• Lack of information, knowledge about peat on its structures, functions, and
values, and/or low levels of planning, awareness, and capacity lead to ineffective
peatland management.
• Lack of capacity for fire and hydrology management of peatland.
• The poverty of local communities: dependency of local communities on peatland
resources and lack of alternative choices.
29.3.1.1 Uncoordinated Sectoral Approach
The overlap in the management of peatland resources among sectors has been a
considerable obstacle to peatland management. The forestry sector is in charge of the
forest, forest fire, and the conservation of wildlife in peatlands (Edict 2002; VNL
2004, 2007; Decision 2006a, b; Decree 2006, 2019). Meanwhile, fishery resources
are managed by the fishery sector (Decree 2019; VNL 2017), biodiversity managed
by sector of environment and natural resources (VNL 2008), hydrology is managed
Table 29.1 The peatland areas in the U Minh peat-swamps, MRD, Vietnam (Quoi 2010a,
2014a, b)
U Minh peat-swamps
Former
peat-swamps (ha)
Remaining peatlands (ha)
Buffer zone In the park Total area
U Minh Thuong region (Kien
Giang)
25,660
+
3231
3231
U Minh Ha region (Ca Mau)
35,654
3492
5943
9435
Total (ha)
61,314
3492
9174
12,666
Note: (+) several small patches of remaining shallow peatland
Poverty
(Community)
Un-coordinated
sectoral approach
Lack of peatland
management capacity
Lack of systematic
researches on peatlands
Demand for
productive land
Inappropriate fire and
water management
Lack of information on
peatland 's values
Loss of peatlands
Peatlands conversion into other
use (Agriculture, peat mining)
Peat fire and degradation
(oxidation, mineralization)
Fig. 29.3 Problems resulting in the loss of peatlands in Vietnam
784
Q. P. Le and T. X. Le