INTRODUCTION
Natural ecosystems, particularly forest ecosystems, are vital for life and human survival They supply essential raw materials like firewood and timber for various industries, while also safeguarding habitats and promoting sustainability across nations.
The global and Vietnamese forest resources are facing significant declines in both quantity and quality, leading to a reduction in biodiversity and the ecological functions of forests This deterioration impacts essential environmental protection efforts, disaster prevention, and the fight against global warming.
To enhance the sustainable management of forest resources, the Vietnamese government has initiated a national forest inventory to monitor annual changes in forest resources and gather accurate data on their quantity and quality Additionally, it has implemented supportive policies aimed at promoting forest protection and development, including laws for reforestation investment, payment for forest environmental services, and effective forest management strategies.
The Payments for Forest Environmental Services (PFES) policy is a promising approach for protecting and sustainably developing forests, aligning with national forestry strategies PFES provides an additional income source for forest workers and communities reliant on forests, enabling funding for reforestation and resource protection Over the past decade, PFES has garnered significant interest from environmental researchers, scientists, and policymakers across Southeast Asia.
In Viet Nam, PFES begin with Decision No.380/QĐ-TTg dated 10/4/2008 PFES is one of the important directions in order to achieve the objective of planning 44% area for
The Payment for Forest Ecosystem Services (PFES) has been piloted in Lam Dong and Son La provinces, yielding significant positive outcomes after two years Notably, there has been a marked reduction in forest land encroachment and forest law violations, decreasing by over 50% in the pilot areas.
On September 24, 2010, the Vietnamese Government issued Decree No 99/2010/NĐ-CP, establishing a policy for forest environmental services aimed at enhancing the management, protection, and sustainable exploitation of forest resources This landmark policy recognizes forest environments as vital services for the development and conservation of ecosystems, biodiversity, and landscape protection It mandates that individuals, businesses, and organizations utilizing these services compensate forest owners, marking a significant innovation in the forestry sector that aligns with commodity production principles in Vietnam.
Despite the successful implementation of policies in pilot provinces, defining the K coefficient for each forest plot remains challenging, as outlined in Decree 99, which adjusts payment levels for PFES Additionally, the lack of a comprehensive database for PFES complicates policy execution, leading to significant obstacles, particularly in Dak Nong province and other regions that have recently begun implementation.
In order to promote the implementation of Decree 99 on payment for forest environmental services in Dak Nong hydropower basin in particular and other provinces in general
“Gis application to identify payment for forest environment service: Case study in Dak Nong hydropower plant, Dak Nong province”
OBJECTIVES
Contribute to the implementation of Decree 99 about payments for forest environmental services in the hydropower plant basins
Create and apply K coefficient map to calculate amount paid for forest owners in Dak Nong hydropower basin
METHODOLOGY
Data source
- Digital elevation model (created by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Economics Japan in collaboration with NASA) spatial resolution is 30mx30m
- Forest inventory map of Dak Nong province in 2013 created by Institute for Forest Ecology and Environment, Vietnam Forestry University
- Roads map and map of population distribution inherited from Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Dak Nong.
Method of defining watershed boundaries for DAK NONG hydropower plant
Using the GPS (Global Positioning System) to determine outlet of the basin and enter the coordinates into the computer, show it on a DEM map
Watershed boundaries are delineated automatically from digitized elevation model (DEM) follow the sequence of steps:
- Fill the pits in the DEM
Natural Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) often contain depressions, referred to as sinks or pits To accurately delineate basins and streams, these sinks must be filled Failure to fill these depressions can lead to a discontinuous drainage network.
Analyst > Hydrology Tools > Fill in the Toolbox or search for the Fill tool, specify the original input DEM
The next step is to calculate flow directions Again in the Toolbox, go to Spatial
Analyst Tools -> Hydrology Tools -> Flow Direction
To conduct hydrology analyses, input the pit-filled Digital Elevation Model (DEM) rather than the original DEM, and designate the new output raster as a flow direction raster This flow direction grid will serve as a crucial component for subsequent hydrological assessments.
Search for the Flow Accumulation tool or in the toolbox: Spatial Analyst Tools > Hydrology > Flow Accumulation The dialog box prompts you to input flow direction raster
To enhance your flow accumulation raster, adjust the symbology to display two distinct classes Assign "no color" to the smaller value class, while selecting a prominent color for the larger value class to ensure visibility on your map To modify the symbol properties, simply double-click on the symbol box.
To utilize the Watershed tool in the Spatial Analyst Hydrology Tools Toolbox, click on the tool and enter the flow direction grid as the input flow raster Additionally, provide the shapefile containing the outlet point as the feature pour point data.
Method of mapping K coefficient
Payment for forest environment services means a provision and payment relationship in which users of forest environment services pay to providers of these services
Forests environmental services is a form has been applied in a number of countries around the world, but it is a relatively new concept for Vietnam
According to Decree No 99, the payment for services provided by a forest owner is calculated by multiplying the forest area by the average payment per hectare and a specific payment coefficient (K) for that owner Additionally, forests that offer multiple environmental services are eligible to receive full compensation for all these services.
The K coefficient is crucial for assessing individual forest status plots and serves as the foundation for calculating forest environmental services (FES) owed to forest owners Forest plots with similar status within the same basin, which provide comparable environmental services, share an identical K coefficient This coefficient for each forest status plot is derived from the aggregation of various sub K coefficients (K1, K2, K3, K4).
The synthetic K coefficient mapping is constructed from four distinct maps: the first map defines the K1 factor based on forest status, the second map outlines the K2 factor according to forest type, the third map determines the K3 factor related to the forest's formative origin, and the fourth map establishes the K4 factor based on the levels of difficulty in forest protection.
3.3.1 Method of mapping K1 coefficient based on forest status
The Coefficient K1 for Payment Level of Forest Environmental Services (FES) is determined by the condition and stock of the forest, categorized as rich, medium, poor, or rehabilitated Specifically, K1 is set at 1.00 for rich forests, 0.95 for medium forests, and 0.90 for poor and rehabilitated forests The classification of forest status and stock follows the guidelines outlined in Circular No 34/2009/TT-BNNPTNT, dated June 10, 2009, from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).
Based on the 2013 forest inventory map from IFEE at Vietnam Forestry University, the K1 coefficient for each forest plot is determined by specific reserve conditions If a forest plot has a reserve greater than 200 m³ per hectare, the K1 coefficient is set at 1 For plots with reserves between 0 m³ and 200 m³ per hectare, the K1 value is 0.95 Lastly, if the reserve is 0 m³, the K1 coefficient is assigned a value of 0.