29.3.2.3 Peat Extraction
In Vietnam, peat was considered a type of minerals (VNL 2010), which was allowed
to be exploited to produce organic fertilizer and fuel. Apart from a considerable area
of U Minh peatlands that are legally protected as two national parks, other peatland
areas continue facing exploitation plans by local governments. Authorities in Ca
Mau Province planned to extract peat from the buffer zone of UMH National Park
for organic fertilizer production. This plant was protested by environmentalists on
September 27, 2009 (the senior author participated in the protesting meeting),
therefore, the province’s intention was not implemented. However, for local, and
even private, economic benefits, peat extraction in some small peatland areas in the
Plain of Reeds (Fig. 29.6) and Long Xuyen Quadrangle for organic fertilizer
production (Fig. 29.7) is going on with permission from the provincial and central
authorities (Decision 2015).
Fig. 29.6 Peat mining
along the ancient abandoned
channel course in Thanh
Hoa District (Long An
Province). (Photo: Quoi
2006)
Fig. 29.7 Exploiting peat
soil for organic fertilizer
production in Kien Luong
District (Kien Giang
Province). (Photo: Quoi
2006)
29 Management of Peatland in the Mekong River Delta of Vietnam
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