Preserving ancient trees in the middle of residential areas

Video : Ancient tree forest in Ha Tien village, Duc Thinh commune, Ha Tinh province

Nestled in the middle of a residential area, surrounded by a convenient inter-village and inter-commune traffic system, this small forest is actually a home garden owned by 6 siblings in the family of Mrs. Nguyen Thi Dao (born in 1949, residing in Ha Tien village).

Over the years, to preserve the forest to grow green and lush, contributing to protecting against natural disasters, storms, and protecting life, nearly 4 generations of Ms. Dao's family have devoted a lot of effort and enthusiasm to caring for, preserving, protecting, and replanting.

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Dao next to the ancient tree forest

Sharing with us, Mrs. Dao said that this forest has existed for a long time, then was taken over, cared for, protected and developed by Mr. Nguyen Van Cau - her grandfather.

After Mr. Cau passed away, his six sons continued to look after the forest.

After decades of care, these children passed away one by one, and the forest continued to be handed over to the next generation of descendants, who continued to care for and protect it.

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Dao next to an ancient tree

“For generations, generations in my family have maintained the tradition of passing it on to their children, taking turns to look after and protect the forest, from replanting, caring for, and enriching the flora, to fire prevention and fighting, and preventing acts of forest encroachment,” Ms. Dao shared.

According to Mrs. Dao, neighbors in the village and commune are also very conscious, joining hands with her family to protect and preserve the forest, so we have the valuable forest we have today.

Ms. Dao said that the forest has an area of about 2 hectares, inside there are many types of precious trees, about 15-40m high, with lush branches and leaves, typically sour wood, doi wood, cho chi wood, troi wood, sang wood, boi loi wood, go wood, cam lai wood, jackfruit wood...

Among them, there are many ancient trees, hundreds of years old, with a trunk diameter that requires 2-3 people to hug around.

Over the years, many people from inside and outside the locality have come to her house to persuade and offer high prices to buy these precious trees, but Ms. Dao and her brothers have not sold or cut down the trees.

Everyone is determined to protect and preserve this forest as a treasure, considering it an indispensable part of life that their ancestors left for future generations.

“Over the years, the forest has contributed significantly to shielding against natural disasters, storms, protecting the lives of families and people in Ha Tien village; creating a peaceful and fresh ecological environment. This place is also an ideal space for many species of wild migratory birds to take refuge,” said Ms. Dao.

The ancient tree forest is located in the middle of the residential area of Ha Tien village.

Talking to us, Ms. Bui Thi Bay, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Duc Thinh commune, said that in the past, in Ha Tien village, many households also had some large areas of timber forest, but then they destroyed them and converted them to other uses.

Currently, only the brothers and children of Mrs. Nguyen Thi Dao's family remain determined to care for, protect and preserve the large forest, with many precious and ancient trees, growing green and well, and this place has become the "green lung" for the whole area.

The Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Duc Thinh commune shared: "The forest has also contributed to preserving underground water, providing shade, preventing storms, and creating habitats. The locality highly appreciates the good and meaningful work of Ms. Dao's family in protecting and preserving the green forest environment."

>> Some pictures of the ancient forest located in the middle of the residential area of Ha Tien village: