This paper presents the results of a systematic sample plot based inventory in two smallholder reforestation projects in North Eastern Vietnam. The projects were implemented from 1995 to 2005 and applied a nature-oriented approach to reforestation with the ultimate goal of restoring near-natural forest ecosystems for sustainable utilisation. At the end of the reforestation activities, data in 1 422 permanent, systematically distributed sample plots of 250m2 size have been collected and entered into a database. The results of the inventory show that already in early stages of forest establishment dynamic natural processes occur that are able to transform plantations towards near-natural forest stands in the long run with very promising qualitative and quantitative development. Precondition is that forest establishment is from the outset oriented at the goal of establishing near-natural forest stands and that these processes are deliberately allowed to take place.
In planted stands, these processes lead to a higher number of species and higher densities as originally planted. Planted Pinus massoniana stands quickly develop towards mixed pine/indigenous broadleaf stands. Planted indigenous broadleaf stands merge with natural regeneration towards near-natural mixed broadleaf stands. In stands established by means of natural regeneration, high densities and natural succession processes lead to a very satisfactory quality development and fast growth. The number of target trees in natural regeneration stands is 200/ha on average. Young natural regeneration stands with trees > 10 cm DBH have with 20.1 m3/ha a higher volume than young Pinus massoniana stands with 15.5 m3/ha.
