In recent months many plantation owners have reported the presence of disease in Vietnam’s acacia plantations which, it has been identified, is caused by the leaf fungus, Ceratocystis manginecans. The Vietnam Academy of Forest Science (VAFS) has warned this fungus, if not checked, could damage all acacia species planted in Vietnam, including acacia mangium, acacia hybrid, acacia auricuriformis and acacia crasicarpa.
In 2019 planted populations are reported to show over 70% infection rate in some regions.
In long term, developing disease-tolerant varieties of acacia and diversification of planting species rather than acacia alone are seen as possible solutions.