title: An assessment of the carbon stocks and sodicity tolerance of disturbedMelaleucaforests in Southern Vietnam.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the lower Mekong Basin and coastal zones of Southern Vietnam, forests dominated by the genusMelaleucahave two notable features: most have been substantially disturbed by human activity and can now be considered as degraded forests; and most are subject to acute pressures from climate change, particularly in regards to changes in the hydrological and sodicity properties of forest soil.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data was collected and analyzed from five typicalMelaleucastands including: (1) primaryMelaleucaforests on sandy soil (VS1); (2) regeneratingMelaleucaforests on sandy soil (VS2); (3) degraded secondaryMelaleucaforests on clay soil with peat (VS3); (4) regeneratingMelaleucaforests on clay soil with peat (VS4); and (5) regeneratingMelaleucaforests on clay soil without peat (VS5). Carbon densities of VS1, VS2, VS3, VS4, and VS5 were found to be 275.98, 159.36, 784.68, 544.28, and 246.96 tC/ha, respectively. The exchangeable sodium percentage ofMelaleucaforests on sandy soil showed high sodicity, while those on clay soil varied from low to moderate sodicity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This paper presents the results of an assessment of the carbon stocks and sodicity tolerance of naturalMelaleuca cajuputicommunities in Southern Vietnam, in order to gather better information to support the improved management of forests in the region. The results provide important information for the future sustainable management ofMelaleucaforests in Vietnam, particularly in regards to forest carbon conservation initiatives and the potential ofMelaleucaspecies for reforestation initiatives on degraded sites with highly sodic soils.
authors.affiliation: The Vietnam Forestry University, Hanoi, Vietnam.
authors.forename: Da B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.affiliation: The Vietnam Forestry University, Hanoi, Vietnam.
authors.forename: Tho V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Hoang
authors.affiliation: School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD Australia.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dargusch
keywords: Carbon sequestration; Climate change; Melaleuca; REED+; Sodicity