CONSERVATION OF FIVE PRIORITY THREATENED CONIFER SPECIES IN VIETNAM

The Global Trees Campaign is working with the Vietnamese Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources to conserve and restore threatened conifers in the country. A Conifer Conservation Centre has been developed to propagate and grow five initial target species, and seedlings are being planted out and cared for by native minority families. Existing wild populations of the five species are also being protected.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Working in partnership with the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (IEBR), the Global Trees Campaign is working on the conservation of five priority threatened species of conifer in Vietnam: Taiwania cryptomerioides, Xanthocyparis vietnamensis, Calocedrus rupestris, Glyptostrobus pensilis and Cupressus sp.

FFI has been involved in the conservation of conifers and conifer forests in Vietnam for many years, and was one of the authors of a multi-institutional report Vietnam Conifers Conservation Status Review 2004 (Hiep et al. 2004). Since this seminal publication, FFI has been working to implement some of the recommendations it contained, starting with a project: Initiating Conservation Of Threatened Vietnamese Cypress Trees in 2005-2006.

The current project, which was initiated in 2007 and builds on the results of previous work, aims to improve the conservation status of the five target species through:

      a) protection of the remaining wild trees;

      b) the development of propagation techniques to produce nursery-grown saplings;

      c) establishment of secure ex-situ populations;

      d) enrichment planting to reinforce the natural populations.

Outcomes of the project so far include:

• Conifer Conservation Centre (CCC) established in north Vietnam with fully functioning nursery for conifer propagation;
• Satellite nursery established in Hanoi for propagation of species unable to grow at the main CCC site;
• Established saplings (more than three months old) of three threatened conifer species
• growing at the CCC;
• Newly propagated saplings of two other species at CCC satellite nursery;
• Populations of Xanthocyparis vietnamensis and Taiwania cryptomeroides reinforced through out-plantings;
• Local families involved in threatened tree conservation and care.
• Protection of the 169 known wild Xanthocyparis vietnamensis trees increased through tree labelling and monitoring

In 2008, activities included further plantings of saplings grown in the CCC involving local families, monitoring and maintenance of those saplings already planted, continuing with the care and propagation of the target species and the development of techniques for seed germination and improved propagation.

We are currently supporting further conifer restoration work through our Conservation Gifts at Tree2MyDoor.com - click for more information and to plant a conifer tree as a gift.

Back to Current Projects