, the Co Tu community has built its own customary law to protect the forest. For the Co Tu, when taking anything from the forest, they always believe that they must ask the forest gods (Abhô Jàng). Cutting down big or small trees requires asking, making offerings, and having the villagers discuss and approve before being allowed to cut down and bring them home. Everything in the forest belongs to the whole community, and everyone has the responsibility and obligation to preserve and protect it. Anyone who violates will be fined by the village, or more severely, banned from entering the forest.

Co Tu customary law also prohibits burning down upstream forests, because for them, the upstream is the source of life for people, if destroyed, the village is prone to disease and death. Therefore, anyone who destroys upstream forests must pay a fee to the village, at least: a big pig, a goat and a log of wine.

It is from the above concepts that the Co Tu people always teach their children with very profound, civilized, and insightful sayings: "Birds in the sky need vast green forests/ Fish in the source need clear water/ Co Tu people need the protection of mother forest/ For our villagers to grow and flourish/ For our crops to always be bountiful/ For Co Tu people everywhere to exist forever.../ Without forests, birds will no longer sing/ Without streams and rivers, fish will no longer breathe/ Without mother forest, the Co Tu people will perish".

Around the second lunar month, at the roof of the Guol house located in the middle of the primeval forest areas, the Co Tu people hold the Opening Year of Thanksgiving for the Forest. According to cultural researchers, this is considered the largest Thanksgiving for the Forest festival in Vietnam. Mr. Nguyen Van Luom, Chairman of the People's Committee of Tay Giang district, said that the Opening Year of Thanksgiving for the Forest is a beautiful tradition of the Co Tu people to thank Mother Nature for her protection. Since 2018, the Tay Giang district government has restored the Thanksgiving for the Forest Festival on a large scale, not only to restore and preserve the traditional culture of the Co Tu people but also to raise awareness of forest protection and forest protection culture among the people.

"Maintaining the Forest Thanksgiving Festival has great significance in praising good deeds and strongly encouraging the joint efforts to preserve the natural environment, protect old forests and water resources in the community" - Mr. Nguyen Van Luom informed.

Tay Giang forest is considered one of the rarest remaining forests of precious timber.

Multiply the treasures in the wilderness

For the Co Tu people, the forest is not only a living environment, trees, plants and animals that give them life, the forest is also a source of culture, a god that protects and shelters them from wild animals, enemies and natural disasters. Therefore, not only protecting the forest, the Co Tu people also voluntarily and enthusiastically participate in planting trees and forests, spending their own money to build rural roads for convenient travel, directing their lives outward, towards the lowlands, reducing dependence on deep forests. This is also an effective way to protect the forest, moving towards community tourism , living off the beauty of the forest, but turning the forest into a resource to serve people.

Ms. Zo Ram Thi Lanh, in Ganil village, Axan commune, Tay Giang district shared: “With the guidance of the staff, we treated the ground cover, carried the trees, and dug holes to plant forests. After planting trees, I regularly monitored to promptly detect pests and diseases, and immediately replanted dead and weak trees so that the trees could live well and develop the forest with the aim of contributing to forest protection and preventing erosion and landslides in the area.”

*The forests in Tay Giang are covered in a vast green color.*

Mr. Nguyen Van Sinh, Director of Tay Giang Protective Forest Management Board, said: The Co Tu people live in communities and have a high awareness of forest protection. As the unit assigned to protect and develop forests, the Management Board has visited people's homes to encourage and propagate people to actively participate in forest planting and protection, keeping the green color of the forests covering all the villages here.

“Forest management and protection work is organized systematically with close coordination between specialized forces and the community. The management board regularly coordinates with village elders and village chiefs to encourage people not to enter the old forest, and regularly patrols the area assigned to the management board,” said Mr. Sinh.

While in many places, forests are being destroyed and evaporated every day, in Tay Giang, in the past 7 years, there has only been one case of deforestation. It is thanks to the tradition of forest protection left by our ancestors that is being cultivated and passed down through many generations by the people here.

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