Evaluating Enrichment Planting for Tropical Forest Restoration: A Case Study of Erythrophleum fordii and Manglietia conifera in Central Vietnam

Thang Nguyen Toan; Duc Dao Trung; Minh Nguyen Trong; Bon Trinh Ngoc; Khoi Truong Trong; Lam Vu Tien; Tuan Nguyen Van; Thanh Hoang Van; Hoang Nguyen Huy; Dung Pham Tien; Quy Tran Hoang; Do Tran Van

doi:10.7226/jtfm.32.2.121

Nguyen Toan Thang ⁽¹⁾ , Dao Trung Duc ⁽¹⁾ , Nguyen Trong Minh ⁽²⁾ , Trinh Ngoc Bon ⁽¹⁾ , Truong Trong Khoi ⁽¹⁾ , Vu Tien Lam ⁽¹⁾ , Nguyen Van Tuan ⁽¹⁾ , Hoàng Van Thanh ⁽¹⁾ , Nguyen Huy Hoang ⁽¹⁾ , Pham Tien Dung ⁽¹⁾ , Tran Hoang Quy ⁽¹⁾ , Tran Van Do ⁽¹⁾

(1) Silviculture Research Institute, Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences, Hanoi, Vietnam 100000, Viet Nam,

(2) Viet Nam National University of Forestry, Xuan Mai Town, Hanoi, Vietnam 100000, Viet Nam

https://doi.org/10.7226/jtfm.32.2.121

Issue
Vol. 32 No. 2 (2026)

Submitted
March 5, 2025

Accepted
August 27, 2025

Published
April 2, 2026

Keywords:

mixed-species enrichment, restoration goals, species-specific trade-offs, sustainable timber management, tropical forest restoration

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Abstract

This study evaluates the long-term effectiveness of enrichment planting as a restoration strategy in Central Vietnam, focusing on the performance of Erythrophleum fordii and Manglietia conifera. A restoration site was established in 2006 using a line planting over a 1-ha area, with no fertilizer applied and minimal tending during the first three years. After 18 years, E. fordii demonstrated superior growth performance, with a larger diameter at breast height (21.1 cm) and standing volume (94.56 m^-3 ha^-1), while M. conifera showed a lower diameter at breast height (16.8 cm) and standing volume (55.15 m^-3 ha^-1). Survival rates differed significantly between species, with E. fordii achieving 88.0% compared to 73.3% for M. conifera. Notably, M. conifera had better stem quality (90.9%) compared to E. fordii (80.8%). Regression analyses revealed weak to moderate correlations between growth parameters for E. fordii, indicating complex growth dynamics, while M. conifera exhibited minimal correlations, suggesting other factors influence its development. These findings highlight the species-specific trade-offs and complementary roles in mixed-species planting. This research provides descriptive evidence of the potential for enrichment planting to establish valuable tree species in degraded forests, emphasizing the importance of species selection and management strategies for achieving restoration objectives in sustainable forest management.

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