IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/lauspo/v134y2023ics0264837723003538.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The nature of a ‘forest transition’ in Thừa Thiên Huế Province, Central Vietnam – A study of land cover changes over five decades

Author

Listed:
  • Cochard, Roland
  • Gravey, Mathieu
  • Rasera, Luiz Gustavo
  • Mariethoz, Grégoire
  • Kull, Christian A.

Abstract

Informed from historical case studies of land cover change and development in northern countries, forest transition (FT) theories have a tendency to precast specific conclusions. Considering the case of a so-called FT in Thừa Thiên Huế Province in tropical Central Vietnam, we investigated 1.) whether such a ‘FT’ indeed reflects a resurgence of genuine forest, 2.) whether the land cover changes can be explained through conventional ‘pathways’ of FT, and 3.) in which ways the changes may or may not portend ‘sustainable development’. Using satellite imagery and topographic maps, we produced maps for twenty land cover types for the years 1966, 1973, 1979, 1988, 1998, 2008, 2016 and 2019 and analysed land cover change over time. We contextualize these results with reference to the historical and scientific literature on Vietnam, and find that 1.) the forestlands represent a historically rich bio-cultural landscape; 2.) considerable forest destruction resulted from the Second Indochina War rather than classical degradation pathways; 3.) in the post-war period altered forestland spaces and re-emerging land uses interacted with state-led re-territorialization and socialist plans for land resource development, influencing shifts in forest cover; 4.) during 1979–1988 state-led intensive timber logging in remaining rainforests (causing widespread forest degradation) somewhat paradoxically (in terms of conventional FT models and theories) coincided already with a slight increase in lower-biomass tree cover; 5.) after 1988 logging in natural forests was officially prohibited (logging bans), and forestry shifted to a reliance on wood produced in acacia-based plantations (largely on lands officially allocated to households); and 6.) this shift went along with a significant state-led restructuring and development of land use policies and the promotion of forest-relevant economic industries. ‘Restoration’ of tree cover mainly consisted of the expansion of exotic tree plantations, but – at least intermittently – this may also have mitigated impacts on natural forests. We conclude with some reflections on the FT-outcome, its ‘sustainability’, and future trajectories and possibilities of land cover changes in TTHP.

Suggested Citation

  • Cochard, Roland & Gravey, Mathieu & Rasera, Luiz Gustavo & Mariethoz, Grégoire & Kull, Christian A., 2023. "The nature of a ‘forest transition’ in Thừa Thiên Huế Province, Central Vietnam – A study of land cover changes over five decades," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:lauspo:v:134:y:2023:i:c:s0264837723003538
    DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2023.106887
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264837723003538
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.landusepol.2023.106887?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cochard, Roland & Nguyen, Van Hai Thi & Ngo, Dung Tri & Kull, Christian A., 2020. "Vietnam’s forest cover changes 2005–2016: Veering from transition to (yet more) transaction?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    2. Boris Sakschewski & Werner von Bloh & Alice Boit & Lourens Poorter & Marielos Peña-Claros & Jens Heinke & Jasmin Joshi & Kirsten Thonicke, 2016. "Resilience of Amazon forests emerges from plant trait diversity," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 6(11), pages 1032-1036, November.
    3. Nguyen, Van Thi Hai & McElwee, Pamela & Le, Hue Thi Van & Nghiem, Tuyen & Vu, Huong Thi Dieu, 2022. "The challenges of collective PES: Insights from three community-based models in Vietnam," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).
    4. Tom Kompas & Tuong Nhu Che & Hoa Thi Minh Nguyen & Ha Quang Nguyen, 2012. "Productivity, Net Returns, and Efficiency: Land and Market Reform in Vietnamese Rice Production," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 88(3), pages 478-495.
    5. Pingali, Prabhu L & Xuan, Vo-Tong, 1992. "Vietnam: Decollectivization and Rice Productivity Growth," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 40(4), pages 697-718, July.
    6. William J. McConnell & Andrés Viña & Christian Kull & Clayton Batko, 2015. "Forest Transition in Madagascar’s Highlands: Initial Evidence and Implications," Land, MDPI, vol. 4(4), pages 1-27, November.
    7. Gingrich, Simone & Lauk, Christian & Krausmann, Fridolin & Erb, Karl-Heinz & Le Noë, Julia, 2021. "Changes in energy and livestock systems largely explain the forest transition in Austria (1830–1910)," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    8. Haas, Johannes Christian & Loft, Lasse & Pham, Thuy Thu, 2019. "How fair can incentive-based conservation get? The interdependence of distributional and contextual equity in Vietnam's payments for Forest Environmental Services Program," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 205-214.
    9. Sikor, Thomas & Nguyen, Tan Quang, 2007. "Why May Forest Devolution Not Benefit the Rural Poor? Forest Entitlements in Vietnam's Central Highlands," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 35(11), pages 2010-2025, November.
    10. Tham, La Thi & Darr, Dietrich & Pretzsch, Jürgen, 2021. "Analysis of Acacia hybrid timber value chains: A case study of woodchip and furniture production in central Vietnam," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    11. Hien Thanh Nguyen & Lisa Lobry de Bruyn & Richard Koech, 2016. "Impact of hydropower dam development on agriculturally based livelihoods of resettled communities: a case study of Duong Hoa Commune in central Vietnam," International Journal of Water Resources Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(6), pages 978-996, November.
    12. Sikor, Thomas & Baggio, Jacopo Alessandro, 2014. "Can Smallholders Engage in Tree Plantations? An Entitlements Analysis from Vietnam," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 64(S1), pages 101-112.
    13. Barbier, Edward B. & Tesfaw, Anteneh, 2015. "Explaining forest transitions: The role of governance," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 252-261.
    14. Hien Thanh Nguyen & Ty Huu Pham & Lisa Lobry de Bruyn, 2017. "Impact of Hydroelectric Dam Development and Resettlement on the Natural and Social Capital of Rural Livelihoods in Bo Hon Village in Central Vietnam," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-15, August.
    15. Jeanne Mager Stellman & Steven D. Stellman & Richard Christian & Tracy Weber & Carrie Tomasallo, 2003. "The extent and patterns of usage of Agent Orange and other herbicides in Vietnam," Nature, Nature, vol. 422(6933), pages 681-687, April.
    16. Liu, Jinlong & Liang, Ming & Li, Lingchao & Long, Hexing & De Jong, Wil, 2017. "Comparative study of the forest transition pathways of nine Asia-Pacific countries," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 25-34.
    17. Andrew Hardy, 2009. "Eaglewood and the Economic History of Champa and Central Vietnam," Post-Print halshs-02570933, HAL.
    18. Tiziano Gomiero & Davide Pettenella & Giang Phan Trieu & Maurizio Paoletti, 2000. "Vietnamese Uplands: Environmental and Socio-Economic Perspective of Forest Land Allocation and Deforestation Process," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 2(2), pages 119-142, June.
    19. Roland Cochard & Bien Thanh Vu & Dung Tri Ngo, 2021. "Acacia Plantation Development and the Configuration of Tree Farmers’ Agricultural Assets and Land Management—A Survey in Central Vietnam," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-39, November.
    20. Duong, Ngoc T.B. & de Groot, Wouter T., 2018. "Distributional risk in PES: Exploring the concept in the Payment for Environmental Forest Services program, Vietnam," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 22-32.
    21. Nguyen, Trung Thanh & Nguyen, Thanh-Tung & Hoang, Viet-Ngu & Wilson, Clevo, 2019. "Energy transition, poverty and inequality: panel evidence from Vietnam," MPRA Paper 107182, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 10 May 2019.
    22. Thulstrup, Andreas Waaben, 2015. "Livelihood Resilience and Adaptive Capacity: Tracing Changes in Household Access to Capital in Central Vietnam," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 352-362.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Roland Cochard & Bien Thanh Vu & Dung Tri Ngo, 2021. "Acacia Plantation Development and the Configuration of Tree Farmers’ Agricultural Assets and Land Management—A Survey in Central Vietnam," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-39, November.
    2. Cochard, Roland & Nguyen, Van Hai Thi & Ngo, Dung Tri & Kull, Christian A., 2020. "Vietnam’s forest cover changes 2005–2016: Veering from transition to (yet more) transaction?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    3. Appau, Samuelson & Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa & Smyth, Russell & Trinh, Trong-Anh, 2021. "The long-term impact of the Vietnam War on agricultural productivity," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    4. Gallemore, Caleb & Pham, Thu Thuy & Hamilton, Matthew & Munroe, Darla K., 2024. "Vietnam's Payments for Forest Ecosystem Services scheme's puzzling role in protecting longstanding forests as deforestation rates rise," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    5. Longhui Lu & An Huang & Yueqing Xu & Raymundo Marcos-Martinez & Yaming Duan & Zhengxin Ji, 2020. "The Influences of Livelihood and Land Use on the Variation of Forest Transition in a Typical Mountainous Area of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-23, November.
    6. Tran, Duc & Vu, Ha Thu & Goto, Daisaku, 2022. "Agricultural land consolidation, labor allocation and land productivity: A case study of plot exchange policy in Vietnam," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 455-473.
    7. Quan H. Nguyen & Dung D. Tran & Khoi K. Dang & Dorien Korbee & Luan D. M. H. Pham & Lan T. Vu & Tang T. Luu & Loc H. Ho & Phat T. Nguyen & Trang T. T. Ngo & Dung T. K. Nguyen & Andrew Wyatt & Maaike v, 2020. "Land‐use dynamics in the Mekong delta: From national policy to livelihood sustainability," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(3), pages 448-467, May.
    8. Tung Gia Pham & Chau Thi Minh Tran & Hai Thi Nguyen & Ha Ngan Trinh & Ngoc Bich Nguyen & Ha Khoa Ngoc Nguyen & Tan Trong Tran & Huy Dinh Le & Quy Ngoc Phuong Le, 2022. "Land Evaluation for Acacia ( Acacia mangium × Acacia auriculiformis ) Plantations in the Mountainous Regions of Central Vietnam," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-27, December.
    9. Dang, Duc Anh & Dang, Kim Khoi & Dang, Vuong Anh & Vu, Thi Lan, 2020. "The effects of trust and land administration on economic outcomes: Evidence from Vietnam," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    10. Arvola, Anne & Brockhaus, Maria & Kallio, Maarit & Pham, Thu Thuy & Chi, Dao Thi Linh & Long, Hoang Tuan & Nawir, Ani Adiwinata & Phimmavong, Somvang & Mwamakimbullah, Reuben & Jacovelli, Paul, 2020. "What drives smallholder tree growing? Enabling conditions in a changing policy environment," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    11. Trædal, Leif Tore & Vedeld, Pål, 2018. "Cultivating forests: The role of forest land in household livelihood adaptive strategies in the Bac Kan Province of northern Vietnam," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 249-258.
    12. Tu, Vo Hong & Kopp, Steven W. & Trang, Nguyen Thuy & Hong, Nguyen Bich & Yabe, Mitsuyasu, 2021. "Land accumulation: An option for improving technical and environmental efficiencies of rice production in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    13. Ho, Hoang-Anh, 2021. "Land tenure and economic development: Evidence from Vietnam," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    14. Carias, Dora & Page, Tony & Smith, Hilary & Race, Digby & Keenan, Rodney J. & Palmer, Graeme & Baynes, Jack, 2022. "Beyond the ‘Field of Dreams’ model in smallholder forestry: Building viable timber value chains for smallholder tree growers in developing countries," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    15. Thi Kim Phung Dang & Mariëlle Zouwen & Bas Arts, 2019. "Challenges of Forest Governance: the Case of Forest Rehabilitation in Vietnam," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 425-452, December.
    16. Miller, Daniel C. & Hajjar, Reem, 2020. "Forests as pathways to prosperity: Empirical insights and conceptual advances," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    17. Nguyen, Van Thi Hai & McElwee, Pamela & Le, Hue Thi Van & Nghiem, Tuyen & Vu, Huong Thi Dieu, 2022. "The challenges of collective PES: Insights from three community-based models in Vietnam," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).
    18. Khanal, Aditya & Koirala, Krishna & Regmi, Madhav, 2016. "Do Financial Constraints Affect Production Efficiency in Drought Prone Areas? A Case from Indonesian Rice Growers," 2016 Annual Meeting, February 6-9, 2016, San Antonio, Texas 230087, Southern Agricultural Economics Association.
    19. Krott, Max & Bader, Axel & Schusser, Carsten & Devkota, Rosan & Maryudi, Ahmad & Giessen, Lukas & Aurenhammer, Helene, 2014. "Actor-centred power: The driving force in decentralised community based forest governance," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 34-42.
    20. Hong Sun & Valentina Hartarska & Lezhu Zhang & Denis Nadolnyak, 2018. "The Influence of Social Capital on Farm Household’s Borrowing Behavior in Rural China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-20, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:lauspo:v:134:y:2023:i:c:s0264837723003538. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Joice Jiang (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/land-use-policy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.