Transformation and Fragmentation of Wetlands in Mekong Delta Floodplains: A Case Study in Dong Thap Province, Vietnam

Abstract

Wetlands in the Vietnam Mekong Delta (VMD) have experienced significant reduction and fragmentation since the economic reforms of 1986. This study analyzes land use/land cover (LULC) changes impacting wetland cover between 1990 and 2022 using Landsat imagery within the VMD floodplain, with a particular focus on Dong Thap Province. Landscape metrics were employed to quantify wetland loss and fragmentation. Results indicate that by 2022, approximately 80% of wetlands had been converted to other LULC types, predominantly for rice cultivation. Analysis of landscape metrics, including the number of patches, patch area, core area, and edge characteristics, reveals increased fragmentation, with smaller and more isolated patches replacing larger, contiguous wetlands over the past three decades. Key drivers of this fragmentation include population growth, land reclamation, agricultural expansion, and shifts in farming systems. Given the escalating impacts of climate change, these findings provide essential insights for land use planning and the development of wetland conservation strategies in the Dong Thap Province, the VMD.