from forest fires, that in 2002 in particular (Tordoff 2002; UNDP 2002; UMTNP
2002; Quoi 2010b; Ha and Quoi 2014). The disappearance of swamps in U Minh Ha
National Park has reduced the number of species of aquatic plants and waterfowl for
which swamps are their preferred habitat (Quoi 2014a; Quoi et al. 2016).
The vast Melaleuca forest dominates in both U Minh Thuong National Park and
the U Minh Ha area. Besides vast Melaleuca forest (Melaleuca cajuputi) and seminatural mixed forests in peat domes, seasonally inundated grasslands, and openwater areas, in which a diversity of species of woody trees, shrubs, herbaceous
plants, lianas, ferns, and aquatic plants were recorded (Thang and Tam 1998; Safford
et al. 1998; Buckton et al. 1999; Triet 2000; Dang et al. 2001; Birdlife 2004; Quoi
2010a, 2014a). A total of 226 plant species were recorded in the U Minh Thuong
region (Triet 2000); however, the figure of plant species included those present in the
national park and the buffer zone (Long et al. 2013; Ha and Quoi 2014), and a total
of 143 plant species belonging to 46 families recorded in the U Minh Ha region
(Ngan and Hien 1984; Ngan et al. 1989). The abundance of plant types was also
recorded in the years after the peat-swamp area established as a nature reserve
(Safford et al. 1998; Dang et al. 2004). Previous inappropriate water management,
wildfires, and illegal hunting significantly affected the number of flora species in U
Minh Thuong and U Minh Ha National Parks (Tordoff 2002; Dang et al. 2004; Uynh
2010; Quoi 2014a; Ha and Quoi 2014; Willcox et al. 2014, 2019).
Suitable hydrological management and plant restoration activities have improved
ecosystems positively and significantly increased the species of flora in recent years.
Assessment results conducted from 2010 to 2014 showed a total of 117 plant species
of 43 families, relying on natural regeneration, were recorded in the U Minh Thuong
National Park (Quoi 2010b; Ha and Quoi 2014), and 106 plant species of 50 families
in the U Minh Ha National Park (Quoi 2010a, 2014b) (Table 29.4). Among species,
many medicinal plants were collected for traditional use by local people (Thang
2018).
In addition to Melaleuca cajuputi which dominated most of the forestland in both
parks, several native tree species grow in semi-natural mixed forests at peat domes.
In U Minh Thuong National Park, most of the native wood tree species disappeared
after the semi-natural mixed forest was damaged by fires 2002 while these species
still found in the U Minh Ha National Park (Quoi 2010b, 2014b; Ha and Quoi 2014).
Among 28 native plant species recorded, of which 13 woody tree species are
Table 29.4 Species and families of plant types in U Minh
Thuong National Park (Kien
Giang Province) and U Minh
Hạ (Ca Mau Province)—
Sources: Quoi (2010b,
2014b), Quoi et al. (2016), Ha
and Quoi (2014), Thang
(2018)
Plant types
UMT National Park
UMH National Park
Species
Family
Species
Family
Wood tree
5
3
13
7
Shrub
15
5
9
6
Grass
47
12
38
13
Lianas
29
11
27
11
Fern
7
6
6
5
Aquatic plant
14
14
13
12
Sum
117
106
798
Q. P. Le and T. X. Le
2002; Quoi 2010b; Ha and Quoi 2014). The disappearance of swamps in U Minh Ha
National Park has reduced the number of species of aquatic plants and waterfowl for
which swamps are their preferred habitat (Quoi 2014a; Quoi et al. 2016).
The vast Melaleuca forest dominates in both U Minh Thuong National Park and
the U Minh Ha area. Besides vast Melaleuca forest (Melaleuca cajuputi) and seminatural mixed forests in peat domes, seasonally inundated grasslands, and openwater areas, in which a diversity of species of woody trees, shrubs, herbaceous
plants, lianas, ferns, and aquatic plants were recorded (Thang and Tam 1998; Safford
et al. 1998; Buckton et al. 1999; Triet 2000; Dang et al. 2001; Birdlife 2004; Quoi
2010a, 2014a). A total of 226 plant species were recorded in the U Minh Thuong
region (Triet 2000); however, the figure of plant species included those present in the
national park and the buffer zone (Long et al. 2013; Ha and Quoi 2014), and a total
of 143 plant species belonging to 46 families recorded in the U Minh Ha region
(Ngan and Hien 1984; Ngan et al. 1989). The abundance of plant types was also
recorded in the years after the peat-swamp area established as a nature reserve
(Safford et al. 1998; Dang et al. 2004). Previous inappropriate water management,
wildfires, and illegal hunting significantly affected the number of flora species in U
Minh Thuong and U Minh Ha National Parks (Tordoff 2002; Dang et al. 2004; Uynh
2010; Quoi 2014a; Ha and Quoi 2014; Willcox et al. 2014, 2019).
Suitable hydrological management and plant restoration activities have improved
ecosystems positively and significantly increased the species of flora in recent years.
Assessment results conducted from 2010 to 2014 showed a total of 117 plant species
of 43 families, relying on natural regeneration, were recorded in the U Minh Thuong
National Park (Quoi 2010b; Ha and Quoi 2014), and 106 plant species of 50 families
in the U Minh Ha National Park (Quoi 2010a, 2014b) (Table 29.4). Among species,
many medicinal plants were collected for traditional use by local people (Thang
2018).
In addition to Melaleuca cajuputi which dominated most of the forestland in both
parks, several native tree species grow in semi-natural mixed forests at peat domes.
In U Minh Thuong National Park, most of the native wood tree species disappeared
after the semi-natural mixed forest was damaged by fires 2002 while these species
still found in the U Minh Ha National Park (Quoi 2010b, 2014b; Ha and Quoi 2014).
Among 28 native plant species recorded, of which 13 woody tree species are
Table 29.4 Species and families of plant types in U Minh
Thuong National Park (Kien
Giang Province) and U Minh
Hạ (Ca Mau Province)—
Sources: Quoi (2010b,
2014b), Quoi et al. (2016), Ha
and Quoi (2014), Thang
(2018)
Plant types
UMT National Park
UMH National Park
Species
Family
Species
Family
Wood tree
5
3
13
7
Shrub
15
5
9
6
Grass
47
12
38
13
Lianas
29
11
27
11
Fern
7
6
6
5
Aquatic plant
14
14
13
12
Sum
117
106
798
Q. P. Le and T. X. Le