STUDY, ASSESSEMENT OF BIOCLIMATIC RESOURCES IN THE NORTHEAST REGION OF VIETNAM FOR DEVELOPMENT OF a FEW AGRICULTURAL CROPS AND FOREST TREES THAT HAVE ECONOMIC VALUE

INSTITUTE OF GEOGRAPHY  DO THI VAN HUONG STUDY, ASSESSEMENT OF BIOCLIMATIC RESOURCES IN THE NORTHEAST REGION OF VIETNAM FOR DEVELOPMENT OF A FEW AGRICULTURAL CROPS AND FOREST TREES

INSTITUTE OF GEOGRAPHY



DO THI VAN HUONG

STUDY, ASSESSEMENT OF BIOCLIMATIC RESOURCES IN THE NORTHEAST REGION OF VIETNAM FOR DEVELOPMENT OF A FEW AGRICULTURAL CROPS AND FOREST TREES THAT HAVE

Dissertation has been completed at:

Institute of geography, Viet Nam academy of science and technology

Advisors:

1 Associate professor Dr Nguyen Khanh Van

2 Dr Do Huu Thu

Reviwer 1: Associate professor Dr Tran Van Con

Reviwer 2: Professor Dr Tran Thuc

Reviwer 3: Associate professor Dr Nguyen Thi Hong

The dissertation is defended in front of board of examination of dissertation at institute level held at the institute of geography in 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau

Giay, Ha Noi at……… on……… 2014

The dissertation can be found in:

- National library

- Library of institute of geography, Viet Nam academy of science and technologchnology

INTRODUCTION

1 Reasons for choosing project

Climate is the first natural factor, the condition of all regular development process, natural metabolism Study on assessement of bioclimatic conditions of vegetation covers provides essential information needed about characteristics of bioclimate as a basis for serving orientation of development planning of agriculture and forestry to help managers make the structure of agricultural crops and forest trees reasonable to fully utilize the strengths of each territory in order to achieve high efficiency and sustainability

Northeast region of Vietnam is one of the mountainous and midland areas of our country, the natural geographical region has an important significance both in terms of nature, economy and politics During the past several years, the area has always been regarded as a rich potential for developing agro- forestry and areas specializing in the growing of special crops with high economic value Agricultural and Forestry economimy always account for high proportion of the economic structure of Northeast region, especially playing an important role in the economic development of the region However, currently Northeast region is still underdeveloped, agricultural and forestry production in the region has not developed commensurating with the level that it may be , people's life faces a lot of difficulties Identifying areas that are able to expand agricultural and forestry production, afforestation, promote protection and development of forest resources and selection of tree group for development in accordance with the climatic conditions of the region is the critical issues Assessment of bioclimatic conditions in a scientific way for the development of sustainable agriculture and forestry are necessary, having high practical significance

We believe that selection of study and asessement of bioclimatic resources for the development of agricultural crops, forestry trees , perennial crops, medicinal plants with economic value is very necessary Individually, as a graduate student with the practical needs and the desire

to contribute to sustainable development of socio-economics of Northeast

region of Viet Nam, the author has chosen the project: "Study on

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assessement of bioclimatic resources in Northeast region of Vietnam for development of agricultural crops and forest trees with economic value

"to perform PhD dissertation in geography

2 Objectives and study tasks

2.1 Objectives

- Study on characteristics of bioclimatic resouces in Northeast region to elucidate the potential of bioclimate to establish the scientific basis for exploitation of bioclimatic resources for sustainable development of agricultural and forestry production

- Recommendation of rational using bioclimatic units for sustainable development of agricultural crops and forestry trees in Northeast region

2.2 Tasks

- Overview of documents of bioclimate, studies on bioclimate assessment and other documents related to the place of study, designing rationale for the use of the project

- Analyzing factors that shape the climate, mapping of bioclimate- natural vegetation covers in Northeast region on scale of 1: 500.000; Analysis of bioclimatic characteristics to clarify rules of differentiation of bioclimatic resources, distribution law, the structure of external appearance, ecological processes and vegetation cover types on studied territor

- Assessment of bioclimatic resources for the development of a number of agricultural crops and forest trees; assessment of appropriate levels of bioclimatic types for acacia hybrid (assessment for total Northeast region at map on scale 1: 500,000), tea plant (Thai Nguyen Province on scale 1: 100,000), star anise (in Lang son province on scale

of 1: 100,000), black cardamom (Sa Pa district, Lao Cai province on scale

of 1: 50,000) and recommendation of orientations of rational exploitation and use of bioclimatic resources and sustainable development of agricultural crops and forest trees

3 Limited scope of study

- Limited scope of territory :Studied territory is limited within Northeast region with natural area of 64 952 km ² (accounting for 20% of total area of the country), including 11 provinces Geographical studied places focused on mainland, not included part of the sea and islands

- Limited scientific scope: The dissertation only focuses on characteristics, differentiation of bioclimatic conditions and assessment

of bioclimatic adaptation for developing a number of agricultural crops and forest trees with economic value in Northeast region ( Acacia hybrid

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tree, midland tea plant, star anise and black cardamom);orientation of spatial rational use of bioclimatic resources in agricultural and forestry production in Northeast region

4 Scentific signìficance of the dissertation

- The dissertation has elucidated nature of characteristics and differentiation of bioclimatic resources on the territory from which recommends orientation of rational exploitation and use of territorial bioclimatic resources for sustainable socioeconomic development

- Practical signìficance of the dissertation: In order to orientate sustainable development of agricultural and forestry production, the results of the dissertation will be the scientific basis for reasonable maintenance, restoration, protection and development of vegetation covers in natural forest and planted forest, contributing to recommendation of structure of agricultural crops and forest trees, areas spicializing in growing industrial trees, medicinal plants that have high economic value in accordance with specific characteristics of bioclimatic resources on territory of northeast region of Vietnam :

5 New contribution of the dissertation

Indicator System and bioclimatic- vegetation maps of Northeast region on scale of 1:500.000 has reflected bioclimatic characteritics and differentiation characteristics of vegetation covers in Northeast region Bioclimatic units carry specific characteristics of the studied area Assessement of bioclimatic resources and other natural factors for development of agricultural crops and forest trees with economic value is the scientific basis for the rational spartial arrangement of production, contributing

to the sustainable development of agricultural and forestry sectors in Northeast region

6 Theoretical points for defending

- Theoretical point 1: Midland and mountainous area in North East region have diverse natural conditions and bioclimatic natural resouces reflecting diverse aspect, abundant bioclimatic resources and climatic differentation according to its own rules Bioclimatic classification It reflects the structure of vegetation mulch -vegetation types of the studied area

- Theoretical point 2: Applying the method of assessing ecological adaptation, assessing the appropriate level of bioclimatic conditions for a few agricultural crops and forest trees, medicinal plants that have high economic value, the dissertation has developed a scientific basis necessary for proper orientation of using bioclimatic resources, spartial arrangement of areas pf producing forest trees and areas specializing in

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the growing industrial plants, medicinal plants on the territory of northeast region of Vietnam

7 Sources of Document

- The results of the study, field survey following routes

- Climatic data of 34 meteorological stations and rain gauge stations of Northeast region

- In addition to the documents that have already been published having content related to the dissertation, the graduate student herself collected materials and data from the NAFOSTED project (2012-2014 by Assoc Dr Nguyen Khanh Van and the graduate student is a member directly taking part

in this project

- Falcilities of maps of special subjects serving for mapping in the dissertation include: Topographic map of Northeast region on scale of 1:500.000; Soil Map of Thai Nguyen, Lang Son on scale of 1:100.000, soil map Sa Pa District, Lao Cai Province on scale of 1:50.000 ; The projects, scientific reports on investigations of natural and socio-economic conditions, , climatic resources in Northeast region

8 Structure of the disertation

The disertation is presented in writing consisting of 150 typed pages in A 4 size, 34 tables, 30 figures, lists of 122 references in Vietnamese and foreign languages Besides the introduction, conclusion and references, the dissertation has three chapters including:

Chapter 1: The theoretical basis for the study and assessement of bioclimatic resources for development of agricultural and forestry production

Chapter 2: Characteristics of climate and bioclimatic resources in Northeast region

Chapter 3: Assessment of bioclimatic resources in Northeast region for development of some agricultural crops and forest trees

Chapter 1:THEORETICAL BASIS FOR STUDY AND

ASSESSEMENT OF BIOCLIMATIC RESOURCES

FOR DEVELOPMENT AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTRY

PRODUCTION, 1.1 Some basic terms

Climate applications is a science that studies climate in relation to a specific object; analysing, elucidating the positive and negative impact of climate on the object to provide the right, reasonable solutions to take advantage and enhance the positive impacts, prevent negative impacts of climate The basic direction of study on climate applications such as

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agriculture climate, forestry climate, medicine climate, tourism climate, construction climate, transportation climate, Military climate Bioclimatology is a subject to study association between climatology and ecology, the effects of climate to living organism Bioclimatology focuses

on study on impact of climatic factors (radiation, temperature, humidity ect ) for a long time and tracks the impact of weather each day, each month, studying climate within the region and in each small area (micro-climate), in landscape and barn equipment created by humans for plants and animals Study on bioclimate is the basis for study of living organism’s adaptation to enhance the productivity in a given environment "[87]

Study on some of the main directions of bioclimate bioclimate, natural vegetation bioclimate, human bioclimate) continues to

(agro-be interested in, promoting both scientific and practical aspects

1.2 Historical Overview of bioclimate -natural vegetation covers

Study of bioclimate-natural vegetation cover has been one of the directions of studies for a long time Many research works of scientists in the country and foreign countries has high scientific and practical significance

In fact, study results of bioclimate has provided a scientific basis for geographic vegetation in determining the distribution of plant species, as well

as the ecological characteristics of generating natural vegetation covers The climate and vegetation have very close relationships Natural vegetation is regarded as indicators of climatic conditions corresponding to a climatic type, havings a certain primary vegetation type

1.2.1 Overview of research works on the world

The process of forming a direction of climatic classification on the basis of plant ecology is a long process and are always developed with different scientific advances by plant taxonomists , climatologists supplemented by study results of landscapists

In recent years, study direction of applications of bioclimate-natural Vegetation covers relationship has been promoted having practical

significance, especially in the context of climate change

Currently, scientists in the world are continuing to study and develop this direction of study Application scope of studying bioclimate-natural vegetation does not limit to the study for the purpose of assessing adaptation of crop ecology, but studying forest fire warning, protection of natural forest resources and vegetation covers for purposes of studying adaptation and coping with climate change is also actively promoted

1.2.2 Over view of studies in Vietnam

Study of bioclimate in vegetation cover classification and agriculture and forestry in general has been summarized in Thai Van

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Trung ‘s works "forest vegetation cover of Vietnam." In the next studies

of Schmid (1962), Duong Huu Thoi, Pham Hoang Ho (1960) bioclimatic factors were applied to the description, explanation of the formation, differentiation of the types of Vegetation Covers in different regions of our country

A number of subsequent studies, investigations and assessement of climatic resources performed by Lee (1973), Vu Tu Lap (1976), Nguyen Duc Ngu, Nguyen Trong Hieu (1985) Lam Cong Dinh (1992), Nguyen Viet Pho, Vu Van Tuan (1993), Nguyen Duc Ngu, Nguyen Trong Hieu (2004) analyzed the characteristics of climate and resources in Vietnam

In addition, sudies on assessement of climatic resources of Vietnam are also mentioned in some coursebooks of Vietnam natural geography, ecologcal economy , bioclimatic basis written by the authors: Nguyen Duc Chinh, Vu Tu Lap , Le Ba Thao, Nguyen Phap, Nguyen Khanh Van

be allowed to inherit and continue developing the previous studies 1.3 Overview of studies on agricultural crops, forest trees

Currently, many studies of forest trees, industrial trees and medicinal plants have been invested and put into practical applications Some of the main forest trees in our country as Acacia, Pine tree, gum tree (Eucalyptus), Manglietia conifera have been studied in many works carried out by authors such as Vu Tien Hinh; Dao Cong Khanh;Vu Nham, Nguyen Ngoc Lung, These study results have made important contribution to the process of restoring vegetation covers, development

of planted forest in Vietnam

Studies of evaluating and classifying the levels of ecological adaptability of plant groups (especially industrial trees, medicinal plants), specific crops Many scientists in the agriculture, biology, geography and medicinal plants are interested in these studies and have obtained specific results The dissertation has listed some studies of agricultural crops, assessment of the level of adaptation to the climatic conditions of industrial trees , medicinal plants performed by Le Trong Cuc Nguyen

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Dai Khanh, Pham Chi Thanh, Do Tat Loi

Analysis of the results of the projects helps the author get more scientific data for studying, analysis, assessement of bioclimatic resources for the development of some valuable Agricultural crops and forest trees in Northeast region of Vietnam

1.4 Several classification systems, division of Vegetation cover types in Vietnam

bioclimate-In the study of climate, there have been a number of documents mentioning, analysing, classifying and distributing bioclimate-natural vegetation covers Typically, there are studies performed by Vu Tu Lap, Thai Van Trung, Lam Cong Dinh, author groups of the Institute of Geography

Inheriting the results, classification, distribution of bioclimatic types obtained by various authors in the country, analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of these methods of bioclimate classfication so that the author can select most appropriate classification method of bioclimate-natural vegetation covers on the territory In the process of study, classification, bioclimatic mapping in Northeast region, the author applied the classification method by the authors of Institute of Geography, selecting criteria for classifying levels of bioclimatic types in map of bioclimate-natural vegetation covers in Northeast region of Viet Nam…

1.5 General theory of climatic resources assessment for the development of agricultural and forestry production

* Objects and assessement unit

Objects assessed are the bioclimatic units, bioclimate-resources units, specific crops: Acacia hybrid tree, Midland tea plant star anise, black cardamom assessement units used when bioclimate is assessed for development of agricultural crops and forest trees in Northeast region (in bioclimatic map on scale of 1: 500,000) are units.of bioclimatic type Assessment unit of bioclimate for a specific crop (in bioclimatic map on scale of 1: 100.000, 1: 50.000) is bioclimate-soil

Contents of assessement: The contens consist of determining characteristics of climatic resources on the territory, assessement of bioclimatic types for development of specific agricultural crops and forest trees to recommend orientation of rational and efficient use of bioclimatic resources

*The dissertation designs various steps of assessement for forest trees (acacia hybrid), industrial trees (tea, star anise), medicinal plant (black cardamom)

Assessement of bioclimatic adaptation was performed through the following steps: Selecting and designing assessment indicator system;

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scale, arithmetic mean; identifing methods of assessment and applying them to studied territory Asessement of bioclimatic resources, bioclimate-esources for the purpose of crop development

The disertation applied the method of calculating componential scores by using the fomular of calculating arithmetic mean

* Classification of asessement results and recommendations of their use After the results were obtained, applications to practice must

be verified and classified for each bioclimatic unit, bioclimate-resource That is a combination of bioclimatic group units, with the same appropriate level for crops that were assessed having the same type of resource potential or the same conditions for crop development

1.6 Points of view and methods of study

* The dissertation used points of view such as: systematic point of view, territorial point of view, historical point of view and view of

sustainable development In particular, the views and synthesis system were the key point

* Methodology of study:The dissertation used methods of study as follows: Method of collecting, analyzing and processing data; field survey methods, interviewing experts; method of statistical analysis; Method of typing, climatic classification; Assessment methods of plants that adapt to ecology; Methods of mapping and geographic information systems (GIS)

* Procedures of study: After conducting field surveys, collecting data

and processing related documents, the author conducted the study following different steps: Step 1: Gathering documents and data, analysis and assesement

of natural and socioeconomic conditions of Northeast region; Step 2: Analyzing characteristics of bioclimatic resources, bioclimatic mapping Northeast region; Step 3: Assessing bioclimatic resources in Northeast region for developing some agricultural crops and forest trees that have economic value in this region

Subconclusion of chapter 1

1 The results of the study performed by many authors in the country and foreign countries shows that bioclimate , bioclimate- natural vegetation cover is a direction of study that has a long history , contributed ,enriched , enlightened by the results of many branches of sciences of earth sciences in general This is a real direction of study having both theorical and practical significance Currently study of bioclimate is continuing to be studied by many scientists to promote the application to solve practical problems The findings of agricultural crops and forest trees are regarded as an important document for the author to inherit and promote further study in order to obtain results in the the dissertation

2 Northeast region has natural area of 63 952 km ² (accounting for about 20% of the country) This is a vast natural geographical area having special bioclimatic resources and diverse complex climatic differentiation There are many scientific studies of climate that mention climate in Northeast region but they only limit to the level of general study, not studying the entire contents of northeast region of Vietnam In contrast, there are a number of projects for a department or a province located in Northeast region There haven’t been any works analyzing bioclimatic resources in the region specifically and in detail(at the rate of study / 1500.000) Therefore, the study of the dissertation on bioclimatic resources on Northeast territory has sufficient scientific basis to be performed The results of the analysis in chapter 1, the points of view and methods of study are a theoretical basis for the author to review, select and apply appropriately to study on assessement of bioclimatic resources

in order to develop some kind of Agricultural crops and forest trees having economic value, contributing to hunger eradication and Poverty reduction, optimal use of natural resources of Northeast region

CHAPTER 2: CLIMATE AND BIOCLIMATC RESOURCES IN THE

NORTH EAST AREA OF VIETNAM 2.1 Factors forming and affecting bioclimatic resources

2.1.1 Natural factors forming climate of North east region of Viet Nam

Factors forming climate of the northeast region include three factors: solar radiation, circulation of atmosphere and factorgroup of buffer surface

* Northeast region (20º40’B -23°22’B, 103°31’-108°31’D )covers the whole notheast area with its natural area of 63.952 km² (accounting for 20% area of the whole country), which consists of 11 provinces (Quang Ninh, Lang Son, Cao Bang, Bac Can, Thai Nguyen, Yen Bai, Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Phu Tho, Bac Giang) (map1.1) [65] With the location and territories

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mentioned above, the area plays an extremely important role in eclology, environment, society, economy, security and national defence

The geographical location has detemined that the north east region has radiation regime with tropic style Generally, the area is abundant in radiation with more than 200 kcal/cm² per year, Such amount of radiation ensures the existance of tropical rain forest vegetation covers and rain appears in many places of the region in rainy season

* North east region is influenced by circulation regime of internal tropical monsoon [49], [71], [72] In the spere of the region in sumer the prevailing winds blow in the region from the sea ( northeast trade winds that dominates the north hemisphere) have south and southwest direction

In winter the prevailing winds blow from continent northwardly and norhthesterly Shift of wind regimes causes contrast between heat regimes

and between annual precipitation in the place of study

* Factor group of buffer surface include 2 factors: factor group of geology and terrain and factorgroup of hydrography, soils and vegetation covers

- Factor group of geology and terrain: Differentiation of terrain by east west com bination and north south combination plus specific characteristic of the area (mountain, hill and plain) has caused the climate

in the northeast region to be divided according to east –west direction and the height (figure 2.1) Topographic structure, interaction of terrain circulation cause climate in the region to divide into climate patterns, climates that have specific features Factors of geology and terrain have important influence on formation of the climate in the region

- Factor group of hydrography - soils, vegetation cover are illustrated

in the figures 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5: Soil mantle - vegetation and hydrographical factor have contributed to regulation of climate especially in area where there

is good soil, abundant hydrological reserves,high development of forest So this is the important factor of buffer surface affecting formation of climate The combined impact of buffer surface including terrain, soils, hydrography, living organism and sea combined with factor of monsoon circulation on the tropics has formed featured specific climate pattern and no other places in

the world at the same latitude have the similar feature That is the humid

tropical monsoon climate with cold winter consisting of 3 cold months that have temperature below 18ºC

2.1.2 Factors of economy society - exploitation and rational use of bioclimatic natural resources

By the end of 2012, population in Northeast region of Viet nam is

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9720.2000 (that belong to 30 different races),making up 11% of population of the whole country Most residents of the region live on agricultural and forestry production (population in rural area accounts for > 80%) Development of agricultural and forestry production will be the precondition for economic and optimal employing surplus labours to contribute to redistribution of residents, focus on development and improve living standards

of people in rural and mountainous area, exploit production and enhance the quality of life for the communities in Northeast region

* Economic sectors

- In the region a number of forest areas for materials used for

industry of processing paper,producing artificial board and, mine pillars have been formed That is why forest coverage has increased

significantly so far

- Industrial sector of processing agricultural and forestry products in the region í still limited in number and size It í not associated with the manufacturing sector Procedures of product processing is still rudimentary, having not been equipped with modern equipment At the present mainly primary products are exported to foreign markets at low prices , output in consumption of agricultural and forestry products is not guaranteed so specialized activities of the production of goods face a lot of difficulties

2.2 Laws of nature and climatic differentiation of Northeast region 2.2.1 General characteristic: Factors forming the climate have specified general nature of the Northeast Climate: intrinsic properties of tropics, monsoon, natural moisture, diversity and climate fluctuations

2.2.2 Laws of climatic differentiation

Seasonal differentiation in climate of Northeast region is the most important characteristic and has high practical significance, especially in the field of production and economy of our country Differentiation of dynamics of seasonal climate here is due to the activities of monsoon circulation, with a unique combination of geography

The rules of the climate division include: differentiation of climate with latitude, longitude, altitude and differentiated according to seasonal climate in which climate rule of differentiation by elevation and seasonal are best expressed in the differentiation of regional climate

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With rain regime, rainfall, humidity metioned above, Northeast region is differentiated into areas with more rain, less rain very clearly Generally, it is favorable for the development of crops that prefer moist, adaptive with distinct seasons The distribution of rainfall over space and time creates ecological diversity of crops

The special weather phenomenon: In the region, the weather phenomenon particularly like typhoon, local hot dry wind, frost, fog, hail, thunderstorms, snow and ice etc… are the phenomena occurring with more frequency and are harmful to development of vegetation covers and crops

2.4 Mapping bioclimate of natural vegetation covers (based on original source) in Northeast region of Vietnam

2.4.1 Establishment of principles of the bioclimate map of natural vegetation covers

Bioclimatic map that is established has to meet the following principles: (i) The map must first reflect the climatic conditions of the studied territories, differentiated according to time and space (ii) bioclimatic map must reflect ecological characteristics of the territory containing models of vegetation covers available in the territorie studied (iii) bioclimate map must reflect the needs that serve for production, planning territories studied

2.4.2 Indicator system for bioclimates classification of vegetation covers

indicator system of heat and humidity being studied,and built for bioclimatic map must meet the following requirements: (i) indicators selected must be representative, that is, must reflect nature and distribution characteristics of seasons, the hot season, the rainy season, by latitude, altitude and season (ii) indicators selected must reflect the nature of the ecological climate, i.e, reflect the law of distribution, the growth and development of certain types of natural vegetion covers on studied territory -System of heat includes average temperature of the year and indicator of lenght of cold season

- indicator system of rain and wet including an indicator of total annual rainfall and number of dry months is used for the climate type hierarchy

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