Restoring and Nurturing a Forest Devastated by Wildfires into a Nature Reserve That Qualifies for ASEAN Heritage Site Recognition in Vietnam

Authors

  • Luom Thanh Thai

    Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Kien Giang University, Rach Gia 91000, Vietnam
  • Mo Danh

    Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Kien Giang University, Rach Gia 91000, Vietnam
  • Gieo Hoang Phan

    Forest Science Institute of South Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam
  • Quang Thanh Le

    Department of Agriculture and Environment in An Giang Province, Rach Gia 91000, Vietnam
  • Hao Thanh Truong

    Department of Agriculture and Environment in An Giang Province, Rach Gia 91000, Vietnam
  • Bao Manh Ngoc Nguyen

    Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/re.v8i4.13257
Received: 4 March 2026 | Revised: 26 March 2026 | Accepted: 1 April 2026 | Published Online: 9 July 2026

Abstract

Post-fire restoration of peatland Melaleuca forests is critical for ecosystem recovery and carbon conservation in tropical wetlands. This study evaluates natural regeneration, growth dynamics, peat degradation, and biogeochemical characteristics in U Minh Thuong National Park, Vietnam, over 20 years following a major fire disturbance. Field surveys and peat analyses were conducted across gradients of peat thickness and hydrological conditions. Results show that Melaleuca forests exhibit strong natural regeneration capacity from residual seed banks, following a four-stage successional trajectory: seedling emergence, young stand development (1–3 m), canopy closure within two years (3–4 m), and long-term maturation (~20 years). Forest growth (DBH, height, bole height, and canopy diameter) is significantly influenced by peat thickness, with optimal performance observed in 60–80 cm peat layers, while thinner or hydrologically unstable peat limits growth. Fire disturbance and subsequent water management led to substantial peat and carbon losses. Peat volume declined from 26.77 to 10.74 million m3, corresponding to reductions in peat mass (6.37 to 2.58 million t) and carbon stock (2.68 to 1.09 million t C). Peat and water chemistry varied systematically with peat thickness, with decreasing pH and humic acid, and increasing concentrations of nutrients and ions (SO₄²⁻, NH₄⁺, P₂O₅, total N, K₂O, Fe²⁺). Humic acid showed the strongest correlation with peat thickness, while key chemical variables influenced forest growth. These findings highlight the critical role of peat properties and hydrological management in regulating forest recovery and carbon dynamics in fire-affected peatland ecosystems.

Keywords:

Peatland Restoration; Post-Fire Regeneration; Melaleuca Forest; Forest Succession; Peat Dynamics; Carbon Storage; Hydrology; Ecosystem Recovery; U Minh Thuong National Park

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How to Cite

Thai, L. T., Danh, M., Phan, G. H., Le, Q. T., Truong, H. T., & Nguyen, B. M. N. (2026). Restoring and Nurturing a Forest Devastated by Wildfires into a Nature Reserve That Qualifies for ASEAN Heritage Site Recognition in Vietnam. Research in Ecology, 8(4), 28–52. https://doi.org/10.30564/re.v8i4.13257

Issue

Vol.8, Iss.4 (August 2026): In Progress

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Article

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Copyright © 2026 Luom Thanh Thai, Mo Danh, Gieo Hoang Phan, Quang Thanh Le, Hao Thanh Truong, Bao Manh Ngoc 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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