Mangroves of the Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve Vietnam

This field guide showcases the beauty and diversity of mangrove species throughout the Kien Giang Province. Its development has been a joint initiative between the Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve and Dr Norm Duke from the University of Queensland, Australia, who is an internationally recognised expert of mangrove taxonomy and ecology.
The mangrove forests of Kien Giang form an important vegetative barrier that protect our communities, their households and valuable farming land from the impacts of a changing climate. It is anticipated that this field guide will be used for identification that will promote greater protection, increased propagation, as well as better appreciation of these species and the forests in which they occur. This publication will be an important resource for community, land managers, provincial staff and visitors alike.

Mr Luong Thanh Hai
Vice Director
Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve Management Board

 

 

The goal of this publication has been to identify and describe mangrove plant species present in the province of Kien Giang, located in south-west Vietnam. In achieving this, the biodiversity of mangrove plants and habitat found in the province is described. Descriptions and image material for each species is provided, which allows easy identification of individual species. This information is needed for coastal management planning and policy development, especially in relation to shoreline rehabilitation and expansion of appropriate shoreline livelihood projects in the face of climate change and sea level rise. During field investigations, each species of mangrove and associated plants were identified
and sampled. Data and specimens have been compiled as a reference collection for the Province. These investigations extended on observations compiled for prior reports and studies dating up until October-November 2009.

Sharon Brown