Quang Tri: Locals flock to the forest to harvest leechwood, selling it for 3 million VND/kg.

On December 11-12, the Quang Tri Provincial Forest Protection Department confirmed that people are searching for "feng shui" wood from the Man Dia tree, selling each kilogram for 3 million VND.

For several days now, in mountainous communes of Quang Tri province such as Kim Dien, Kim Hoa, Dan Hoa..., hundreds of people have been going into the forest to search for "man dia" trees, a type of wood previously considered low-quality timber, but now being bought by traders at prices up to 3 million VND/kg for export to China.

Leech wood in a trader's warehouse

A local trader said that the more oil the mangrove wood contains, the darker the core and the blacker the grain, the higher the price. "They only say they're buying it for feng shui purposes, but they don't reveal what they'll use it for," the trader said.

Mr. Pham Van Tan, Director of the Center for Forest Protection and World Heritage, Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park, said that forest rangers are increasing patrols. Although the limestone forest area of ​​the National Park does not have many Man Dia trees, "the high price is driving people to find every way to get into the forest."

Leech-eating mangrove trees in the forests of the mountainous region of Quang Tri province.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Long, Head of the Quang Tri Forest Protection Department, the purchase of this type of wood has spread from Laos and is showing signs of increasing. The provincial forest protection agency has set up checkpoints, gone to the field to gather information, and strictly dealt with illegal logging and transportation of forest products.

According to the forestry agency, Archidendron clypearia wood belongs to wood group 8, which is not highly valuable but has been falsely marketed as "feng shui items." According to forestry documents, Archidendron clypearia is a wood group 8, soft, light, and often used for door frames or simple furniture. The leaves are also used in folk medicine to treat scabies and as a dye.

The unusually high prices paid by Chinese traders are leading to a massive hunt for this type of wood, posing a risk of deforestation and creating illegal timber trafficking networks.

Forest rangers advise people not to enter forests to harvest or transport forest products without permission. Local authorities are stepping up inspections and enforcement to prevent the "hunting for auspicious wood" that threatens forest security and impacts the ecosystem.

MINH PHONG

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/quang-tri-nguoi-dan-do-xo-vao-rung-khai-thac-go-man-dia-ban-3-trieu-dongkg-post828174.html