Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment

(VACNE) - Recently, the authorities and people of Ta Mung commune, Than Uyen district, Lai Chau province solemnly organized the ceremony to announce the decision of the Vietnam Heritage Tree for the land mountain elm tree on March 4, 2024. This is also the first tree of Lai Chau province to be recognized as a Vietnamese Heritage Tree

Attending this solemn ceremony were Mr. Nguyen Van Bien, Director General of Lai Chau Provincial Forest Protection Department; Nguyen Van Thang, Chairman of Than Uyen District People's Committee; Hoang Dinh Trong, Head of the District People's Committee of the People's Committee; Lo Van Tuyen, Vice Chairman of the People's Council of Than Uyen district and representatives of departments, specialized agencies of Than Uyen district; leaders of Ta mung commune and many relatives in the area. ASS. DR. Tran Ngoc Hai, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Heritage Tree Council, presented the diploma and decision on behalf of the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment to local representatives.

Keteleeria evelyniana Mast (Keteleeria evelyniana Mast.) is recognized as a Vietnamese Heritage Tree about 500 years old, the root circumference is 4.57m, the height is over 20m. The tree grows on the steep slope of Ta Mung commune, in section 8 of sub-zone 514 located in the production forest part of the People's Committee of Ta Mung commune, Than Uyen district, Lai Chau province.

This is the only poppy tree found and preserved in Ta Mung now. During the war, Ta Mung was one of the places where the French bombed thousands of hectares of forest, destroying many species of plants and animals. The sour mumu tree here is one of the rare trees that survived the war with strong vitality, becoming a symbol of Ta Mung mountains and forests, which has an important position in the spiritual life of the Hmong people.

Some pictures of the ceremony to recognize the Land Mountain Elm Tree as a Vietnamese Heritage Tree:

Some welcome performances

Mr. Phung Tien Hung, Chairman of Ta Mung Commune People's Committee opened the ceremony

ASS. Dr. Tran Ngoc Hai, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Heritage Tree Council presented the Diploma and Decision on recognition of Vietnam Heritage Trees to local representatives.