Vegetation of Southeast Asia Studies of Forest Types 1963-1965

in the courses of streams contributed to the disappearance of the
mangrove forest. These .conditions make navigation difficult, and
necessitate continual -dredging at considerable expense. Mxn^rove
forest formerly existing in the provinces of Baria, Bienhoa arid
Giadinh have been much depleted, but considerable areas still exist
on the peninsula of Cainau to Pointe fjt. Jacques.
The villagers consider the forests p.rowin^ in the local domain
as their property. They install charcoal furnaces, and sell their
produce mainly to the Chinese. For many years sea-going Chinese
boats, even from Singapore, have been stopping at deserted points
alonr, the coast of South Vietnam, to cut down Mangrove trees to
obtain firewooa, to make charcoal or to gather the bark as a source
of tannin.
In addition to such commercially valuable woods as rosewood and
ebony, the timber wealth of the southern part of South Vietnam is
represented by species of two families in particular, namely tho&«
of tbo bean or pulse (Leguminosae) and of the wood-oil (l)ipterocar^aceae),
found throughout the dryland forests. Species of these
yield, excellent timbers for building and joinery. Other useful
timbers are furnished by members of the families Lauraceae, Sterculiaceae,
Verbenaceae and Guttiferae.
For many years timber operators have experienced increasing
difficulty in procuring timbers for buildinr,, and have been obliged
T,O secure supplies in areas remote from shipping points, since ".uitable
dimensions are no .tonr.er available alon: r , hi^nways and streams.
In addition to timbers. South Vietnam possesses many minor products
of plnnt origin. Amonr; secondary products bamboo is tne most
important, and is considered 'the poor man's prpvindence 1 . It is
found throughout the forests in the eastern part, represented by a
number of species and each of whic'.i has special, uses. In Vietnam,
as elsewhere, bambone are of universal utility, furnishing material
for rcuildin-* hut.-,, ^ookin.'j utensils, Garniture, as well as vases,
plates and ornaments of varied kind. It Ls utilized for baskets,
ladders, bridges, irrigation pipes and . ratters. The r.prouts are
edible. aivJ animals are fond of the you-v, leaves ai.d branches. In
addition to Ihecf; local uses, certain opeeier. of bamboo aro especially
suit., oie for pulp and paper manufacture. There arc some
sT'Ovien of bamboo.}, however, which are veritable forest pests, (level
-join • innec. Lately after a patch of forest has been felled or
clearer, choke out almost all other pjani.,-,, and wnen veil established
are tifficu.lt to eradicate.
found in Jouth Vietnam as in Thailand, some ;- T ,rowin,3 in tufts and
otl'.'erv. in 3in;;le stalks, .lone spccu-s are ,aiT,ied with spines, others
are entirely unar-.ied. , Rattan Ls usca for oordare, and. the stems split
len-ithv.'ioC are used for basketry anc for making lifjht-v/eif.ht furniture.