Local residents in villages to the north of Phong Binh commune, centralThua Thien-Hue province, have protected an ancient forest for hundredsof years through their village convention.

“DuongBac”, the ancient forest that surrounds and protects villages in thenorth of Phong Binh commune, Phong Dien district in the central provinceof Thua Thien-Hue, includes various rare and valuable trees that arehundreds of years old.

According to 84-year-old NgoVan Ta, no one knows when the trees were planted, but people are surethe forest has existed since the reign of King Tu Duc from 1847 to 1883.

The trees have stood there for hundreds of yearsprotecting people from storms and floods. Therefore, people designed avillage convention to protect them.

“Duong Bac”now has hundreds of old trees. They are grown in a 9km-long area fromPho Trach, Sieu Quan to Van Trinh communes. The forest is unique and hassignificant environmental and spiritual values. Villagers consider theforest as a monument dedicated to their ancestors who founded thevillages.

Nguyen Dinh Ngoc, Deputy Chairman of thePhong Binh Commune’s People’s Committee said Duong Bac protects localresidents from storms and floods, and local people exert every effort toprotect it.

Aware of their ownership of the forest,local residents from Phong Binh commune have adopted their conventionin an effort to preserve and develop the forest.

All activities, from exploiting the forest to cutting down the trees, are banned, according to the convention.

Anyone found harming the trees will be punished as per the regulations in the village convention.

Culpritswill be fined an amount of money equal to the value of the destroyedtree, and their names will appear in the media.

Asmany localities fail to safeguard their forests, Phong Binh residents’efforts to protect Duong Bac forest is a good example to learn from.-VNA