In Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady Delta, mangrove forests were widely converted to paddy fields, then abandoned. However, the mangrove ecosystems often fail to recover. To identify the mangrove restoration options in these fields, we conducted the current study in Pyindaye Forest Reserve, Pyapon Township of the Delta by examining the structural and functional responses to restoration for two common mangrove species (Avicennia officinalis and Bruguiera sexangula) after three post-abandonment periods (4, 8, and > 10 years), the natural recovery after these periods, and management to improve degraded forests dominated by the two species. Without replanting, we observed no mangrove cover or regeneration more than 10 years after abandonment. The sites were dominated by a perennial grass (Paspalum vaginatum), sparse climber, herbs, and spiny shrubs. With increasing the abandoned period, we observed decreasing soil quality and increasing vegetation cover by the grass, herbs, and spiny shrubs in response to increasingly harsh micro-environmental conditions for natural recovery of mangrove. Without human assistance, the abandoned paddy fields will not recover their productivity after more than 10 years. However, with increasing the period of establishing mangrove plantations in the abandoned fields, the ecosystem showed improved vegetation structure and regeneration of both planted and non-planted species. The soil conditions improved during mangrove recovery, and a well-developed canopy and aerial root system developed. By 8 years after mangrove establishment, the land could be used again as paddy fields due to suppression of P. vaginatum and the improved micro-environment. The managed forests showed the best structural attributes, conditions for regeneration, and micro-environmental conditions for plant growth and regeneration. Our results suggest three options for managing the abandoned paddy fields: paddy cultivation based on fallow periods with mangrove establishment, mangrove planting for wood production, and mangrove planting for environmental restoration.

中文翻译：

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通过恢复缅甸伊洛瓦底三角洲的红树林，将废弃的稻田转变为生产性土地

在缅甸的伊洛瓦底江三角洲，红树林被广泛转变为稻田，然后被废弃。但是，红树林生态系统通常无法恢复。为了确定这些字段中的红树林修复选项，我们通过检查，以恢复结构和功能反应两种常见的红树林品种（进行了Pyindaye森林保护区，三角洲皮亚朋镇目前的研究白骨巴戟和海莲经过三次后）弃伐期（4年，8年和> 10年），这些时期之后的自然恢复以及为改善以这两种物种为主的退化森林而进行的管理。如果不重新种植，我们观察到废弃后超过10年没有红树林覆盖或再生。这些地点主要是多年生草（阴道雀），稀疏的登山者，草药和多刺的灌木丛。随着废弃期的增加，我们观察到，随着红树林自然恢复的日益恶劣的微环境条件，草，草药和多刺灌木的土壤质量下降，植被覆盖率增加。没有人工协助，废弃的稻田将无法在超过10年后恢复生产力。但是，随着在荒地上建立红树林人工林的时间增加，生态系统显示出改善的植被结构以及已种植和未种植物种的再生。红树林恢复期间土壤条件得到改善，并发展了成熟的冠层和气生根系。在红树林建立后的8年内，由于抑制了阴道假单胞菌和改善的微环境。被管理的森林显示出最佳的结构属性，再生条件以及植物生长和再生的微环境条件。我们的结果提出了管理废弃稻田的三种选择：基于休耕期的红树林种植，种植红树林以生产木材和种植红树林以恢复环境。