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The pine trees, about 700 years old, have always been a part of Yen Tu, a complex of temples, small pagodas, towers, ancient forests and beautiful landscapes, which are considered the cradle of Vietnamese Buddhism. 

However, amid the natural destruction, the attack of insects, old age and poor health, the number of trees in the Yen Tu pine population has been decreasing. 

Meanwhile, local authorities and the local people still cannot think of a solution to rescue the ancient trees.

Yen Tu red pine is an endemic species of the land. It is called a “red pine” because the wood and the resin bear a red color.

Scientists have repeatedly warned that most of the pines are critically diseased. The latest survey conducted in 2012 found there had been 234 red pines left by that time, a drop of 31 trees compared with 1998. 

Of the existing trees, very few have been growing normally. Most of the others are aging and infected with insects, and may collapse and die one day.

Most red pine trees are located on the way from Giai Oan Pagoda to Hoa Yen, a route of pilgrimage. The route is called “Tung” (pine). There are 57 pine trees on the route, six of which have died. There are 18 with hollowed trunks and the others are diseased.

“This is all I know about Yen Tu red pine after I conducted a survey in 2010,” said Pham Van Su, who worked at the Yen Tu Relic and National Park Board of Management for 15 years, the only expert in Vietnam who can grow red pine.

According to the board of management, only 10 trees have been cured as there is a lack of money.

Su, returning to Tung Route on April 9, realized that more trees had died, while others were withering and had been attacked by ants and worms.

According to the Yen Tu Relic and National Park Board of Management, the diseases affecting the red pine trees are curable. 

Some measures have been applied which have helped save trees in the Mot Mai Temple area.

Nguyen Trung Hai, former head of the management board, said the measures can help prolong the life expectancy of the trees by tens or hundreds of years. However, he said they cannot be applied on a large scale because of a lack of money.