Is it ecologically feasible to enclose mangrove-mud coasts using multiple concrete structures for erosion control? Evidence from the Vietnamese Mekong Delta

IF 3.9 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ECOLOGY

Ecological Engineering Pub Date : 2025-05-28 DOI:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107678

Nguyen Tan Phong , Nguyen Bao Thuan , Nguyen Ngoc Tien , Huynh Van Quoc

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Multiple concrete (offshore and shoreline) structures are increasingly being built to enclose entire mangrove mud coasts to control coastal erosion. Until now, it remains unclear as to whether or not enclosing mangrove-mud coasts using multiple concrete structures for erosion control is ecologically feasible. The authors used the Tien Giang Protected Mangrove Forest (Tien Giang PMF), Tien Giang Province, the Vietnamese Mekong Delta, as a case study to partially address this question. The authors investigated the relationship between the construction of multiple shoreline and offshore structures constructed along the Tien Giang coast (TGCPS) and the protection of Tien Giang PMF through 2024 in terms of shoreline changes, changes to mangrove vegetation cover, and strong mangrove growth in the absence of the TGCPS protection. This study involved the analysis of shoreline changes over multiple years (2000 and 2024), calculation of the enhanced vegetation index (EVI), in addition to ground truthing, and field investigations. The authors found that the shoreline of Tien Giang PMF has changed despite the construction of the TGCPS. TGCPS were constructed in areas of moderate to high erosion and had a low level of mangrove growth in the surrounding areas. Mangrove forests survived and grew strongly in areas without protection by TGCPS. The survival of the mangrove forests was threatened by multiple threats. Therefore, the combination of shoreline and offshore structures is acceptable as a short-term strategy in a specific area to control eroding muddy coast. However, it is therefore not ecologically feasible to enclose an entire coast using multiple shoreline and offshore structures without properly considering the local hydrodynamic elements. Instead, a holistic approach should be designed with rigorous hydrodynamic studies, and the placement of structures must be strategic and well-studied.

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用多种混凝土结构围住红树林淤泥海岸以控制侵蚀在生态上是否可行？证据来自越南湄公河三角洲

为了控制海岸侵蚀，越来越多的人建造了多种混凝土结构（近海和海岸线）来包围整个红树林泥岸。到目前为止，还不清楚用多种混凝土结构围住红树林淤泥海岸来控制侵蚀在生态上是否可行。作者以越南湄公河三角洲天江省的天江红树林保护区（Tien Giang PMF）为案例研究来部分解决这个问题。从岸线变化、红树林植被覆盖变化和无岸线保护情况下红树林生长旺盛等方面分析了到2024年，天江沿岸多个岸线和近海结构的建设与天江PMF保护的关系。本研究包括多年（2000年和2024年）的海岸线变化分析，增强植被指数（EVI）的计算，以及地面真相和实地调查。研究发现，尽管修建了三峡水库，但天江PMF的海岸线已经发生了变化。TGCPS建在中高侵蚀区，周边红树林生长水平低。红树林在未受保护的地区存活并生长旺盛。红树林的生存受到多重威胁。因此，在特定区域内，岸线和近海结构体的结合是一种可以接受的短期策略，以控制侵蚀的泥质海岸。然而，如果不适当考虑当地的水动力因素，使用多个海岸线和近海结构将整个海岸围起来在生态上是不可行的。相反，应该设计一种全面的方法，进行严格的流体动力学研究，结构的放置必须具有战略意义，并经过充分研究。

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来源期刊

Ecological Engineering 环境科学-工程：环境

CiteScore

8.00

自引率

5.30%

发文量

293

审稿时长

57 days

期刊介绍： Ecological engineering has been defined as the design of ecosystems for the mutual benefit of humans and nature. The journal is meant for ecologists who, because of their research interests or occupation, are involved in designing, monitoring, or restoring ecosystems, and can serve as a bridge between ecologists and engineers. Specific topics covered in the journal include: habitat reconstruction; ecotechnology; synthetic ecology; bioengineering; restoration ecology; ecology conservation; ecosystem rehabilitation; stream and river restoration; reclamation ecology; non-renewable resource conservation. Descriptions of specific applications of ecological engineering are acceptable only when situated within context of adding novelty to current research and emphasizing ecosystem restoration. We do not accept purely descriptive reports on ecosystem structures (such as vegetation surveys), purely physical assessment of materials that can be used for ecological restoration, small-model studies carried out in the laboratory or greenhouse with artificial (waste)water or crop studies, or case studies on conventional wastewater treatment and eutrophication that do not offer an ecosystem restoration approach within the paper.