Growth Performance of Sonneratia alba Plantations and Their Role in Coastal Environmental Protection and Storm Mitigation in Thua Thien Hue, Vietnam

Authors

  • Quang Thanh Le

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

    Faculty of Natural Resources and Enviroment, Kien Giang University, Rach Gia 91000, Vietnam
  • Lươm Thanh Thai

    Faculty of Natural Resources and Enviroment, Kien Giang University, Rach Gia 91000, Vietnam
  • Bao Manh Ngoc Nguyen

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

    Department of Agriculture and Environment in An Giang province, 91000, Vietnam

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/re.v8i3.13221
Received: 27 February 2026 | Revised: 16 March 2026 | Accepted: 20 March 2026 | Published Online: 17 June 2026

Abstract

Mangrove forests play a crucial role in protecting the central coast of Vietnam, an area devastated by 5–12 typhoons annually. The main objective of this study is planting and protecting these forests is to provide scientific information for selecting adaptable tree species and developing environmental protection measures along estuaries and coastlines. This study has selected the adaptable species Sonneria alba, with specific objectives: (1) Sonneria alba forest growth of ages 1–4 on 3 basic sites, (2) Determining soil and water characteristics on planted forest land, (3) Determining the relationship between soil and water environment with forest growth and vice versa, (4) Building a scientific basis for the restoration of coastal estuarine forests in central Vietnam. New findings show that Sonneratia alba plantations with tidal flooding of 5–6 h/day, flooding depth of 80 cm, and sediment thickness less than 20 cm above the compact substrate layer improve water quality such as pH, humus, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and clay content in the surface layer (0–50 cm), reducing Al3+, Fe2+, and SO42− in soil and water. The growth of Sonneratia alba plantations in the 0–50 cm soil layer, along with the increase in salt content, Al3+, Fe2+, and SO42− in water, improves the soil environment of Sonneratia alba plantations. Based on the results of this study, a theoretical framework for afforestation on mangrove forests in estuarine and coastal areas with similar conditions is developed.

 

Keywords:

Mangrove Plantation; Sonneratia alba; Coastal Ecosystem; Soil-Water Interaction; Mangrove Restoration

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How to Cite

Le, Q. T., Danh, M., Thai, L. T., Nguyen, B. M. N., & Trương, H. T. (2026). Growth Performance of Sonneratia alba Plantations and Their Role in Coastal Environmental Protection and Storm Mitigation in Thua Thien Hue, Vietnam . Research in Ecology, 8(3), 294–312. https://doi.org/10.30564/re.v8i3.13221

Issue

Vol.8, Iss.3 (June 2026)

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Article

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Copyright © 2026 Quang Thanh Le, Mo Danh, Lươm Thanh Thai, Bao Manh Ngoc Nguyen, Hao Thanh Trương

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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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