Tran Van Con
Forest Science Institute of Vietnam
Much tropical primary forest cover decline is accompanied by an increase in the area of secondary forests (heavily degraded forest) in Vietnam. Based on the method of establishment of secondary degraded forest, four major categories were identified in Viet Nam: (1) post-extraction secondary forests, (2) swidden fallow secondary forests; (3) post-fire secondary forests; and (4) rehabilitated secondary forest after failed plantation. Natural forest is an ecosystem which undergoes such dynamic succession either in direction of degradation or restoration. Thus, parameters characterizing the size of forests such as diameter, height or volume, do not reflect the grade of forest degradation but their growth phase (young forest, old forest etc). Major physical indicators of forest degradation include the nature of vertical structure, the density of the stand, the species composition and productivity. The article provides scientific background to develop criteria for heavily degraded forests which should be replaced by industrial plantations with higher intensity.
Background for identification of the heavily degraded forests are silvicultural parameters characterizing the difference of potential productivity of the site in comparison with the current yield of the stand. These may be determined by the condition of forests or vegetation cover of the area for natural regeneration of species suitable for economic production.
Major issues that limit sustainable management and use of secondary degraded forests and make them more susceptible to degradation or inappropriate conversion are outlined and to develop criteria and guideline for when and how to allow the conversion of secondary forests to other land use so that benefits are maximized and equitable over the long term and negative impacts are reduced.
Secondary forests which should be converted are those that are heavily degraded and unable to be restored by natural regeneration or the restoration process takes long time and brings low affectivity in comparison with conversion.
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