HÀ NỘI – For two years, Võ Văn Công, 40, of the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai, has taken many of his precious orchids and replanted them in the forests, where many have been cut down for sale.
For 20 years, Công has cultivated about 500 species of orchids in his 600-sq.m garden.
“I hope to do something to conserve rare species by taking seeds to grow in the Kon Ka Kinh National Park in Gia Lai and forests in Kon Tum Province.”
In March 2014, he and his friends selected 50 orchid seeds to grow in the forest at Ngọc Yêu Commune in Kon Tum’s Tu Mơ Rông District.
The team later chose the Kon Ka Kinh National Park to plant orchids, with more than 160 seeds planted in natural habitats.
Sunlight, weather, humidity and environmental factors all determine which species of orchids should be planted.
Nguyễn Văn Hoan, director of Kon Ka Kinh National Park, says that conservationists and forest protection officials had appreciated his efforts to conserve rare orchid species.
It takes several years for seeds to grow, so the park will closely work with Công to supervise the development of orchids.
“I hope that my effort will contribute to the conservation of rare endemic species,” Công says.–VNS