Melaleuca deforestation in the Mekong Delta: Risk of ecological stratification

A series of Melaleuca forests in Long An, Dong Thap, and Tien Giang were cut down by farmers, shifted to rice and some other crops, the destruction of Melaleuca forests threatened to submerge ecology, creating a gap for saline intrusion. .

Mangrove forest conservation area

How will the Melaleuca forest become more and more narrowed to affect the ecological environment? Is it true that Melaleuca prices are due to supply exceeding demand, or this is just a seasonal crisis of output. With the current situation of Melaleuca trees, once again showing how the planning issue, how the connection between production and market must be set out from scientific arguments, close to reality with vision long-wind and synchronous solutions .

Particularly in Long An, only one year ago farmers have " wiped out " about 1,000 hectares of melaleuca . Why Melaleuca - once known as a staple tree in Dong Thap Muoi, along with rice - again is facing the risk of an increasingly narrow area (!?).

Go back to growing rice

Pham Thi Mau - in Truong Xuan commune (Thap Muoi district, Dong Thap), has 1.5 hectares of 3-year-old melaleuca - but still decides to cut down to grow rice. She said: "The cajuput fellows now call their children to bring them back to make firewood and holes over tens of millions but not less." In Truong Xuan commune, in the past few days, nearly ten hectares of melaleuca forests have been cut down to prepare for the upcoming winter-spring rice sow.

According to Chairman of Truong Xuan Ngo Van Nghia commune, this area will plan to renovate the infield irrigation system, closed dikes to convert the entire area of ​​Melaleuca plantation to the rice crop 3. The area is pineapple (pineapple), farmers in Tan Phuoc district (Tien Giang) do not return to growing rice, but also cut down melaleuca to plant pineapple.

In Long An - the province has the largest area of ​​Melaleuca forest in the Mekong River Delta - the situation of farmers cutting melaleuca forests is even more massive. According to Mr. Vo Quan Huy - the owner of a 100-hectare melaleuca farm - self-destructing melaleuca forests is costly and costly, so the area of ​​1 - 2-year-old melaleuca was burnt, many owners planted Melaleuca. Only in the last 5 years, the area of ​​Melaleuca forests in Long An has continuously decreased: From 90,000 hectares (2000), there are only about 68,000 hectares.

Tight, because melaleuca falls

In the Plain of Reeds, many farmers were rich in melaleuca. Mr. Nguyen Van Truong - in Tuyen Binh commune (Vinh Hung district, Long An) - thanks to 5 hectares of melaleuca, built a house worth nearly 500 million VND. Many households in Dong Thap Muoi raise their children to school, have capital to do business, and build houses from growing melaleuca.

But now, Mr. Tran Buu Xe - in Thap Muoi district (Dong Thap), has cut 1 hectare of Melaleuca - said: "The first type of Melaleuca trees sold for 15,000 VND, now only half the price. harvest, and this land for rice cultivation a year can be done in 3 crops. According to Mr. Tu Hai - in Tan Phuoc district (Tien Giang): Never before has the Melaleuca tree declined. From 70 to nearly 100 million VND / hectare, this reduction is more than half. Growing pineapples is higher.

Master Le Phat Quoi (Head of Science, Long An Department of Science and Technology) judged: Many 4 - 5-year-old Melaleuca flaps were cleared and piled up by farmers. It is suggested that Long An farmers should combine fish farming models in Melaleuca forests to increase their income. However, with a very high alum level, it is difficult for growers in Long An to raise fish, because the fish will explode.

In Tien Giang, according to the planned area of ​​afforestation about 13,200 hectares (in 2006) with Melaleuca trees is the main. However, with the current melaleuca situation, keeping an area of ​​nearly 9,000 hectares of existing Melaleuca is a tough problem.

Most of the previous area of ​​Melaleuca has been cut down to be rice land. There have been suggestions that after a period of planting Melaleuca, returning to rice cultivation will be high because the soil has accumulated nutrients. Before the problem of supply - demand of the market, it is impossible to force melaleuca growers to retain melaleuca, do not return to growing rice.

Don't rush to cut it!

Between 4 and 7 years, the demand for wood in the world market will reach its peak. Currently, China has temporarily stopped exporting wood to ensure domestic demand. As soon as we gave some information about the Melaleuca area in the Mekong Delta, immediately 2 Taiwanese Companies offered to find out the purchase.

From March to September 2005, a number of Japanese experts and I conducted a survey of Melaleuca material areas in the Mekong Delta and many wood and paper processing enterprises . The results show that: 90% the number of enterprises in Ho Chi Minh City must import timber; a series of pulp factories lack raw materials .

Next, about 2 tons of melaleuca with different ages planted in the Mekong Delta were sent to Japan. These are activities within the framework of collaborative testing between Can Tho University and Japan International Link Organization.

We are proposing to the Government to allow the construction of a feasible project of a melaleuca timber processing plant, with a capacity of consuming 40,000 hectares of melaleuca timber per year in the Mekong Delta. If approved, the Japanese side will provide full funding (about US $ 138 million).

That's the reason I advise farmers to keep melaleuca.

Dr. Duong Van Ni (Director of Hoa An Center for Biodiversity Experimental Research, Can Tho University)

What to do to keep the forest?

The story of farmers cutting down melaleuca trees has caused many concerns. Because planting melaleuca not only takes into account the economic efficiency, but also contributes greatly to the environment and landscape. There is a meltdown, but not necessarily a supply exceeding demand. There has not been any research on the melaleuca market, how to conclude?

In the short term, the price of Melaleuca has declined, but compared to the precarious situation of other agricultural products, the Melaleuca tree is not much more strenuous. Therefore, in this difficult time, the local agro-forestry sector has to increase the area of ​​cajuput to help farmers change their farming practices and help farmers intercropping and intercropping to increase the efficiency on the top. acreage.

What is quite unjust is: Shrimp farming has been causing environmental pollution in many places and is given preferential loans, while growing melaleuca has a good environment.

Dr. Mai Van Nam (Dean of Faculty of Economics - Administration, Can Tho University)

Great harm to the environment

It is not possible to intervene by administrative measures for farmers to cut Melaleuca trees. The price of Melaleuca poles has continuously decreased over the past time, from 80 million VND / hectare to 30 million VND. Growing melaleuca must be 5 years after being profitable, during which time the Melaleuca farmers live on what? If so, if it burns, it will be lost. While growing rice, the average profit is 10 million VND / ha / year.

However, it is worth noting that the current forest coverage in the Mekong Delta is only about 10%, which is still low compared to the requirement (30%). Loss of forests, including melaleuca trees, causes great harm to the environment as if it cannot keep freshwater and saline water intrusion . The "lung" planning for the Mekong River Delta is essential. Therefore, it is necessary to consider keeping the area of ​​Melaleuca. For this purpose, there must be specific policies for melaleuca growers .

Dr. Mai Thanh Phung (National Branch of Southern Extension Center)