The thesis aims to: Classify landscape ecology system and establish maps of landscape ecology in Son La province. Clarify the changes of landscape ecology in Son La over time (from 2005 to 2015). Identify the scientific foundations based on studing landscape ecology to orientate rational territory use in agriculture, forestry and conservation.
Trang 1DOAN THI TRUONG NHUNG
RESEARCH OF LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY IN SON LA PROVINCE
TO SERVE SOCIO-ECONOMIC PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
Major: Ecology Code: 9 42 01 20
SUMMARY OF BIOLOGY DOCTORAL THESIS
Hà Nội - 2018
Trang 2Graduate University of Science and Technology – Vietnam Academy of Science and
Technology
Supervisor 1: Asc Prof DSc Tran Dinh Ly
Supervisor 2: Dr Ha Quy Quynh
of Science and Technology
at ….hour… on …………date … ….month…….year 2018
The thesis shall be found at:
- The Library of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology
- The Vietnam National Library
Trang 3INTRODUCTION
1 The significance of study
Son La province locates in the North West of Vietnam, which is essential geological position in socio-economic development strategy and protection of national and regional security and defense Moreover, Son La is ensuring national and regional security and defense Simultaneously, having the watersheds of Da and
Ma River, this province is the crucial protection area for the Northern Delta and has the two largest hydropower projects in Vietnam With the terrain predominated by low mountain, highlands and valleys, abundance of land and climate resources, and a special local knowledge system, Son La has great prospects for developing agriculture, forestry, trade and tourism, bringing socio-economic and environmental efficiencies
However, low effectiveness of natural resource protection in Son La has positive effects on other regions in the downstream of Da River and Ma River In recent 10 years, land use system and in structure of cultivated plants have been change rapidly In the province, land degradation has been more seriously, water resource has been degraded; environment pollution caused by deforestation and agricultural chemical and natural hazards have been more frequently and caused more and more risks [84] Thus, in long term strategy of socio-economic development need scientifically consider rapid and sustainable development following functional regions
Researching landscape ecology (LE) is a synthetic and interdisciplinary approach from research of species structure, environment characteristics, ecological and regional conditions, and distributional regions Researching ecological landscape aims to clearly understanding of natural resources and natural conditions; the interaction relation among natural components; features and functions of each territorial unit, etc which are foundations of new proposals of properly and sustainable natural resource extractions and uses.Thus, nowadays, it is necessary to research ecological landscapes in Son La province aiming to orientation of ecological function exploitation, reformation and rehabilitation of provincial territory
In this fact, the study of "Research of landscape ecology in Son La provinces to serverve socioeconomic planning and development" contributes to sustainable socio-economic development in Son La province
2 Thesis Ojectives
The thesis aims to:
- Classify landscape ecology system and establish maps of landscape ecology in Son La province
- Clarify the changes of landscape ecology in Son La over time (from 2005 to 2015)
- Identify the scientific foundations based on studing landscape ecology to orientate rational territory use in agriculture, forestry and conservation
Trang 43 Main contents of the thesis
- Scientific bases of LE and classification of LE
- Characteristics of components of the LE in Son La province such as natural features, socio-economic characteristics, humans and human activities
- System of landscape ecology in Son La province
- Assessment of the changes of the landscape ecology system in Son La province
- To propose solutions for rational and sustainable use of natural resources in Son
La province
CHAPTER 1 LITERATURE REVIEW AND SCIENTIFC BASES OF STUDY
ISSUES 1.1 Scientific fields related to landscape ecology
1.1.1 Ecology
Ecology originated from Greek, “Oikos” means "house" or "living relation";
“Logos” means "study of" Thus, ecology means the scientific study of the relations
of organisms and their habitats There are many different definitions of ecology, but, generally, they are united that: ecology is a biology science that studies the interrelations between organisms and the environment
1.1.2 Ecosystem
Ecosystem concept: Vu Trung Tang (2003) [63] defined: “ecosystem is a
combination of biomes with their physical environment where they are existed, in which, organism interact each other and with environment to create a material cycle and energy metabolism"
Ecosystem components: Ecosystem includes two basic components: biomes và
physical environment
Ecosystem structure: Including biomes, their physical environment,
interrelations among organisms, interactions between organisms and their environment
Ecosystem functions: The basic function of the ecosystem is the
implementation of the material cycle, energy and information exchange to recombine biomes adapting with condition of biophysical environments, creating a dynamic balance in development process
Ecosystem Nature: Ecosystem has some features, three most significant
features of which have been mentioned in this part, including:
- Ecosystem is a constantly moving and changing system, the static state is only relative and temporary
- Ecosystem is an adjustable dynamic balance system
- The higher the diversity, the greater the sustainability
1.1.3 Landscape study
Concept of landscape
Trang 5In this thesis, LE is defined as a form concept "landscape is a complete part of the earth's surface with geomorphology, structure, and determined complexion in the development process and causal relations of impact factor integration" [97]
In Son La province, the thesis analysed the culture features, the role of landscape forming factors and the relationship between them, and at the same time, grouped these elements Group of abiotic elements includes: geological background, terrain and processes of geomorphology, climate and hydrology Group of biotic elements includes soil, biological system, duration and human activities
System of landscape classification
Pham Hoang Hai and his colleagues (1997) constructed a landscape classification system applied to the Vietnam territory at the map of a 1/1,000,000 scale with 7 levels: Landscape systems →Landscape subsystems → Landscape class → Landscape subclass → Landscape type → Landscape sub-type → Landscapes kind [27]
Structure and dynamic of landscapes
- Landscape structures include horizontal, vertical and temporal structure
- Landscape dynamic and changes
Landscape functions
Landscape functions have different conceptions
1.1.4 Biogeocenology
Biogeocenos are defined as "synthesizing natural phenomena on a certain surface in a
accordant manner with the matter exchange and transformation flow among natural conditions (mother rocks, floras, faunas, micro-organisms, soils and hydro-climatic conditions), which have particular characteristics for the interactions of the constituent elements and have the specific types of material and energy exchanges between them and other natural phenomena and is a dialectical unity having initial contradictory in the constantly movement "(Sukachev, 1947) [122] In a simple
understanding, biogeocenos includes biocoenosis and habitat The nature of the
interrelationship between the components of biogeocenos is the processes of matter and energy accumulation and transformation (Sukachev called the process of biogeocenos) that decide the arising, growth, development and ecological succession
of forest ecosystems
1.2 Research review of Landscape Ecology
1.2.1 Concept of landscape ecology
Definitions of landscape ecology focusing on ecological specialties of
landscape
The most common point of definition focuses on two important aspects of interaction between organism and its environment that enables to differentiate between landscape ecology research and ecology research
Definitions focus on humanity features of landscapes
Trang 6In this way, the definitions focus on the theoretical points that this is general and interdisciplinary sciences that study the relationship between human and the landscape
Landscape ecology of landscape scientists in Soviet and Vietnam
According to Soviet landscapeologists, LE is a new discipline of landscape study, in which, humans are included as a part of the landscape in the form of economic activities and surrounding elements forming the landscape [72]
In Vietnam, all the most important definitions of the LE are given by geographers LE is a discipline of applied landscape study, with particular emphasis
on ecological features of geology Subjects of LE study are specific units with their own principles, methods, and special regulation to classify them in the spatial dimensions [27]
Integrated definition of landscape ecology
LE has two basic aspects: teritorial landscape and ecosystem of lanscape These two aspects are independent but link closely together in a united territory The
LE theory issues are also the unification of landscape theory and the ecosystem theory Thus, the LE is a science studying and explaining the interactions of the system of biotic and abiotic elements in the definite space of the landscape
Studying landscape considers two directions including landscape compositions and entire of landscape, while studying LE focuses on the ecological characteristics
of landscape components Each landscape component is specifically considered in terms of environment of the organism, and interacting with the organism according to ecological laws [72]
1.2.2 Structure and functions of landscape ecology
The structure of LE consists of the landscape structure (the natural geographic components of the landscape) and the ecosystem structure (organic and inorganic materials, producers, consummers and decomposers) which are intergrated in a unity
The function of LE is multifunctional, including the natural functions of the landscape and the ecological functions of the ecosystem The change of any structural element of the landscape will cause the change of other components and the change of landscape and all landscape functions
1.2.3 Differentiation between “Landscape ecology” and “Ecological Landscape”
“Landscape ecology”: is the intermediate science between ecology and
landscape where ecological content is more focused than ecological issues in the landscape, the centre of reflection is the ecosystems within the landscape boundary [87]
“Ecological landscape”: In the foreign references, we only found the term of
Landscape Ecology (or Landschafts Oekologie in German) while the term of Ecological Landscape (Oekologische Landschaft) has not been found
The explanation for the two concepts presented by Nguyen The Thon (1993) [74] differentiated unclearly these two concepts Therefore, this research recommends using the term of Landscape Ecology only
Trang 71.2.4 Literature review of Landscape Ecology
On the world
Ecologycal study of landscape has begun in the second half of the 1960s at the Institute of Biology Landscape at the Academy Sciences of Czechoslovakia (1967) The Fifth Conference (1974) initiated the establishment of the International Association of Landscape Ecology (IALE), the first of meeting was held in Denmark
in 1984 It i scan be seen that ecologycal study of landscape means determination of ecological characteristics and norms of a landscape in order to protect and improve the environment [72]
In Vietnam
The study contents of the landscape ecology have become clearly since Vietnam joined the International Association of Landscape Ecology in 1992 Researches in this period is oriented and had research scale in accordance with demands for economic development and environmental protection at the territorial level Most of the landscape ecology studies in Vietnam have been conducted following the landscape structure analysis, landscape assessment, and determination of ecological economic models
1.3 Studies related to thesis topic in Son La province
Many previous studies related to the thesis topics, in different fields, are carried out in different periods The authors investigated on the natural, socio-economic conditions of Son La province and grouped of researches implemented in the territory
of Son La province
1.4 Theoretical bases
Based on scientific publications of ecosystem, landscapes, this thesis create foundation theory for studing LE in Son La The scientific contents and theory for thesis approaching the research isues include:
- The term of „landscape ecology“ or „ecology study of landscape“ has the same definition of natural objects, thus, the thesis uses the term of „landscape ecology“
- The viewpoint:"LE is the science of studying the interactions between organisms and the environment, organisms and organisms in a certain area limited by the landscape" (Schubert, 1986, p 447) [121] was used in this study LE units are ecosystems
- LE has clear hierarchy and classification as follows: LE system – LE system - LE class – LE sub-class - LE type – LE sub-type – LE kind The objects of
sub-LE study is the ecosystem in the landscape Therefore, the specific object in this thesis is sub-system of monsoon tropical monsoons LE with mild winters and a dry season in Son La
Because the separate classification for LE in Son La province has been inexistent, the thesis used the landscape classification by Pham Hoang Hai et al (1997) [27] as a foundation for ranking the levels of the LE system in Son La province From the theoretical and scientific bases, the criteria for applying LE classification, the thesis gave the classification criteria for the research area following
Trang 8the hierarchy of system sub-system class sub-class sub-class type sub-type kind
CHAPTER 2 RESEARCH CONTENTS, VIEWPOINTS AND METHODS 2.1 Research Contents
- Scientific bases of landscape ecology and landscape ecology classification
- Characteristics of components of landscape ecology in Son La: Natural - social - economic conditions - human beings and human activities
- System of landscape ecology in Son La
- Change assessment of landscape ecology system in Son La
- Suggestion of solutions for sustainable and proper use of natural resources in Son La
2.2 Theoretical viewpoints of the research
2.2.1 Systematic viewpoint
The basis of the systemic viewpoints is the conception of the unity and completeness of internal relationships and the distribution of the external linkage of the system
2.2.2 Synthetic viewpoint
Synthesis is considered at two different views: (1) Synthesis is the process of comprehensive research on the natural and socio-economic conditions, the relationships between organisms in the ecosystem in the territory of the landscape (2) Synthesis is a systematic and regulative combination based on comphrehensive and integrated analysis of the elements and factors of natural terrestrial aggregates, simultaneously, identifies biological laws, relationships between organisms in the geographic locations
2.2.3 Territorial viewpoint
For the evaluation process to be effective, research should establish theoretical and practical issues related to organization and planning based on the approach of the territorial point of view This ensures that the research territory is assessed not only in relation to neighbouring territories, but also for the specific characteristics of Son La province
2.2.4 Historical perspective
Every territorial unit or geographic entity has to go through the processes of formation, development and evolution over time Thus, the process of assessing and perceiving the territory from a historical perspective is a full access to all aspects of
territory in the past and forecast of their changes in the future
2.2.5 Interdisciplinary and sustainable development viewpoints
Sustainable Development (SD), a new and comprehensive aspect, has great concerned when the economic development affects on the human environment and natural resources Research and assessment of landscape ecology from the SD point
of view is understood to be an evaluation for each unit level based on an integrated assessment of the constituent elements, structure and functions of the landscape
Trang 9ecology Using landscape ecology units ensures economic, environmental and social factors in practice application
2.3 Research methods
2.3.1 Fieldworks
The fieldworks were conducted based on a detailed survey of the formation factors and the landscape slice
Main survey routes and timeframes include:
- Route 1: Son La - Bac Yen - Phu Yen: April 15th - 14th, 2014
- Route 2: Son La - Thuan Chau - Muong La - Quynh Nhai: May 20 to 27, 2015
- Route 3: Son La - Mai Son - Yen Chau - Moc Chau: from March 1 to March 8,
2016
2.3.2 Data and document analysis and synthesis
Materials, data related to research topic, research areas are collected, selected, processed and systematized
2.3.3 Mapping and GIS
Map is considered as the second language of geography, because they are the most visible expressing spatial features of the research objects Digital maps have enough spatial and attribute information for the features of interest, helping the composite mapping process to be performed accurately and objectively Mapping and geographic information systems (GIS) are used in a various context throughout the research process
2.3.4 Professional expert interview
The researcher has consulted experts and scientists from the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Institute of Geography, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Department of Science and Technology of Son
La province; Son La Forest Protection Department, Son La Nature Reserve Management Board, University of Natural Sciences - VNU, Tay Bac University
2.3.5 Method group of landscape ecology research and assessment
The methodology group includes:
- Method of Conjugate component map analysis
- Method of the dominant factor analysis
- Method of LE mapping
- Method of landscape zoning
2.4 Steps of research
The research was done by this following main steps:
Step 1 Difined the ojectives, duties and scales and contents of research
Step 2 Collecting and reviewing typical issues related to thesis topic, at the same time, doing the field trips and identifying the differented characteristics of the constituent factors and their role in LE of Son La province
Step 3 Research the landscape and LE classification systems, then, construct the 1:100.000 scale map of LE in Son La
Trang 10Step 4 Calculate the area of each LE kind over time and the changes of each
3.1.1 Natural conditions
Geographical location
Son La is a mountainous province in northwestern Vietnam, far 280 km from south-east of Hanoi, with a total natural land area of 14,125 km², located in two large basins of Da River and Ma River
Located deeply in the continent, Son La is situated within the latitude of 20°39’
N to 22°02’ N and longitude of 103°11’ E to 105°02’ east longitude It borders with Yen Bai, Lao Cai provinces to the north, with Phu Tho, Hoa Binh province to the east, with Lai Chau, Dien Bien provinces to the West and Thanh Hoa province, Laos
to the south
Geology - Typography
Geology: Son La belongs to the geosyncline zone of Da River, located between
the two tectonic complexes of Hoang Lien Son mountain range and Ma River with deep-marine sediments of limestone, metamorphic schist and basis and acidic magma
intrusive blocks
Typography: The arrangement of mountain ranges, terrain types and tropical
monsoon regimes divide Son La into different natural areas such as: upland, midland and lowland with specific characteristics of climate The largest limestone range in the north goes through Son La in the northwest - southeast direction, intercalated by the sediment of clay forming the system of Son La - Moc Chau plateau This is a
terrain type with special features of the province
Climate and Hydrology
Climate: Son La has a humid tropical monsoon climate, with mild winters and
a dry season Climate has a strong impact on the physical, chemical and biological
processes of soil and rock
Hydrology: Territorial topography features create a dense network of rivers and
streams in Son La that flow into the Da and Ma rivers Therefore, these two rivers are the main hydrological systems of Son La and the natural boundary of the huge
waterway of the Xu Xen Chao Chai Range
Soil
Results of soil survey, editing, land mapping at the rate of 1:100,000 (according to the soil classification system 1976-1984) in 2004 of the National Institute of Agricultural Planning and Projection shown that land resources in Son La province contain 7 groups with 24 types (mapping unit) with 1,329,644.1 ha,
Trang 11accounting for 94.61% of the total natural area of the province (Table 3.1),
(Figure 3.4)
Floras
Because of characteristics of geographical location, topography, climate and soil, Son
La province has very different ecosystems, the floras of conservation areas, use forests, production forests and cultivated areas are also different from those in the North East, the Red River Delta and elsewhere Over time, the area of natural forests, plantation forests have been evolved according to the demands of each period for war serves, economic construction and people's life In general, the natural forests in Son
special-La province have been degraded considerably, the areas of bare land and hills have been increased Despite the investment of the province to restore the forest, create a material source to meet the essential needs, both positive and negative human impacts have changed the appearance of forests in Son La
Natural forests have retreated to areas with difficult terrain, few inhabitants, or only protected in nature reserves, instead of regenerating forests, plantation forests, industrial plants with industrial trees, fruit trees and up-land fields Reforestation, zoning for protection and rehabilitation have great efforts, however, a large area of bare hills widely still distributes in all topographic types and forms
The vegetation cover in Son La province is classified into four classes according to the classification framework of UNESCO 1973 (Figure 3.5)
Class I: Closed forests are determined by over 60% of the wood tree covers and from 5m height of the trees
Class II: thin forests are defined by the canopy cover (k) from 0.3 to 0.6 Some authors argued that this type of forests exists in some small areas in Moc Chau, Thuan Chau and Yen Chau districts (Son La) Through the survey, this forest types in Son La was almost depleted or cut down and to be shrub or grass cover
Class III: Shrubs include woody vegetation cover with a height of 0.5 - 5m, possibly with scattered wood trees with canopy cover under 0.3 This class mostly have secondary origin and was regenerated after clear cutting or slash and burn Only bushes on high mountains are primeval nature
Class IV: Grassland
Most of the grasslands in Son La have secondary origin and are formed after clear cutting or slash and burn to create large gaps for grass growing
3.1.2 Elements of human ecology
Ethnics and Population:
There are 12 ethnic groups in Son Lan, in which, the Thai have the most
population, following by the Kinh, the H'mong, the Muong, the Dao, the Khơ Mú and
others (Kháng, La Ha, Lào, Hoa, Xinh Mun )
Poverty reduction and employment:
In recent years, the National Program on Hunger Eradication and Poverty Reduction, socio-economic development projects such as Program 135; 134; sedentary
Trang 12farming program; rural clean water and sanitation, etc along with policies such as policy 120; subsidy policy, … have been done in Son La
Economic structure:
The economic growth rate in 2014 was higher than that of 2013 (10.26% in
2013 and 11.28% in 2014) The economic structure continued to change positively: the service sector increased from 40.92% in 2013 to 42.3% in 2014, occupied high proportion and are the most contribution of the economy; the industry-construction sector grew from 24.92% in 2013 to 26.65% in 2014; the agriculture, forestry and fishery sector decreased from 34.16% in 2013 to 31.05% in 2014
Human impacts on the natural environment
Water Environment: Surface water and groundwater in Son La province are
polluted mainly by agricultural activities, urban and industrial wastewater, loss of upstream forests, migration and resettlement
Air environment: Human activities that polluted the air environment include
construction, transportation, industrial production, forest fire and mining
Soil environment: The soil environment in Son La province is polluted and
degraded due to migration, resettlement, agricultural production, industrial production, natural disasters and environmental incidents
3.2 Classification system of landscape ecology in Son La province
Based on analyzing the components of the landscape ecology system in Son La province, we set up the system of classifying the landscape ecologies in Son La province as follows: Son La is in the monsoon tropical zone, has a cold winter and a dry season Thus landscape ecology is formed 4 classes, 5 sub-classes, 13 types, 33 sub- types and 63 kinds (table 3.2)
Table 3.2 Statistics of landscape ecology units in Son La province
High mountai
n LE sub-class (SLI-1)
1 Evergreen temperate and sub-tropical forests on high mountains, total
of annual temperature under 5.500ºC, average annual temperature
<10ºC, amount of rain: moderate to high, cold season has at least 8 months, dry season from 3-4 month, and
a drought month (SLI-1-k1)
1 Forests on Humic
Chromic Luvisol,
including LE kind of 1a, 1b
2,172.56
Trang 13dry
season
2 Temperate and sub-tropical evergreen shrub on high mountain, annual temperature total: under 5.500ºC, annual average temperature: under 10ºC, cold season:8 months (SLI-1-k2)
2 Evergreen shrub on Humic Alisols
including kind of 2g
35.21
LE calss of everage mountai
sub-n (SLI-2)
3 Evergreen temperate on everage mountain forest, total of annual temperature under 5500°C, annual average temperature of 10 - 15°C, moderate rainfall, cold season
in over 8 months, dry season in 5 - 6 months, in which 0÷3-month drought (SLI-2-k1)
3 Closed evergreen closed forests on
Humic Alisols,
including LE kind of 3c
Total of annual temperature under
<5.500°C, average temperature from 10°C to 15° C, moderate rain Cold season is less than 8 months, dry season
is 5-6 months The major botanical components are sub-tropical taxa (SLI-2-k2)
5 Shrubs and grasses
on Humic Ferralsols, incl kind of 5g
1,189.71
6 Shrubs and grasses
on Orthic Ferralsols, incl kind of 6g
852.37
LE class of low
sub-5 Closed evergreen sub-tropical forests The total
7 Forests on
Chromic Ferrasols,
incl kind of 7c
172,591.01