29.4 U Minh Peat-Swamp and Nature Conservation
29.4.1 The Establishment of U Minh Nature Reserves
and National Parks
Peatlands can be valued according to their functions that can be direct or indirect,
products, or attributes (Maltby et al. 2006). In Vietnam, as many peatlands in the
world, peatlands with direct functions include water flow regulation, protection from
the natural force, recreation and education, production of food and other resources
for local communities living in and/or around the peatland area. The indirect or
ecological function of peatland includes sediment retention, nutrient detention, and
micro-climate stabilization. Peatland products include provision water supply to
other ecosystems and other communities, wildlife resources, agricultural and horticultural resources, ecotourism, and biodiversity conservation. However, potential
values of peatlands, as well as their functions, have not been understood fully not
only by local communities but also by different institutions.
In 1986, an area of 2000 ha of the peat-swamp forest in the UMH region was
established as Vo Doi Nature Reserve. The nature reserve was upgraded to UMH
National Park in 2006. Similarly, in 1993, a part of the peat-swamp area of 8053 ha
of the peat-swamp forest in UMT region was established as UMT Nature Reserve.
The reserve was upgraded into UMT National Park in 2002 (Decision No. 11/TTg,
2002). Each of the two national parks is surrounded by a buffer zone, used for
agroforestry development by local communities (Fig. 29.2a, b) They are under the
management of the respective Provincial People's Committee, and a national park
management board is responsible for carrying out all activities regulated therein
(Decision No. 11/TTg, 2002). Figure 29.2a, b shows the layout of the U Minh
national parks and their coordinates.
The UMH National Park was one of the three strictly protected core zones in Ca
Mau Biosphere Reserve in 2009 (UNESCO 2009). UMT National Park was that of
the Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve recognized in 2006 by UNESCO (UNESCO
2006). Through the efforts of conservation and restoration of ecosystems and
biodiversity, UMT National Park was recognized as ASEAN Heritage Park in
2012 and the eighth Ramsar site in Vietnam in 2015.
Biodiversity conservation was not included in the objectives of the Nature
reserves until both sites were recognized as national parks. Biggs (2005) also
noted that agencies and conservation groups have yet to develop a means of
managing the wetlands nature of U Minh peat-swamp areas, having focused almost
solely on managing forest trees. The primary goal of the UMT National Park is to
conserve and rehabilitate the ecology and biodiversity of important and valuable
peat-swamp Melaleuca forests in the Mekong Delta.
29 Management of Peatland in the Mekong River Delta of Vietnam
791
29.4.1 The Establishment of U Minh Nature Reserves
and National Parks
Peatlands can be valued according to their functions that can be direct or indirect,
products, or attributes (Maltby et al. 2006). In Vietnam, as many peatlands in the
world, peatlands with direct functions include water flow regulation, protection from
the natural force, recreation and education, production of food and other resources
for local communities living in and/or around the peatland area. The indirect or
ecological function of peatland includes sediment retention, nutrient detention, and
micro-climate stabilization. Peatland products include provision water supply to
other ecosystems and other communities, wildlife resources, agricultural and horticultural resources, ecotourism, and biodiversity conservation. However, potential
values of peatlands, as well as their functions, have not been understood fully not
only by local communities but also by different institutions.
In 1986, an area of 2000 ha of the peat-swamp forest in the UMH region was
established as Vo Doi Nature Reserve. The nature reserve was upgraded to UMH
National Park in 2006. Similarly, in 1993, a part of the peat-swamp area of 8053 ha
of the peat-swamp forest in UMT region was established as UMT Nature Reserve.
The reserve was upgraded into UMT National Park in 2002 (Decision No. 11/TTg,
2002). Each of the two national parks is surrounded by a buffer zone, used for
agroforestry development by local communities (Fig. 29.2a, b) They are under the
management of the respective Provincial People's Committee, and a national park
management board is responsible for carrying out all activities regulated therein
(Decision No. 11/TTg, 2002). Figure 29.2a, b shows the layout of the U Minh
national parks and their coordinates.
The UMH National Park was one of the three strictly protected core zones in Ca
Mau Biosphere Reserve in 2009 (UNESCO 2009). UMT National Park was that of
the Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve recognized in 2006 by UNESCO (UNESCO
2006). Through the efforts of conservation and restoration of ecosystems and
biodiversity, UMT National Park was recognized as ASEAN Heritage Park in
2012 and the eighth Ramsar site in Vietnam in 2015.
Biodiversity conservation was not included in the objectives of the Nature
reserves until both sites were recognized as national parks. Biggs (2005) also
noted that agencies and conservation groups have yet to develop a means of
managing the wetlands nature of U Minh peat-swamp areas, having focused almost
solely on managing forest trees. The primary goal of the UMT National Park is to
conserve and rehabilitate the ecology and biodiversity of important and valuable
peat-swamp Melaleuca forests in the Mekong Delta.
29 Management of Peatland in the Mekong River Delta of Vietnam
791