Hard work planting forests on Tam Ban peak

To ensure the landscape of Thanh Mai pagoda, pine trees were chosen to be planted here.

If production forests are exploited and newly planted by people, planting forests is relatively convenient because they are located in low positions and can use supporting machines, then planting special-use and protective forests is a process that requires patience and perseverance. Forest planting is a seasonal job, only taking place in the spring when there is drizzle, helping forest trees quickly take root on rocky hills. Planters must be local people to be familiar with the roads and paths and have forest-going skills. This year, Hai Duong carried out protective forest planting on the top of Tam Ban mountain in Hoang Hoa Tham commune (Chi Linh), so the difficulties were even more numerous.

The forest area on Tam Ban peak is nearly 600 m high, it takes more than 1 hour to walk.

Tam Ban peak is nearly 600 m high, but the road is steep and winding, and it takes more than an hour to reach the top. But that is for people in good health who do not carry heavy objects. For forest planters, walking and carrying seedlings takes much more time and effort. For nearly a month now, Mr. Luc Van Huynh in Thanh Mai village, Hoang Hoa Tham commune has been taking on the job of carrying seedlings to the top of Tam Ban. Because the road is long and has many steep sections, he only carries one trip, equivalent to 200 seedlings, and only when the weather is favorable can he carry a second trip. Forest planting is only favorable when it rains, and when it rains, the road is slippery, making it even harder for the carrier. "We are paid 1,000 VND to bring a seedling to the planting site. Although the pay is not high, this job is selective. Therefore, in addition to earning extra income, we consider this a responsibility to the mountains and forests, so we happily do it without thinking twice," said Mr. Huynh.

Each time, people can only carry about 200 seedlings to the planting area.

Due to the long distance and difficult travel, for nearly a month now, nearly ten people have stayed at Tam Ban peak to eat and sleep with the forest to plant trees. In order not to affect the progress as well as to take advantage of the spring weather, they brought along necessary living items and set up temporary shelters in the forest. Ms. Hoang Thi Gai from Thanh Mai village said that eating and sleeping in the forest is lacking and inconvenient, but if they leave in the morning and return in the evening, it will take time, and it will not ensure their health to plant trees for a long time. Therefore, everyone chose to stay in the forest, only going down the mountain once every few days. Eating, drinking, and sleeping in the forest must be done carefully, especially when lighting a fire to cook. Although it is difficult, everyone encourages each other to overcome it to soon finish planting more than 10,000 pine trees on Tam Ban peak.

To facilitate afforestation, people built temporary shelters to eat and sleep in the forest.

With many years of experience in afforestation, this is the first time Mr. Luc Van Minh in Thanh Mai village has undertaken afforestation in a high area, and it is as difficult as this time because he is already tired just by moving to the site without having to work. Moreover, clearing bushes and digging holes also takes more effort because the mountain top area is mainly rocks and gravel. "The work is hard, but we still have to race against time. If we are not quick, not urgent, and the weather turns to summer, all our efforts will be in vain, and the forest trees will have difficulty surviving," said Mr. Minh.

Food during the stay in the forest is often found by people right in the forest.

Forest Management Board staff regularly monitor and guide people in planting forests.

Regularly urging and guiding forest planters to follow the correct procedures and increase the survival rate are employees of the Forest Management Board. Regularly 3 times a week, the board's staff goes to the planting site to check the progress and quality of the planted forest. According to Mr. Nguyen Van Tuyen, Head of the Planning and Technical Department (Provincial Forest Management Board), in addition to planting forests, the planting and management unit must closely monitor and take care of the forest trees in the first 3 years. In high mountainous areas without trees like Tam Ban peak, if not paying attention to care, the death rate of trees is very high. However, the units should not be afraid of difficulties and hardships because the greening of key forest locations is very important. In the coming time, the board will continue to advise on afforestation plans in poor protective forest areas and in difficult places so that trees can cling to the forest soil.

STRONG