Nearly 860 Hectares of U Minh Ha Forest Degraded, Cause Unclear

U Minh Ha National Park in Vietnam's Ca Mau province faces a significant environmental challenge, with nearly 860 hectares of its tram forest showing degradation and depletion. Initial reports suggest the decline is linked to the natural aging of trees, some of which have existed for a long time and are now dying.

A thick layer of peat, ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 meters, has formed under the forest canopy over time. This peat becomes porous and loses its binding capacity during the dry season, making it difficult for large tram trees to remain stable and retain their grip.

Forest inventories reveal a concerning trend: a 2014 count identified the area as poor forest with standing tree volumes between 10 and 100 cubic meters per hectare. By 2023, a project assessing peatland ecosystems recorded an average volume of only 17.6 cubic meters per hectare, classifying it as severely depleted forest.

The depletion is particularly concentrated in low-lying areas within the strictly protected zone, which experience prolonged waterlogging for over six months annually. The dark, peat-rich water reduces light necessary for photosynthesis, hindering the growth of young tram saplings. While initial assessments point to these factors, park officials note that these are preliminary findings and have not yet been officially concluded by scientific experts.