Reforestation of Mangroves after Severe Impacts of Herbicides during the the Viet Nam War: The Case of Can Gio

background

This article describes the detrimental impacts of chemicals used in the Viet Nam war on mangroves with a focus on the reforestation efforts of the mangroves of the Can Gio district. In the 1980s, poor management, combined with stress from fuelwood collection and conversion to shrimp ponds, limited the success of mangrove restoration. Between 1978 and 1989,29,583 ha of Rhizophora apiriculata were planted; however, due to a lack of technical experience and a very high planting density, by 1990 only 18,125 ha remained. 35,000 ha of mangrove were replanted by 1996 and, in 2001, about 20,000 ha still survived.

Conclusions & Takeaways

By 2001, the mangroves had almost been restored to a condition similar to what existed before the chemical degradation, with 70 mangrove species (of which 30 were true mangrove species) recorded in the restored mangrove. With restoration efforts, the soil substrate has been restored to loam and the pH value has increased. Reforestation of the mangrove has been accompanied by forest policy which allocates land to local households, increases forest personnel, and implements monitoring of forest activities. The author recounts the successes of the reforestation efforts, but he ends by emphasizing the pressures which continue to degrade the mangrove.