Research Restoring the Lost Primary Forest Ecosystem in Can Gio to Become the First Biosphere Reserve in Vietnam

Authors

  • Quang Thanh Le

    Forest Science Institute of South Vietnam,Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam
  • Mo Danh

    Natural Resource and Environment,Kien Giang University,Rach Gia 91000, Vietnam
  • Dat Tuan Kieu

    Forest Science Institute of South Vietnam,Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam
  • Thoi Van Hoang

    Forest Science Institute of South Vietnam,Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam
  • Vy Thi Phuong Dinh

    Forest Science Institute of South Vietnam,Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam
  • Hoan Minh Nguyen

    Forest Science Institute of South Vietnam,Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam
  • Tran Thien Nhan

    Forest Science Institute of South Vietnam,Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam
  • Anh Bui Le

    Forest Science Institute of South Vietnam,Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam
  • Hieu Khanh Tran

    Forest Science Institute of South Vietnam,Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam
  • Luom Thanh Thai

    Natural Resource and Environment,Kien Giang University,Rach Gia 91000, Vietnam
  • Gieo Hoang Phan

    Natural Resource and Environment,Kien Giang University,Rach Gia 91000, Vietnam
  • Bao ManhNgoc Nguyen

    Institute of Applied Technology and Sustainable Development,Nguyen Tat Thanh University,Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/re.v8i3.12638
Received: 31 October 2025 | Revised: 30 December 2025 |Accepted: 16 January 2026 | Published Online: 11 May 2026

Abstract

Research on the process of restoring the lost primary forest ecosystem in Can Gio to become the first biosphere reserve in Vietnam. This is a pristine mangrove forest ecosystem from the 1960s, which was destroyed by humans and transformed into shrubland and regenerated trees in the 1970s. This forest ecosystem affects the environment and ecology of over 14 million residents of Ho Chi Minh City. A bold plan in 1997 to restore the Can Gio primary forest, transforming it into a secondary forest with high biodiversity and restoring natural plant communities, resulted in the full restoration of plant components and led to its recognition as Vietnam's first biosphere reserve in 2000. The growth process of Rhizophora apiculata contributed significantly to the successful restoration of this forest. Statistical research on plant communities and growth processes of mangrove trees, the dominant species accounting for over 90% of the plant species in the Can Gio mangrove forest, is a particularly successful experience in Vietnam. The contribution of the growth process of Rhizophora apiculata from 1977 to 2000 played a significant role in the successful restoration of the Can Gio primary forest. This study investigated the growth process of tree trunk diameter (D1.3 m), height (Ht), trunk volume (Vt) (m3)/tree, density (N/ha), and forest volume (M) (m3)/ha. These results assessed the contribution of forest growth to the restoration of the Can Gio primary forest, transforming it into the first biosphere reserve in Vietnam.

Keywords:

Primary Forest Ecosystem; Rhizophora apiculata; Secondary Forest Ecosystem; Can Gio-Ho Chi Minh City; Vietnam

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How to Cite

Le, Q. T., Danh, M., Kieu, D. T., Hoang, T. V., Dinh, V. T. P., Nguyen, H. . M., Nhan, T. T., Le, A. B., Tran, H. K., Thai, L. T., Phan, G. H., & Nguyen, B. M. (2026). Research Restoring the Lost Primary Forest Ecosystem in Can Gio to Become the First Biosphere Reserve in Vietnam. Research in Ecology, 8(3), 85–100. https://doi.org/10.30564/re.v8i3.12638

Issue

Vol.8, Iss.3 (June 2026)(In Progress)

Article Type

Article

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Copyright © 2026 Quang Thanh Le, Mo Danh, Dat Tuan Kieu, Thoi Van Hoang, Vy Thi Phuong Dinh, Hoan Minh Nguyen, Tran Thien Nhan, Anh Bui Le, Hieu Khanh Tran, Luom Thanh Thai, Gieo Hoang Phan, Bao ManhNgoc Nguyen

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This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.

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