The research on preservation of rare plant species, including Shorea falcata J.E.Vital, Hopea cordata J.E.Vital, Sindora maritima Pierre, Dipterocarpus condorensis Pierre on Cam Ranh Peninsula has been successfully conducted...
The research on preservation of rare plant species, including Shorea falcata J.E.Vital, Hopea cordata J.E.Vital, Sindora maritima Pierre, Dipterocarpus condorensis Pierre on Cam Ranh Peninsula has been successfully conducted by Cam Lam Protective Forest Management Board, contributing to the preservation of the endangered species.
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| Rare plant species in nurseries. |
Risk of extinction
It is urgent to protect the species as they are being put at risk of extinction because of effects by forest destruction together with residential expansion, says Architect Nguyen Phuoc Bao Canh, Head of the technical crew of Cam Lam Protective Forest Management Board, the Director of the research. Shorea falcata J.E.Vital is endemic to Vietnam and distributed mainly on Cam Ranh Peninsula and Phu Yen Province. However, the Shorea falcata J.E.Vital population has just found in Khanh Hoa recently. The trees provide important timber for construction and shipbuilding industries. The species thrives in dry coastal sandy soil. It is included in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
Hopea cordata J.E.Vital has only found in Cam Hai Dong commune on Cam Ranh Peninsula. Its growth rate is slow. The species is now in urgent need for conservation and included in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Sindora maritima Pierre is distributed in the central region of Vietnam. It thrives in coastal sandy soil. The tree is large, 0.8m in diameter, used to make furniture and wooden handicrafts. The species is classified as less endangered but still in need of preservation as its distribution habitat has significantly decreased.
Dipterocarpus condorensis Pierre is endemic to Vietnam and distributed mainly in Con Dao. Besides, the populations are also found along the coast from Binh Thuan Province to Ba Ria, Vung Tau. Some 30 Dipterocarpus condorensis Pierre individuals are found, covering 1,000 m2 in Cam Duc Town in Khanh Hoa. Its timber is used in construction and its resin is used to seal the seams of wooden ships. The drought-tolerant species has a high regeneration from seeds and naturally grows on sandy soil. It is urgent to protect the species because of its limited seedlings.
Successful preservation
The research includes distribution investigation, multiplication and a preservation plan. To investigate and evaluate the species distribution, Cam Lam Protective Forest Management Board staff have conducted investigation on forest structure in 200 m2 forest sample plots; located and drawn distribution maps. The multiplication, seedling collection and forest cultivation have been done on 6ha of forest with a density of 500 trees/ ha.
The researchers have conducted an investigation on 520ha; set up a 20km investigation line and 20 sample plots; built maps of distribution; fruit and seed collection; raised seedlings (4000 trees/ 4 species) in nurseries for 18 months; planted and taken care of 6ha of forests; multiplied 3,000 plants/ 4 species and made research reports. After the multiplication, preserved trees are to be planted on Nguyen Tat Thanh Avenue and at Cam Lam Vocational School, adds Architect Nguyen Phuoc Bao Canh. The research is meaningful, meeting the requirement for methods, products, specialized techniques and progress, according to Mai Van Thang, Vice-Director of Khanh Hoa Department of Natural Resources & Environment, Chairman of Acceptance Council.
Khanh Hoa Province has approved the research results of the research and assigned local departments to manage and apply the research to continue preserving 4 rare species in Khanh Hoa.
V.L
Translated by N.T
