6 rare and endangered species of gymnosperms in a forest in Thanh Hoa

Information from the Quan Hoa Forest Protection Department, Thanh Hoa province on November 1 said that a group of rare gymnosperms listed in the Vietnam Red Book, at high risk of extinction, discovered in 2011, are currently growing and developing well.

6 loài cây hạt trần quý hiếm có nguy cơ tuyệt chủng tại 1 khu rừng ở Thanh Hóa - Ảnh 1. — Pine on Pha Phanh peak (Thien Phu commune, Thanh Hoa province) is one of the rare conifer species with high risk of extinction.

This is a gymnosperm species with high biodiversity value, unique limestone mountain forest ecosystems; distributed in the area of primitive forests, preserving the value of biological genetic resources, including the genetic resources of precious and rare gymnosperm species with great scientific, medical, cultural and social value.

Previously, in April 2011, during a field investigation to monitor forest and forestry land developments, Quan Hoa District Forest Protection Department discovered that in Pha Phanh mountain area (Nam Dong commune, old Quan Hoa district; now Thien Phu commune, Thanh Hoa province) there were 4 rare pine species distributed including: Pinus kwangtungensis, Cephalotaxus mannii, Amentotaxus argotaenia, and Podocarpus neriifolius.

6 loài cây hạt trần quý hiếm có nguy cơ tuyệt chủng tại 1 khu rừng ở Thanh Hóa - Ảnh 2. — Leaves of limestone red pine tree were discovered in Thien Phu commune, Thanh Hoa province

In July 2011, Quan Hoa Forest Protection Department coordinated with the Biodiversity Center (Forestry University) to conduct a preliminary investigation and survey of the flora and fauna resources in Pha Phanh mountain area and confirmed the existence of the four rare gymnosperm species mentioned above.

In 2012, Thanh Hoa province approved the project to establish a conservation area for the above rare gymnosperm species. At the same time, Thanh Hoa Provincial Forest Protection Department coordinated with the Institute of Ecology and Construction Protection to conduct an investigation and establish a conservation area for rare gymnosperm species according to regulations.

As a result, in addition to the above four species, researchers discovered two new species: broad-striped pine (Amentotaxus yunnanensis) and limestone red pine (Taxus chinensis).

6 loài cây hạt trần quý hiếm có nguy cơ tuyệt chủng tại 1 khu rừng ở Thanh Hóa - Ảnh 3.

6 loài cây hạt trần quý hiếm có nguy cơ tuyệt chủng tại 1 khu rừng ở Thanh Hóa - Ảnh 4.

6 loài cây hạt trần quý hiếm có nguy cơ tuyệt chủng tại 1 khu rừng ở Thanh Hóa - Ảnh 5.

Pine needles and pine trunks

Mr. Le Van Son, Deputy Head of Quan Hoa District Forest Protection Department, said that these rare coniferous trees live on rocky mountains at an altitude of 1,000 - 1,300 m, many trees are over 100 years old, the largest tree has a diameter of 150 cm; of which 1,240 Pa Co pine trees have been discovered; 260 Peak pine trees, 285 short-leaf bamboo pine trees, 450 white-striped Dế Tung trees...

"The special thing here is that these gymnosperms were found to be distributed in a concentrated manner, in large numbers over an area of about 500 hectares. In the forests of Thanh Hoa, some of these gymnosperms were also recorded, but their concentrated distribution was only found on Pha Phanh Mountain. This is of special importance in the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants," Mr. Son shared.

According to Mr. Son, the current species conservation area has an area of 623 hectares, all of which are endemic species, so the unit regularly coordinates with local authorities and indigenous people to patrol, protect, and monitor the progress of the species. Through monitoring and recording, many species are having a regenerating generation.