Na Hang Nature Reserve, Tat Ke Sector - Frontier-publications.co.uk

Na Hang Nature Reserve, Tat Ke Sector 1997
was seen and heard chasing a deer through the forest. The District Rangers Office
confirmed this.
The stream flowing through Tat Ke village has been overfished using the poison leaf
of Momordica cochinchinensis (Family Cucurbitaceae). Only small fish now populate
these waters. The Nang and Gam rivers are fished using net and lines and electric
methods. Some explosive fishing is reputably still carried out on a small scale
although it was not observed.
12.3.4.2 Food and medicine
The following products were observed to be taken from the forest during the study
period:
• Bamboo (Poaceae) shoots were frequently collected during the study period; this was
the main season for its harvest.
• Polygonum hydropiper (Polygonaceae) is used as a vegetable to stuff bamboo
shoots.
• Arenga pinnata (Arecaceae) is used by some houses in Lung Pang in the production
of rice wine.
• The Hmong villagers use Dioscoria alata (Dioscoriaceae) from the forest to
supplement their diet when maize reserves are finished.
• Tay villagers at Tat Ke collected Scoparia dulsis (Scrophulariaceae) for use as a
herbal tea; in addition to domestic use, the herb was dried and sold at Na Hang.
• Herbal medicines are still used for snake bites, skin infections, rashes and other
minor ailments. Ocimum tomentosus (Lamiaceae) is used in the cure of
dermatological problems; Fibraurea tinctoria (Menispermaceae) is used as an
antibiotic during the treatment of animal bites and cuts. Alocasia hainanica (Araceae)
is used to reduce swelling around cuts and bruises.
12.3.4.3 Timber
There is no evidence to suggest clear-cut logging for timber occurs at present.
Selective logging does occur on a small scale for domestic use, and is carried out
using traditional methods. No chainsaws or heavy machinery are used. The practice is
monitored and controlled; permission to log timber for the construction of houses has
to be obtained from the district committee beforehand. Species used in the
construction of houses include:
• Woody plants for the construction of the frame :
Markhamia stipulata (Bignoniaceae)
Fagraea fragans (Loganiaceae)
Erythrophloeum fordii (Fabaceae)
Artocarpus heterophyllus (Moraceae)
Burretiodendron hsienmu (Tiliaceae)
Frontier-Vietnam Environment Research Report 9 48