The Tra Su Melaleuca Forest (located in An Cu and Thanh My Tay communes, An Giang province) is adjacent to the rice fields of local people, lacking a clearly defined buffer zone, and always poses a potential risk of illegal hunting of birds and fishing activities.
Báo Sài Gòn Giải phóng•20/12/2025
Due to the vast area, specialized forces constantly monitor the situation through binoculars in order to promptly detect and prevent illegal hunting activities as well as the risk of forest fires.
In this situation, the specialized force of Forest Management Station No. 3, An Giang Forest Management Board - Area II, consistently remains stationed there, undeterred by difficulties and dangers, to protect the important "green lung" of the Mekong Delta.
Covering an area of over 1,050 hectares, Tra Su Melaleuca Forest is part of Vietnam's system of special-use forests and was recognized by the Vietnam Record Organization as the most beautiful and famous melaleuca forest in Vietnam in 2020. This place has long been one of the typical ecotourism destinations of An Giang province, attracting hundreds of thousands of tourists every year. To preserve the "green lungs" of the Mekong Delta, the task force regularly educates locals and tourists to raise awareness about forest protection, refrain from hunting birds and animals, avoid illegal fishing, and avoid littering. Despite limited personnel, a vast area to cover, and a lack of supporting equipment, the staff of Tra Su Forest Protection always strives to overcome difficulties and fulfill their assigned tasks.
This area boasts a rich fauna, with 70 species of birds belonging to 13 orders and 31 families. Among them, two species are listed in the Vietnamese Red Book: the Indian stork and the kingfisher. In addition, the Tra Su Melaleuca forest is home to 11 species of mammals belonging to 4 orders and 6 families, and 140 species of fish, including 10 species that appear year-round and 13 species that only appear during the flood season…
During a patrol, the task force discovered traces suggesting the suspect had moved a motorboat from the other side of the river into the mangrove forest area to fish. In 2025, Forest Management Station No. 3 detected 17 instances of illegal entry into the forest and successfully prevented 11 individuals from entering the forest. In recent times, illegal hunting of birds and exploitation of aquatic resources in mangrove forests has remained complex and increasingly sophisticated... In addition, the risk of forest fires during the dry season is always present, requiring high levels of effort and determination from the specialized forest protection forces.
According to Mr. Tran Nguyen Khang, Deputy Director of the An Giang Forest Management Board - Area II, in order to protect the integrity of the Tra Su Melaleuca forest ecosystem, in the coming time, the unit will continue to coordinate with functional agencies and local authorities to strengthen propaganda work for people and tourists to raise awareness of forest protection, combating the hunting of birds and egrets, and illegal fishing...
At the same time, strengthen forest fire prevention and control, especially during the dry season; strictly control the boundary areas, trails, and open routes to protect the ecosystem, aiming to preserve the integrity of the typical mangrove forest and wetland ecosystems and landscapes of the Western Hau River region, as a basis for cooperation on nature conservation...
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