WWF supports establishing tung tree value chain

On September 7, in Huong Phung commune, Quang Tri province, WWF-Viet Nam facilitated the signing of a tung seed purchasing agreement between Quang Tri Trading Corporation Joint Stock Company (Sepon Group) and local communities.

The tung tree is associated with the livelihoods of many communities in the western communes of Quang Tri province. Tung seeds can be extracted into tung oil, a raw material of interest to the international market due to its renewable, non-toxic nature and its ability to replace petroleum-based products in various industrial applications.

Although bringing economic value to many Pa Co and Van Kieu communities, the consumption of tung seeds still faces numerous difficulties.

In 2025, with the connection of WWF-Viet Nam, Sepon Group began purchasing tung seeds directly from the community at a higher-than-market price. By November 2025, the first two containers of tung seeds were officially exported to India.

The 2026 agreement will build a more stable and organized link between the enterprise and the community, with clauses on forest and biodiversity protection. Residents commit to collecting seeds using correct techniques, protecting mother tung trees, not clearing natural forests, not hunting wildlife, and not harming the ecosystem.

This result creates a premise for the linkage between businesses and communities to be expanded, and is also a condition to promote forest protection, natural environment conservation and erosion and landslide prevention.

Mr. Phan Van Phuoc, Deputy Director of the Quang Tri Department of Agriculture and Environment, said developing livelihoods linked to forest protection is an important direction to ensure sustainable development in mountainous areas. The companionship of businesses, authorities, and organizations is expected to create more opportunities to improve income, helping people become more proactive and responsible in protecting forests and natural resources.

Mr. Ho Xuan Hieu, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sepon Group, shared: "Linking the purchase of tung seeds is not merely a commercial activity but the first step to jointly build a stable value chain with the community, in which people have an outlet for their products, businesses have a sustainable source of raw materials, and thereby the forests are better protected. We hope this linkage will be increasingly expanded, so that every tung seed collected from the forest not only generates additional income for the people but also contributes to preserving the long-term values of the Truong Son forest".

At the ceremony, 4 communities from Huong Phung and Huong Lap communes signed a cooperation agreement with Sepon Group. About 500 participating households will produce about 300 tons of tung seeds.