Similarly, UMH peat-swamp forest previously comprised of four types of vegetation covers: Melaleuca forests (included semi-natural Melaleuca forest and Melaleuca plantation), semi-natural mixed forests, seasonally inundated grasslands, and
open swamps (MARD 1997; Buckton et al. 1999; Birdlife 2004). Melaleuca forests
and semi-natural mixed forests covered an area of 5500 ha, accounting for 67.9% of
the total area of the park (MARD 1997). In 2014, forest, including Melaleuca and
semi-natural mixed forest, became more predominant, accounting for 90% of the
total area of the park (Table 29.2; Fig. 29.9).
Canal and road construction, especially the construction of gas pipelines in UMH
forest, crossing the parks caused the fragmentation of ecosystems, affecting species’
habitats and indirectly caused dehydration of peat-swamps during the dry season.
Besides, canals also facilitated illegal access to the park. Illegal logging, even
infrequent, downgraded the quality of Melaleuca forests and affected the integrity
of peat-swamp forest ecosystems (Quoi 2010b, 2014a; UMTNP 2012; Ha and Quoi
2014).
Peat-swamp forest ecosystems are very fragile and very sensitive to forest fires
and hydrological management as discussed in the next section.
Table 29.3 Changes of vegetation cover during 2006–2014 UMT National Park (Source: Quoi
2010b; Ha and Quoi 2014; APFP and SEApeat 2015a, b)
Years
2006
2009
2012
2014
Types of vegetation cover
Area (ha)
Area (ha)
Area (ha)
Area (ha)
Melaleuca forests
3904.16
4440.87
4460.78
5504.78
Grasslands
2772.50
0.00
1447.69
765.32
Swamp/marsh (grass, aquatic plant)
1126.74
3393.37
1912.80
1551.17
Tall grass—shrubs
141.80
142.55
142.55
142.55
Total area (ha)
7945.20
7976.79
7963.82
7963.82
Table 29.2 Types of vegetation cover in U Minh Ha National Park in 1997 (MARD 1997) and
2014 (Quoi 2014a)
Types of vegetation cover
Area (ha)
1997
2014
Melaleuca forest (semi-natural and plantation)
3538
5806
Semi-natural mixed forest
1962
1834
Grassland
1872
521.02
Marsh/swamp
727
00
Tallgrass mixed with shrubs
–
336.97
Total area (ha)
8099
8498
Note: (–): existed but not recorded
29 Management of Peatland in the Mekong River Delta of Vietnam
793
open swamps (MARD 1997; Buckton et al. 1999; Birdlife 2004). Melaleuca forests
and semi-natural mixed forests covered an area of 5500 ha, accounting for 67.9% of
the total area of the park (MARD 1997). In 2014, forest, including Melaleuca and
semi-natural mixed forest, became more predominant, accounting for 90% of the
total area of the park (Table 29.2; Fig. 29.9).
Canal and road construction, especially the construction of gas pipelines in UMH
forest, crossing the parks caused the fragmentation of ecosystems, affecting species’
habitats and indirectly caused dehydration of peat-swamps during the dry season.
Besides, canals also facilitated illegal access to the park. Illegal logging, even
infrequent, downgraded the quality of Melaleuca forests and affected the integrity
of peat-swamp forest ecosystems (Quoi 2010b, 2014a; UMTNP 2012; Ha and Quoi
2014).
Peat-swamp forest ecosystems are very fragile and very sensitive to forest fires
and hydrological management as discussed in the next section.
Table 29.3 Changes of vegetation cover during 2006–2014 UMT National Park (Source: Quoi
2010b; Ha and Quoi 2014; APFP and SEApeat 2015a, b)
Years
2006
2009
2012
2014
Types of vegetation cover
Area (ha)
Area (ha)
Area (ha)
Area (ha)
Melaleuca forests
3904.16
4440.87
4460.78
5504.78
Grasslands
2772.50
0.00
1447.69
765.32
Swamp/marsh (grass, aquatic plant)
1126.74
3393.37
1912.80
1551.17
Tall grass—shrubs
141.80
142.55
142.55
142.55
Total area (ha)
7945.20
7976.79
7963.82
7963.82
Table 29.2 Types of vegetation cover in U Minh Ha National Park in 1997 (MARD 1997) and
2014 (Quoi 2014a)
Types of vegetation cover
Area (ha)
1997
2014
Melaleuca forest (semi-natural and plantation)
3538
5806
Semi-natural mixed forest
1962
1834
Grassland
1872
521.02
Marsh/swamp
727
00
Tallgrass mixed with shrubs
–
336.97
Total area (ha)
8099
8498
Note: (–): existed but not recorded
29 Management of Peatland in the Mekong River Delta of Vietnam
793