Over 970 ancient trees recognized as Viet Nam heritage trees

A Vietnam heritage tree in Viet Tri city

According to the Viet Nam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment (VACNE), more than 970 trees of 70 different plant species across the nation, have been recognised as Viet Nam Heritage Trees over the past five years.

The information was released at a conference to review the implementation of the five-year Viet Nam Heritage Tree conservation held in the northern province of Phu Tho on April 19th.

Co-managed by VACNE and the Viet Nam Union of Scientific and Technological Associations, the recognition and protection of Vietnam’s heritage trees has contributed to protecting the natural environment and the genetic sources of rare trees.

Heritage trees, which are often planted at religious, cultural and historical relic sites, also contribute to creating very natural and clean environment at the sites.

Heritage trees are present in most localities across the country, from the nation’s northern frontier in Ha Giang province, the highest peak Fansipan, to the southernmost Con Dao, from the Central Highlands to the Spratly archipelago. Many are rare and endemic plants and extremely old such as the two thousands-year-old Vatica trees at Thien Co temple in Phu Tho’s Viet Tri city and the ‘Do quyen canh tho’ (Rhododendron basilicum) near the peak of the 3,143m Fansipan mountain in Hoang Lien National Park – the only endemic plant which exists in Viet Nam.

In the near future, VACNE will coordinate with localities nationwide to make the Viet Nam heritage tree protection to become a mass movement with an enthusiastic response from the community in order to protect biodiversity and environment, contributing to national sustainable development.