Sustainable harvest of wild leaves on Cham Islands

Precious remedies

There are 499 species of plants under 352 genuses, 115 families and 5 orders on Cham Islands. 342 of them are useful and 116 medicinal herb species. A large part of them are used as vegetables and 65 others are cooked to make drinks.

However, the unmanaged and uncontrolled hearvest has lessened the biodiversity on the islands. So, it is necessary to have a plan to preserve them.

The study of turning wild vegetables on Cham Islands (Hoi An, Quang Nam) into precious remedies, harvesting and preserving them effectively has inspired  Dr. Nguyen Nhan Duc and coworkers to make up some remedies from wild vegetables and leaves.

They can be used for some diseases of digestation and mardiovascular, and as tranquillizers.

Precious genes conservation

The product of wild leaves on Cham Islands was registered as a collective trademark in May 2018 and managed by the Farmers’ Union of Tan Hiep commune. The products after being harvested will be sent to Cu Lao Cham Farming and Tourism Services Cooperative. However, most of products from Cham Islands are of raw materials, thus low economic values. Hoi An authorities are encouraging researchers and businesses to develop high valued products from them.

Therefore, it is necessary to turn raw materials of wild leaves there into more valuable products such as tea bags. Researchers should facilitate the exploitation of product values.

The conversation of wild vegetables and leaves for drinks is required.

At present, the cultivation and preservation of precious genes is also implemented in order to ensure pharmaceutical values of wild vegetables and leaves on the islands. 4 models of plant cultivation have been built.

Besides, the processes of planting, taking care, and harvesting vegetables are also introduced to the locals.

Moreover, it is possible to move these species to other places with similar soil and climate conditions in the coming time.