Many people think that the kơ nia tree only appears in the mountains and forests of the Central Highlands, but right in the middle of the plains where the martial arts land of Binh Dinh exists, an ancient kơ nia garden is considered a treasure of the people here.
According to seniors in Hoa My village, Nhon Phuc commune (An Nhon town), there are currently more than 20 pine trees still standing around the campus of Hoa My village cultural house. In addition, there are some trees scattered in the production forest land of local people managed by the locality. People said that this garden has been around for a long time, with a lifespan of hundreds of years.
Ha Van An (80 years old, Hoa My hamlet, Nhon Phuc commune) said that in the past, there was a forest in this area, there was a communal house, so it was also called Dinh forest. Before liberation, this area was still densely forested, many times people entered the forest and even faced tigers.
“Since my forefathers had it, when I was growing up, I saw many pine trees growing here. There were many trees tens of meters high, large bodies 2-3 people could not hug. Coming to the younger class later on. When they go to graze cows and herd buffaloes, they all come under the tree to play. In the wrong season, the children of that time also picked up the fallen cherries and ate them to help with their hunger. The pine nuts are delicious and now become a specialty.” Uncle Ann said.
However, after the population was crowded, people reclaimed land for farming, and then the destruction of loggers, the kơ nia forest in Hoa My gradually disappeared. “Now, there are only over 30 pine trees left, mainly growing in and around the cultural house of Hoa My village. So for decades, the whole village has kept it as a treasure of the village,” An said.
According to the people of Hoa My village, a few years ago, when building a village cultural house, because of a large pine tree, it was forced to cut down this branch to build it, but did not dare for fear of touching the “god”. Later, a villager volunteered to take on the responsibility of cutting down. Before sawing the branches of the kơ nia tree, the village also offered the fruit to pray for first. But not long after this man fell seriously ill and died, from then on, the people of the village became more and more confident and determined to protect this kina garden.
People in Hoa My also consider the remnants of the ancient kino garden as a “rare property” not only in the locality but also in the whole province of Binh Dinh. Because, even in the Central Highlands, which is considered the land of this plant, there are still very few and scattered in villages. Therefore, the People’s Committee of Hoa My village as well as the elderly in the village regularly remind their children and villagers not to cut down the pine tree for timber or burn it to death. Up to now, from old to young, everyone is aware that the ancient kino tree is the symbol of the village, so they try to preserve and protect it.
Mr. Van Dinh Binh – Secretary of the Party cell, head of Hoa My village who is also the one who holds the key to the campus of the village’s cultural house, said that even though it was an oral “perfume”, the people in the village were very observant. People do not want to violate the village’s regulations, especially they are afraid if they damage the hundred-year-old pine trees, which are considered symbols of the village.
The protection of this ancient kơ nia garden was shown most clearly when the government planned to build the Cultural House in Hoa My village a few years ago. Mr. Binh said that in the past, the cultural house was planned to be built in another area, however, the people proposed to build a cultural house in this area with the purpose of protecting the Kenya garden.
“When building the cultural house, the whole village unanimously made a resolution, resolutely not touching any of the pine trees. Then, when we built a sports field on the campus of the cultural house, if it were to be square, it would have to be beautiful. “sacrifice” three kơ nia trees. In the end, the whole village had a meeting to agree that they had to keep the same trees that the Hoa My people had preserved for so long, “said Mr. Binh.
Mr. Duong Thanh Cuong – Chairman of Nhon Phuc Commune People’s Committee – shared that this hundred-year-old koi garden is a feature not only of the people of Hoa My village but also of Nhon Phuc commune. I feel proud to have a unique and priceless ancient kơ nia garden that has been preserved by people for generations. Therefore, Hoa My people are also very aware and responsible to take care of and protect the garden.
The scientific name is Irvingia malayana of the genus Irvingia, which is native to Africa and Southeast Asia. The tree is widely distributed in Asia, the tree is present in Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia.
In Vietnam, this tree is distributed from Quang Nam to some southern provinces and also grows in Phu Quoc and Con Dao islands but is concentrated in the Central Highlands provinces, mostly in Sa Thay – Kon Tum, Lak, and Ban. Don – Dak Lak.
Especially, for the people of the Central Highlands, this tree has great spiritual significance. They consider this tree to be the abode of gods and spirits of the deceased, so they rarely touch or cut down the kina tree. On the upland fields of the local people, there are often ancient trees used as shade trees during breaks and lunch breaks. Therefore, right in the middle of the plain, there is an ancient Kenya garden hundreds of years old that is a “rare property” that needs to be cared for and preserved.
“For generations, our forefathers have preserved and protected this Konia garden, so will our lives. We often remind our children and grandchildren to have a responsibility to protect and take care of the rare and precious common property. this,” said Mr. Binh.
However, what Mr. Binh and the people of Hoa My worry about, if not taken care of well, the tree will become barren, termite and gradually die. “The officials and people of Hoa My very much want the state to pay attention to funding the construction of the belt to preserve and treat termites. If there are conditions to build a small campus, it will attract tourists. Recently, there are also some tourists from far away coming to the village to see first-hand the pine trees in the plains. Because they think that it is very strange to have these trees in the plains,” Mr. Binh said. .
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