<i>Melaleuca</i>
            Wetlands and Sustainable Development in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Maltby, Edward; Ni, Duong Van; Branch, Nick

doi:10.1002/9781444315813.ch37

Cited by 9 publications

(12 citation statements)

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“…Historical study indicated that Mekong Delta of Vietnam was original four million hectares of primary swamp forest ecosystem, however its ecosystem currently remains only 0.068 million hectares [19]. In regard to the U Minh Thuong (UMT) National Park, an endemic peat swamp Melaleuca ecosystem in the Mekong Delta, has been protected and restored since 1993 containing a huge richness of fauna and flora involving many rare and endemic species [20].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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2017

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This paper conducts an original study to examine the restoration of an endemic tropical wetland for bird enrichment in the Mekong Delta. Recovery of swamp Melaleuca forest was a key driver provided an appropriately structural landscape and environment to enrich bird diversity in the study area. During the period 2003 -2013, bird enrichment was increased to 159 bird species after a forest fire, happened in 2002, in which 15 waterbird species with 17,366 individuals; and populations of three waterbirds under the Global and Regional Endangered Lists with hundreds of individuals in UMT National Park. The recovery of forest and richness of birds were likely two important indicators of the successful restoration of Melaleuca swamp ecosystem in the area. Thus, relationships of six variables, involving Melaleuca recovery, bird richness, conservation values, technical awareness, tourism services, and wildfire, were considerable drivers needed to be understood for improving a sustainable management of forested wetland ecosystems. The restore of swamp Melaleuca forest can contribute an important role for the East Asian-Australasian Flyway of birds.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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2017

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“…Most of the seasonally inundated grasslands have been converted into farmland, mostly rice paddies, so very little of this type of natural vegetation remains (Allen et al, 2012;Triet et al, 2000). The remnant wetland forests still function as a source of food, timber, fuel wood, charcoal and fish, for local communities (Safford et al, 2009). These forests also protect freshwater catchments from salt intrusion and shelter the coastlines (Binh et al, 2005;Hong and San, 1993).…”

Section: Land Use Change In the Mekong Deltamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most of the natural wetland Melaleuca forests and inundated grasslands have been drained and converted to agricultural production and urbanization land, as a result of the pressures from rapid population growth (Miller et al, 1999;Minh, 2001). This rapid expansion has had detrimental effects on the environment and the adverse environmental effects continue to be exacerbated by the increasing frequency of natural disasters and the projected long-term impact of climate change, including increases in storms and a rise in sea-level (Can et al, 2007;Carew-Reid, 2008;Dasgupta et al, 2009;Safford et al, 2009). Recent finding show that the MD is one of many deltas that are sinking globally as a result of anthropogenic activities (Syvitski et al, 2009) and that this is contributing to an acceleration of the wetlands decline in the MD of Vietnam. Rationale "The wetlands of the Mekong Delta were once extensive and varied.…”

Section: Declaration By Authormentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Land in Kien Giang-HTP is suitable for agriculture, forestry and aquaculture, with the total land area being 634,853 ha ( amphibians, while also providing nesting sites for a considerable number of globally rare and endangered waterbirds (Safford et al, 2009;Torell and Salamanca, 2003). The results of a biodiversity survey in 1999 ranked the HTP as the highest priority for wetland conservation on account of exceptional biodiversity (Buckton et al, 1999).…”

Section: Hydrology and Land Usementioning

confidence: 99%

“…These forests are naturally distributed in most of lowland areas with acid sulphate soils, and on the peaty soils of the Plain of Reeds (POR), Long Xuyen Quadrangle (LXQ), and in the U Minh forests of the Broad Depression area which form a transitional zone between the submerged saline mangrove areas and more continental forest vegetation (Brinkman and Xuan, 1991;Crane et al, 1993). The major remaining semi-natural wetland areas of the MD are the POR, the HTP and the U Minh wetlands (Buckton et al, 1999;Safford and Maltby, 1997;Sterling et al, 2006;Triet et al, 2000). Although today's Melaleuca forests are low in plant biodiversity, they act as one of the few sources of fish, amphibian, reptilian and bird biodiversity in the delta.…”

Section: Mekong Delta Wetlands Ecosystemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A study of the drivers of land use change in the Ha Tien Plain region of the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Nguyen¹

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The wetlands of the Mekong Delta (MD) have contributed prominently to economic development in Vietnam, especially to agricultural and fisheries development. Unfortunately, the design of wetland utilization has traditionally been considered from an economic rather than ecological perspective, and wetlands utilization has suffered from a lack of scientific guidance. Many wetlands have been lost because their full value to society was not taken into account. Furthermore, the status of the delta's biodiversity is both poorly known and poorly documented. Decades of over-exploitation of the wetland ecosystems have had detrimental effects on the environment. The maintenance of the important economic functions of the MD is dependent on maintaining the wetlands' ecosystem functions.This thesis addresses several gaps in the broader wetland conservation literature by focusing on the research problem "How can the drivers of land use change in the study area be better managed to lead to more sustainable outcomes?" Using Systems Thinking in combination with Bayesian Belief Networks modelling methods, and a case study of the Phu My Lepironia grassland biodiversity conservation in Kien Giang, Vietnam, this thesis examines how successful community-based wetlands conservation can be achieved in the Mekong Delta. The study is comprised of the following components: (1) a review of the history of the drivers of wetlands degradation in the MD in order to better understand the transformation of the delta's wetlands in different periods, and an analyses of the driving forces of wetland loss and the underlying causes that derive from the differing policies of political regimes; (2) a study of various factors that influence wetlands grassland degradation and the likely consequences of conservation of the wetlands for carbon stocks; and (3) an analysis of the factors affecting how local communities' decide to make changes in their land use practices, and policy interventions that lead to the enhancement of livelihoods and improved sustainability of wetland grassland conservation in the study area.The drivers that have contributed to wetland loss and degradation in the Mekong Delta over the course of 200 years can be divided into five periods. The drivers of wetland losses have included: (1) resettlement and economic development policies; (2) population growth and urbanization; (3) demand for food and reclamation of wetlands for agriculture, construction of canals and construction of dikes for flood protection systems; (4) expansion of travel systems (waterways and roads); and (5) exploitation of wetlands natural resources. As a result of these factors, only 0.068 million ha of the original 4.0 million ha of the MD currently remain as a primary swamp forest ecosystem.ii The analysis presented in this thesis estimates the value of CO2 sequestered by different Mekong Delta wetland ecosystems (mangroves, Melaleuca swamps and wetland grasslands) to be between 5.53 Mt CO2e for grasslands ecosystem to 37.49 Mt CO2e for mangrove ecosystem...

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Management of Peatland in the Mekong River Delta of Vietnam

2021

Tropical Peatland Eco-Management

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Melaleuca Wetlands and Sustainable Development in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Cited by 9 publications

References 10 publications

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A study of the drivers of land use change in the Ha Tien Plain region of the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Management of Peatland in the Mekong River Delta of Vietnam

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