The Central Highlands province of Dak Lak has undertaken efforts to protect the precious and rare water pines (scientifically known as Glyptostrobus pensilis). The water pine is a precious and endangered flora species listed in Vietnam’s Red Data Book while the World Wide Fund for Nature declared water pine as one of the critically endangered flora species. The trees are found only in China, Laos and Vietnam with the majority of the specimens in the two Vietnamese reserves in Dak Lak province. Since 2007, the Western Highlands Agro-Forestry Scientific and Technical Institute (WASI) has implemented a project on protecting water pines based on its research studies on their biological characteristics and proper breeding techniques. In January 2011, the provincial People’s Committee approved a similar project for 2010-2015. Under the project, two management boards have been established in the Ea Ral and Trap K’Sor water pine reserves in Ea H’Leo and Krong Nang districts, with water pine coverage of 49 and 61.6 hectares, respectively. Local residents and forest guards have also engaged in protecting water pines across Krong Buk district. In 2013, the province expanded water pine tree growing areas in the districts of Krong Nang, Ea Hleo and Krong Pak. It also approved the allocation of 600 million VND (27,270 USD) to develop grafted water pine trees. Apart from economic value, water pine also boasts other values scientifically and environmentally as it can keep underwater stay. The Government has issued Decree 32 on managing endangered fauna and flora, banning the processing and trading of water pines for commercial purposes.-VNA