In Thanh Hoa , there is currently an ancient tree, a green lim tree nearly a thousand years old, standing firmly like a sacred "treasure" in the forest of the Thai ethnic people.
From the intersection of Xuan Khang commune, following provincial road 520C to Duc Binh village (Tan Binh commune), we will see the only remaining ancient green lim tree in this land.
The green lim tree - a nearly thousand-year-old ancient tree stands firmly like a sacred "treasure" in the forest of the Thai ethnic group. Photo: Nguoi Dua Tin Newspaper.
In the memories of the Thai people, this area used to be a vast green lim forest. However, through many historical events, today there is only one lim tree called Thiet Lim.
The thousand-year-old "Forest God" is about 50m tall and has a trunk diameter of nearly 2m. The lim tree has a straight, majestic appearance, like a living symbol of the strength rising from the mountains and forests.
Although the tree canopy is not too wide, its trunk reaches up to the sky, showing resilience through many ups and downs.
Approaching the tree, it was easy to see the scars left by the ravages of time. Some of them had rotted and were reinforced with cement to prevent termites. The trunk still bore traces of previous choppings, with a saw mark that had eaten deep into the trunk.
This ancient green lim tree is about 700 years old, about 50m tall and has a trunk diameter of nearly 2m. Photo: Lao Dong Newspaper
In 1989, a group of people intended to cut down this ironwood tree. Fortunately, the commune government and villagers promptly stopped it. Since then, the protection of ironwood trees has been implemented more strictly.
The Thai ethnic group has a deep spiritual belief in ancient trees, considering them the residence of gods and ancestors' souls.
Therefore, cutting down these trees is taboo. Encroachments mainly come from groups of people outside the locality.
During the war, ironwood forests were exploited to serve national needs such as building railways, manufacturing weapons, and many other purposes.
However, after years of war, over-exploitation and lax management have caused the ancient ironwood forest area to be almost wiped out.
The work of protecting ancient lim trees is always strictly implemented. Photo: Dan Tri Newspaper
From 2011 to 2013, Ben En National Park implemented the project “Conservation and development of green lim species”, focusing on restoring and protecting thousand-year-old lim trees. Since then, 1,000 hectares of natural lim forest have been zoned for protection, and 5 hectares of new lim forest have been planted from ancient tree varieties.
Ben En National Park has implemented the restoration and protection of ancient trees, which are thousand-year-old ironwood trees. Photo: Natural Resources and Environment Newspaper.
In 2022, the ancient green lim tree was officially recognized as a Vietnam Heritage Tree, as a living symbol of respect and preservation of precious genetic resources. Currently, the tree is carefully protected with fences, regularly sprayed with anti-termite and anti-mold chemicals and carefully cared for.
Tan Binh Commune People's Committee has established three forest protection teams with 21 members, coordinating with Ben En National Park to manage and replant green lim forest areas.
According to information from Ben En National Park, since 2011, more than 300 hectares of green lim forest have been newly planted thanks to funding from the State budget and international cooperation. In the period 2023-2030, the goal is to plant an additional 200 hectares of green lim forest.
The ranger station is located 500m from the heritage green lim tree to facilitate patrolling, detecting and protecting the forest. Photo: Nguoi Dua Tin Newspaper
The thousand-year-old ironwood tree is not only a precious natural heritage but also a symbol of the resilient strength of Thanh Hoa's old forests. Efforts to preserve and develop green ironwood forests are clear evidence of the community's joint efforts in preserving the priceless values bestowed by nature.
Source: https://danviet.vn/cay-co-thu-than-rung-nghin-nam-tuoi-con-sot-lai-o-khu-rung-thanh-hoa-cao-50m-nganh-len-muon-ngop-20250127224142092.htm
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