Forest rangers seized another 300kg of valuable sua timber after seizing the first 366kg lot of sua timber in the protected Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in early May. Source: Viet Nam News
The newly found timber was allegedly from three trees cut down by lumberjacks in the park at the Xuan Trach Commune, Bo Trach District according to Luu Minh Thanh, the park’s director.
The sua tree (Dalbergia tonkinensis Prain) has been listed as an endangered flora species in Viet Nam and is on the international red list.
Sua timber is rare and valuable, and as per a local myth, can be used for spiritual purposes and treatment of some diseases in China.
The director told Viet Nam News that it was possible “the lumberjacks had hidden the timbers in different places in the forest for easily trafficking”.
The amount of sua timber stolen was estimated to be valued at more than VND10 billion($491,000).
