Van Linh: Cultivating "golden wood" brings in billions of dong for the village.

- Recognizing the increasing demand for Hữu Liên sandalwood seedlings, several households in Vạn Linh commune have started cultivating sandalwood seedlings. This not only contributes to the conservation and development of this valuable endemic tree species of the locality but also provides people with a stable source of income.

Mr. Vu Viet Nghia, from Mo Ro village, Van Linh commune, inspects the quality of Huu Lien cypress saplings.

The family of Mr. Ho Van Thoi, in Lung Na village, Van Linh commune, is one of the pioneering households implementing the model of cultivating sandalwood seedlings in Huu Lien. Mr. Thoi shared: "Since 2015, my family has started cultivating sandalwood seedlings, however, at that time I only experimented with a few hundred trees. Currently, my family has expanded the nursery to an area of ​​2 sao (approximately 2,000 square meters); on average, we sell 2,000 seedlings each year, with prices ranging from 1 to 1.2 million VND per tree (depending on size), bringing in an income of 1.2 billion VND after deducting expenses."

Similarly, Mr. Vu Viet Nghia, from Mo Ro village, Van Linh commune, is also successfully developing a model for cultivating Huu Lien sandalwood seedlings. Mr. Nghia said: "Driven by the desire to preserve this endemic local tree species, since 2019 I have been learning the techniques for cultivating this type of tree. Through trial and error, and learning from successful seedling cultivation models in the commune, by 2024 I had successfully cultivated Huu Lien sandalwood seedlings, with a germination rate of 50%. From 2024 to the present, I have sold 1,000 seedlings to the market, with prices ranging from 200,000 to 500,000 VND per seedling (depending on size), bringing in an income of over 300 million VND. Currently, my nursery has about 5,000 seedlings ready for sale." Besides cultivating saplings, I also research how to shape sandalwood bonsai trees, which are worth 10-20 times more than ordinary sandalwood trees.

In Van Linh commune, there are 7 households that cultivate a relatively large quantity of Huu Lien sandalwood seedlings. On average, each household sells between 500 and 1,000 seedlings to the market annually, with some households selling over 2,000 seedlings per year. Due to their high value, some households earn over 1 billion VND per year from selling these seedlings.

Not only the two households mentioned above, but in recent years, many households in Van Linh commune have learned from and developed the model of cultivating Huu Lien sandalwood seedlings. Currently, the entire commune has 7 households cultivating Huu Lien sandalwood seedlings in relatively large quantities. On average, each household sells between 500 and 1,000 seedlings to the market each year, with some households selling over 2,000 seedlings per year.

The Hữu Liên sandalwood tree is a rare species found only in the wild in Lang Son province. It is a tree of high economic value; its wood has a delicate fragrance and is favored for high-end handicrafts, while its essential oil is used in medicine and perfumes. Because of its multifaceted value, the Hữu Liên sandalwood tree has been exploited to the point of depletion, facing the risk of extinction in the wild. Therefore, the successful cultivation of Hữu Liên sandalwood seedlings in Van Linh commune plays a crucial role in the "revival" of this rare and endemic species.

Currently, households in the commune mainly use the seed sowing method to grow cypress trees. The seeds are soaked in water for about half a day, then incubated for two weeks before being placed in seed trays made of loam soil mixed with manure. However, the nursery process requires high technical skill because the germination rate and the survival rate of seedlings after being placed in the trays are low, so care must be taken very carefully.

To manage seed quality and ensure legal origin, the Van Linh commune government has recently coordinated with the Chi Lang Regional Forestry Department to promote awareness and guide households in registering and obtaining codes for their nurseries according to regulations.

Ms. Duong Thi Ut Nham, Deputy Head of the Chi Lang Forest Protection Department, said: "In recent times, some households in Van Linh commune have developed an effective model of cultivating Huu Lien sandalwood seedlings, contributing to increasing income and preserving this endemic and rare species of the locality. To date, the entire commune has 7 Huu Lien sandalwood seedling nurseries that have been granted codes by the Provincial Forest Protection Department for planting endangered, rare, and precious forest plants. In the coming time, we will continue to effectively inspect, supervise, and guide these facilities to comply with regulations, ensuring quality and technical procedures, contributing to facilitating management and improving economic efficiency for the people."

It can be seen that the model of cultivating the Huu Lien cypress tree in Van Linh commune not only opens up a new direction for economic development, helping people have stable income, but also plays an important role in preserving this endemic and rare tree species of Lang Son province.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/van-linh-trien-vong-tu-uom-cay-hoang-dan-huu-lien-5066915.html