Mangrove restoration in Vietnamese Mekong Delta during 2015-2020: Achievements and challenges

Abstract

Mangrove forest in the Mekong Delta plays important roles in protecting coasts from soil erosion and strong waves, supplying seafood, and accumulating carbon. Despite these benefits, mangroves have been and continue to be severely damaged by the impacts of natural and socioeconomic activities. In recent years, large areas of mangrove forest have been restored through planting and other various management actions. In this study, we analyzed high-resolution WorldView-2 images to quantify changes in the mangrove forest in seven coastal provinces (Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Vinh Long, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau, and Kien Giang) of the Mekong Delta from 2015 to 2020. Our study is one of the first to analyze mangrove forest change at the commune scale, the smallest official administrative unit in Vietnam, to determine the area of restored mangroves. The potentials and challenges in future mangrove restoration were also assessed by analyzing satellite imagery and field survey data. In the study area, mangrove forest area increased by 11,184 ha (approximately 2,237 ha per year) from 79,593 ha in 2015 to 90,777 ha in 2020. A total area of 16,138 ha (approximately 20.3%) was lost due to mangrove conversion to other land uses, aquaculture activities and coastal erosion, etc., while 27,322 ha (approximately 34.1%) was restored or newly planted during state- and NGO-funded mangrove restoration projects and programs. These results confirmed that mangrove restoration projects and programs have played a significant role in maintaining and increasing mangrove forest cover in Mekong Delta. The results can also assist managers and decision makers in mangrove restoration evaluation, and suggest analyzing WorldView-2 images to monitor mangrove restoration over time in Vietnam.

The reproductive biology of Ellochelon vaigiensis from the Vietnamese Mekong Delta

“…Although the area of mangroves is small compared to many other forest ecosystems, the mangrove ecosystem is essential to maintaining ecosystem services of coastal habitats. Mangrove forests in the Mekong Delta are distributed along the coasts of all coastal provinces, with the largest concentrated area in Ca Mau Province and narrow coastal strips in other provinces, ranging from a few meters to about 1 km adjacent to the sea or along rivers and canals (Tinh et al., 2022 ). These estuarine mangrove areas are characterized by several dominant flora – Avicennia marina , Bruguiera gymnorrhiza , and Sonneratia caseolaris (Nguyen et al., 2020 ).…”

Soil salinization in agriculture: Mitigation and adaptation strategies combining nature-based solutions and bioengineering

“… 35 Recognizing mangroves’ importance led to many mangrove restoration projects by local communities and international organizations, effectively promoting a 11,184 ha growth in mangrove forest area in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta between 2015 and 2020. 36 By reintroducing mangrove forests and integrating them into the agricultural landscape, these initiatives aim to restore the delta’s natural defenses against salinity and secure the region’s agricultural productivity. Restoring and maintaining these natural deltaic ecosystems serve as a sustainable, nature-based shield against the encroaching threats of soil salinization and sea level rise.…”

Forest stakeholders and forestry-based mitigation options: Contributions to low-emission food systems in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

“…Diversifying income sources and food production through forest aquaculture (shrimp-mangrove) is seen as an effective way to reduce the Mekong Delta's vulnerability to variable environmental conditions, pests and diseases (Chau et al 2020). Numerous studies have pointed out challenges for mangrove protection and conservation being the income shrimp farming can generate, and poor land-use planning and forest land allocation (Tran et al 2012;Tran et al 2014;Pham et al 2022b). Current shrimp farming systems are economically and ecologically risky, and may negatively influence the environment and the sustainability of local people's livelihoods (Tran et al 2013;Truong et al 2021).…”