Protecting rare conifers and magnolias in northern Vietnam

The karst limestone hills of northern Vietnam are home to some of the world’s rarest and most remarkable trees, including several beautiful magnolias. Sadly, the area is under intense pressure from agriculture and local knowledge or skills surrounding tree conservation are limited. Through the Global Trees Campaign, FFI’s local partner, the Centre for Plant Conservation, is working with local community groups to protect and replant rare tree species in three sites. In 2017, more than 1,100 seedlings from the critically endangered Magnolia grandis (of which there are fewer than 150 adult trees) were planted out by people from three villages in Ha Giang province. This work is being carried out in tandem with a project to save the critically endangered Tonkin snub-nosed monkey, a primate endemic to northern Vietnam that shares the same habitat as Magnolia grandis.

We are grateful for financial support from Fondation Franklinia.