(Luận văn) research on proposing solutions for sustainable use of coastal wetland resources in the context of climate change in dong rui area, tien yen district, quang ninh province

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI
VIETNAM JAPAN UNIVERSITY

BUI THI LAN

RESEARCH ON PROPOSING SOLUTIONS
FOR SUSTAINABLE USE OF COASTAL
WETLAND RESOURCES
IN THE CONTEXT OF CLIMATE CHANGE
IN DONG RUI AREA, TIEN YEN DISTRICT,
QUANG NINH PROVINCE

MASTER’S THESIS


VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI
VIETNAM JAPAN UNIVERSITY

BUI THI LAN

RESEARCH ON PROPOSING
SOLUTIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE
USE OF COASTAL WETLAND
RESOURCES
IN THE CONTEXT OF CLIMATE CHANGE
IN DONG RUI AREA, TIEN YEN
DISTRICT, QUANG NINH PROVINCE

MASTER PROGRAM IN CLIMATE CHANGE AND
DEVELOPMENT CODE: 8900201.02QTD

RESEARCH SUPERVISOR
Prof. Dr. MAI TRONG NHUAN
Dr. LUU VIET DUNG

Hanoi, 2021


PLEDGE
I assure that this thesis is the result of my own research and has not been published.
The use of other research’s results and other documents must comply with the
regulations. The citations and references to documents, books, research paper, and
websites must be in the list of references of the thesis.
Author of the thesis

Bui Thi Lan


TABLE OF CONTENT
PLEDGE
TABLE OF CONTENT
LIST OF TABLES
LIST OF FIGURES
LIST OF ABBREVIATION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background
1.1.1. Background .....................................................................................................
1.1.2. Rationale for choosing Dong Rui wetlands ....................................................
1.2. Research objectives and tasks
1.3. Research question and hypothesis

1.3.1. Research question ...........................................................................................
1.3.2. Research hypothesis ........................................................................................
1.4. Objects and Scope of the research
1.4.1. Research objects ..............................................................................................
1.4.2. Scope ...............................................................................................................
1.5. Novelty and Significance of the research
1.5.1. Novelty .............................................................................................................
1.5.2. Scientific significance ......................................................................................
1.5.3. Practical significance ......................................................................................
1.6. Theoretical basis for the research
1.6.1. Wetland resources ...........................................................................................
1.6.2. The concept of sustainability and sustainability of wetland resources .........
1.6.3. Sustainable use & principles for sustainable use of coastal wetlands .........
1.7. Overview of related studies
1.7.1. Wetland resources in CC context ..................................................................
1.7.2. Sustainable use of coastal wetland resources ...............................................
1.7.3. Frameworks for assessment of impacts on wetlands ....................................
Chapter 2 MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGIES
2.1. Overview of the study site
2.1.1. Physical features ...........................................................................................
2.1.2. Socio-economic features ...............................................................................
2.2. Research analytical framework
2.3. Approaches
2.3.1. Systematic approach .....................................................................................
2.3.2. Ecosystem approach ......................................................................................
2.3.3. Bottom-up approach ......................................................................................
2.3.4. Trans-disciplinary approach .........................................................................

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2.3.5. Sustainable development approach ..............................................................
2.4. Data collection
2.5. Methods
2.5.1. Desk research ................................................................................................
2.5.2. Social survey .................................................................................................
2.5.3. Field survey ...................................................................................................
2.5.4. Statistical analysis .........................................................................................
2.5.5. Mapping ........................................................................................................
2.5.6. Expert consultation .......................................................................................
2.5.7. Indicator-based assessment ..........................................................................
Chapter 3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
3.1. Climate Change and Climate Change impact
3.1.1. Climate Change manifestation ......................................................................
3.1.2. Climate Change impacts – the driving force ................................................
3.2. Human driving force and pressure on wetland resources
3.2.1. The human driving forces ..............................................................................
3.2.2. The human pressure on wetlands ..................................................................
3.3. The state and impact of the wetland resources
3.3.1. The state of environmental quality ................................................................
3.3.2. The state of ecosystem of Dong Rui wetlands ...............................................
3.3.3. The state of biodiversity of coastal species of Dong Rui wetlands ...............
3.3.4. The impact: change in productivity of wetland-related activities ................
3.4. The societal response toward wetlands

3.4.1. Local people’s awareness and willingness toward wetlands .......................
3.4.2. The efficiency of the wetland safeguard system ............................................
3.5. Overall assessment of the sustainability of the wetland resources in Dong Rui
Commune, Tien yen District, Quang Ninh Province
3.6. Solutions for sustainable use of wetland resources
3.6.1. The bottom-up & systematic approach in sustainable use of wetland
resources .....................................................................................................................
3.6.2. Solutions to deal with the driving forces .......................................................
3.6.3. Solutions to deal with the pressure ...............................................................
3.6.4. Solutions to enhance societal response .........................................................
Chapter 4 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
3.1. Conclusions
3.2. Limitation & Recommendation
REFERENCES
APPENDIX 96

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LIST OF TABLES
Table 1-1: Research objectives and tasks...................................................................... 4
Table 1-2: Global contribution of mangroves and other coastal habitats to carbon
sequestration in the global coastal ocean..................................................................... 12
Table 1-3: Derivation of criteria and indicators of sustainability for inland wetland
systems........................................................................................................................ 19
Table 1-4: The Pressure-status-response model for wetland assessment.....................20

Table 1-5: Overview of the identified overall trend in the Mediterranean wetlands....22
Table 2-1: Data used in the research............................................................................ 29
Table 2-2: Research methods...................................................................................... 30
Table 2-3: Social survey activities............................................................................... 33
Table 2-4: Field survey activities................................................................................ 36
Table 2-5: The sustainability assessment indicators of wetland resources in Dong Rui
commune, Tien Yen district, Quang Ninh province.................................................... 44
Table 3-1: Indicator PSR02 score................................................................................ 54
Table 3-2: Indicator PSR02 score................................................................................ 56
Table 3-3: Indicator PSR01 score................................................................................ 59
Table 3-4: Indicator PSR04 score................................................................................ 62
Table 3-5: Self-evaluation on resource-use pressure on the wetlands..........................63
Table 3-6: Indicator PSR06 score................................................................................ 64
Table 3-7: Indicator PSR05 score................................................................................ 67
Table 3-8: Indicator PSR07 score................................................................................ 68
Table 3-9: Indicator PSR08 score................................................................................ 68
Table 3-10: Indicator PSR09 score.............................................................................. 68
Table 3-11: Wetland classification.............................................................................. 71
Table 3-12: Indicator PSR11 score.............................................................................. 73
Table 3-13: Indicator PSR12 score.............................................................................. 75
Table 3-14: Indicator PSR13 score.............................................................................. 77
Table 3-15: Evaluation of the local people on the efficiency of the wetland institution
in Dong Rui commune, Tien Yen district, Quang Ninh province................................79
Table 3-16: Indicator PSR14 score.............................................................................. 80
Table 3-17: The sustainability assessment score by component.................................. 82
Table 3-18: Challenges for sustainable use of wetland resources in Dong Rui
commune, Tien Yen district, Quang Ninh province.................................................... 86
Table 3-19: Some solutions to deal with the driving forces......................................... 87
Table 3-20: Some solutions to deal with the pressure.................................................. 88
Table 3-21: Some solutions to enhance societal response........................................... 89

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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1-1: The ecosystem services of Dong Rui wetland........................................... 14
Figure 1-2: Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Conceptual Framework....................18
Figure 1-3: DPSIR approach for mangrove assessment............................................... 23
Figure 1-4: DPSIR approach for assessment of sandy beach in the northeast coast....24
Figure 2-1: Map of the study site................................................................................. 25
Figure 2-2: The research framework........................................................................... 27
Figure 2-3: Map of the surveyed households............................................................... 33
Figure 2-4: Map of the observation sites and route...................................................... 36
Figure 2-5: Procedure of Sustainability index calculation........................................... 43
Figure 3-1: Change in annual temperature during 1990-2020 & forecast until 2070...51
Figure 3-2: Change in maximum temperature during 1990-2020 & forecast until 2070
51
Figure 3-3: Change in minimum temperature during 1990-2020 & forecast until 2070
52
Figure 3-4: Total annual precipitation & maximum precipitation in 1990-2020.........53
Figure 3-5: Number of rainy days/year in 1990-2020.................................................. 53
Figure 3-6: Change of climate extreme conditions in Dong Rui commune, Tien Yen
district, Quang Ninh province...................................................................................... 55
Figure 3-7: Number of typhoons in coastal region of Vietnam during the 1945-2019
period.......................................................................................................................... 56
Figure 3-8: Livelihoods in Dong Rui commune, Tien Yen district, Quang Ninh
province....................................................................................................................... 57
Figure 3-9: CC impact on human activities in Dong Rui commune, Tien Yen district,
Quang Ninh province.................................................................................................. 58
Figure 3-10: Degree of temperature change impact in Dong Rui commune, Tien Yen

district, Quang Ninh province...................................................................................... 58
Figure 3-11: Degree of precipitation change impact in Dong Rui commune, Tien Yen
district, Quang Ninh province...................................................................................... 59
Figure 3-12: Degree of impact of typhoon and other climate-induced hazards in Dong
Rui commune, Tien Yen district, Quang Ninh province.............................................. 59
Figure 3-13: Main income sources of local households in Dong Rui commune, Tien
Yen district, Quang Ninh province.............................................................................. 61
Figure 3-14: The degree of dependency on wetland resources for livelihoods in Dong
Rui commune, Tien Yen district, Quang Ninh province.............................................. 62
Figure 3-15: Wetland resource-use by percentage in Dong Rui commune, Tien Yen
district, Quang Ninh province...................................................................................... 63
Figure 3-16: Map of Dong Rui's land use in 2019....................................................... 66
Figure 3-17: Dong Rui's environmental quality........................................................... 69
Figure 3-18: Map of distribution of wetland ecosystems in Tien Yen district (Dang et
al., 2020)...................................................................................................................... 70
Figure 3-19: Productivity change of wetland-related activities in Dong Rui commune,
Tien Yen district, Quang Ninh province...................................................................... 74
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Figure 3-20: Action when facing productivity reduction in Dong Rui commune, Tien
Yen district, Quang Ninh province.............................................................................. 75
Figure 3-21: Local people's awareness about wetland values in Dong Rui commune,
Tien Yen district, Quang Ninh province...................................................................... 76
Figure 3-22: Local people's willingness to participate in wetland conservation in Dong
Rui commune, Tien Yen district, Quang Ninh province.............................................. 77
Figure 3-23: The sustainability indicator score............................................................ 83
Figure 3-24: Sustainability of Dong Rui wetlands....................................................... 84
Figure 3-25: The bottom-up & systematic approaches in identification of challenges in
sustainable use of wetland resources in Dong Rui commune, Tien Yen district, Quang

Ninh province.............................................................................................................. 85

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LIST OF ABBREVIATION
Abbreviation
AR4
AR5
CC
DPSIR
DRR
EEA
IPCC
MONRE
Ramsar
RCP
SD
SDGs
SLR

Interpretation
IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report
IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report
Climate Change
Driving force – Pressure – State – Impact – Response
Disaster Risk Reduction
European Environment Agency
International Panel on Climate Change
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment

Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
Representative Concentration Pathway
Sustainable Development
Sustainable Development Goals
Sea-Level Rise

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First and foremost, I would like to convey my utmost gratitude to Prof. Dr. Mai Trong
Nhuan and Dr. Luu Viet Dung, my supervisors, for their big support and instruction
for the master’s thesis. I will not be able to complete this without their guidance and
encouragement.
My appreciation and gratitude also go to the master program in Climate Change and
Development (MCCD) of Vietnam - Japan University and all of its amazing lecturers,
staff, and students for their assistance and companion during my journey with MCCD.
I owe my gratitude to the VNU Key Laboratory of Geoenvironment and Climate
Change Response (GEO-CRE) staff for their support during the completion of this
master’s thesis. I also thank the research team from VNU University of Science, led by
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Cao Huan for the permission to join the field trip to Dong Rui
commune, Tien Yen district, Quang Ninh province. In addition, I have received the
support from the VNU project no. TXTCN20.06 which is important to the
accomplishment of my master’s thesis, and I am so grateful for that.
Furthermore, I would like to express my gratitude to the staff and local people of Dong
Rui commune, Tien Yen district, Quang Ninh province for their hospitality and
willingness in sharing the information which is the integral part of this master’s thesis.
Last but not least, I am indebted to my beloved family and my dear friends for their
love, care, and encouragement. The master’s thesis would not have been possible
without their inputs.

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Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION
1.1.

Background

1.1.1. Background
Climate Change (CC) has become one of the biggest challenges globally, especially in the
current context when all nations are making progress in achieving the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs). According to the Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) by the
International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), different emission scenarios show that

CC

and Global Warming has changed climatic variables like temperature,

precipitation, and sea-level rise (SLR), as well as has accelerated the frequency and
intensity of extreme weather events (IPCC, 2007). These changes severely affect both
nature and the human systems worldwide.
As estimated in the Global Climate Risk Index 2021, during the 2000-2019 period,
over 475,000 people died, 2.56 trillion USD lost due to the occurrence of 11,000
th

extreme weather events (Eckstein et al., 2021). Accordingly, Vietnam ranked 13 in
the overall Climate Risk Index for the period. 2020 has been a tough year for the
country with a series of severe weather events. Following the report by the Vietnam
Disaster Management Authority, Vietnam has gone through 13 storms in the East Sea,

264 thunderstorms/whirlwind/heavy rain in 49 cities/ provinces, 118 floods/flashflood/
landslide, 86 earthquakes, and a series of severe droughts, saline intrusion, erosion, or
sea dyke subsidence in many parts of the country in the year of 2020. These disasters
have caused loss to 353 lives and injuries of 876 people; in estimation, 35,181 billion
VND lost was one of the direct impacts.
Research on CC in Vietnam shows that over the past 50 years, the annual average
temperature of the country increases about 0.5ºC, precipitation increases in the South,
decreases in the North, and extreme climatic conditions like typhoon, flood, tropical
depression, drought, or prolonged heat tend to increase (Tân & Thành, 2013).
Accordingly, the ecosystem and socio-economic activities in the coastal zone are
vulnerable under impacts of environmental depletion, changes in temperature,
precipitation, SLR, and extreme weather events. Undoubtedly, CC is threatening the
sustainability of the coastal zone of Vietnam.
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1.1.2. Rationale for choosing Dong Rui wetlands
Dong Rui is an island commune of Tien Yen district, Quang Ninh province; the
commune is surrounded by coastal wetlands, mostly mangrove forests, and is
beneficial from rich natural resources. In the context of CC, Dong Rui has been facing
unexpected and complicated climate conditions, causing difficulties for both the
natural ecosystem and human activities. Annual temperature in Tien Yen district
shows an increasing trend while annual precipitation has decreasing trend during the
1980-2010 period. Following the Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5 (RCP
8.5), by the end of the 21st century, the annual average temperature in Quang Ninh
will increase by 3.6ºC, the total annual precipitation will increase by 36.8% in
comparison with the baseline period (1986-2005). In estimation, 4.79% of the total
area (mostly in the coastal zone) will become inundated if the sea level rises by 100cm
(MONRE, 2016). Like other coastal areas, Dong Rui is also sensitive to CC potentials,
like typhoons, saline intrusion, coastal erosion, or SLR. Furthermore, lying in the river

mouth area and located close to the industrial zone of Ba Che district, the commune is
under the pressure of environmental pollution and other human activities.
Fortunately, Dong Rui’s wetland resources offer plenty of advantages and potentials
for social-economic development and climate response to the local community. Local
people are enjoying tremendous economic benefits from wetlands, significantly
through aquaculture-fishing activities and tourism. Mangrove forest is the predominant
wetland type of Dong Rui wetland, and the only primary mangrove forest left in
Vietnam. Dong Rui’s mangrove forest shows its roles in preventing and responding to
typhoons, waves, erosion, SLR...; in other words, the resource proves its value in
disaster risk reduction (DRR). Understanding the important values from the wetland
resources, Dong Rui has received attention and investment from the Vietnamese
government of all levels and from international organizations/governments, in which
mangrove forest conservation is a highlight. So far, many pieces of research have been
conducted in the region with a focus on the values of the mangrove forests, its diverse
ecosystems, and the state of use of the resources.
In short, the Dong Rui wetland resources are precious assets for the locality, they
contribute significantly to CC response and socio-economic development. Sadly, CC
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and human intervention are degrading the resources. In such context, there arises the
need for solutions for sustainable use of wetland resources, so that we can continue to
enjoy the values taken from it, while keep maintaining the core values and
sustainability of the resources, still. To do so, it is necessary to propose a
comprehensive assessment framework to understand the level of sustainability of the
resources. From such understanding and assessment, appropriate solutions will be
proposed.
Apparently, ensuring the sustainability of wetland resources plays key roles in
strengthening adaptive capacity and resilience, striving for SD under CC setting not
only in Dong Rui area but also in the whole country. That is one of the reasons that

encourages the researcher to propose “Research on proposing solutions for sustainable
use of coastal wetland resources in the context of CC in Dong Rui area, Tien Yen
district, Quang Ninh province”. It is expected that the research results will add value to
the current progress in responding to CC, fulfilling SDGs.
1.2.

Research objectives and tasks

The overall objective of the research is to propose solutions for sustainable use of
coastal wetland resources in the context of CC in Dong Rui area, Tien Yen district,
Quang Ninh province.
Correspondingly, the three specific objectives are: (O1) Identify CC issues, and its
impacts on wetlands; (O2) Assess the sustainability of wetlands resources in CC
context; and (O3) Propose solution for SU of wetlands in CC context in the study site
(Table

1-1).

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Table 1-1: Research objectives and tasks
Question &

Objective
Q1:

What

impacts

O1

Tasks/Activities

Hypothesis
are
on

Method

Outputs

Key Result

CC
M1,

theT1: Identify CC issues

M2, Previous

M3, M4

wetlands?

and

studiesOP1: CC manifestations &
reports,future scenario

R1: CC

social survey, site
H1: 2 ways of CC on
wetlands

T2: Identifying CC impacts

T3: Defining

coastal wetland

resources

&

Q2:

What

M1,

M2, observation

M3, M4

OP5: Set

of

sustainability

assessment indicators
Previous

humanM1,

activities on the wetland

impacts on local

OP4: Sustainability concept

M1, M6

assessment,

Identifying

OP2: CC

concept

Rui Commune wetlands using DPSIR model
resource in CC context?
T5:

impacts

OP3: Coastal wetland resource

isT4: Constructing a basis for

sustainability of Dongsustainability

& CC

community

wetland

sustainability concept

O2

Data resource

M2, and

M3, M4

studies
reports,OP6: Human activities

R2:
onfrom

social survey, site wetlands

activities

observation

wetlands

Pressure
human
on


4


Objective

Question &
Hypothesis

Tasks/Activities

Method

T6: Identifying environmental M1,
state in the study site
T7:

Identifying

response

toward

societal
wetlands

resources

M2,

Data resource

Outputs

Key Result

OP7: Environmental quality

M3, M4

index

M1,

OP8: Societal response toward

M2,

M3, M4

wetlands

H2: Dong Rui wetland
M1,
resource is at mediumT8: Investigating current state
level because

it isof the wetlands

M5

severely affected by CC
impacts

and

M3,

M2,
M4,

R3:
OP9: Wetland characteristicsCharacteristics
and biodiversity

and

state

of

wetland resources

human
OP10: Results of driving force

activities
T9:
sustainability
following
basis

Implementing
assessmentM6, M7
the constructed

& pressure on wetlands
OP11: Results of
impact on wetlands

R4:

Dong

Rui

state &coastal wetland’s
sustainability

OP12: Results of response on assessment result
wetlands

5


Question &

Objective

Tasks/Activities

Hypothesis

Method

Q3: What are solutions

T10: Defining SU of wetland
for sustainable use of
resources & principles for SU M1, M7
wetland resources in the
of wetland resource

context of CC

Data resource

Outputs

OP13:

SU

concept

Key Result

&

principles for SU of wetland
resources

H3: it requires require
the

integration

synergy
O3

and
M1,
T11: Identify issues in SU of
of institution
M3,
wetlands in CC context

and policy, science and
technology,

M2,
M4,

OP14: Difficulties & obstacles R5: Solutions for
for SU of wetland resource

M6

the

finance,

capacity

development

and

participation

enhancement

forT12: Propose solutions for SU

stakeholders,
international

andbased on assessment results

collaboration

sustainable use of

resources

M4, M6

OP15: Solutions for SU

wetland


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1.3.

Research question and hypothesis

1.3.1. Research question
-

Q1: What are CC impacts on the wetlands in Dong Rui Commune, Tien Yen

District, Quang Ninh Province?
-

Q2: What is sustainability of Dong Rui Commune wetlands resource in CC

context?

-

Q3: What are solutions for sustainable use of wetland resources in the context

of CC in Dong Rui area, Tien Yen district, Quang Ninh province?
1.3.2. Research hypothesis
-

H1: CC impacts on the wetlands in Dong Rui Commune, Tien Yen District,
Quang Ninh Province are as follows: in a direct way, precipitation and
temperature change, SLR, and typhoons degrade the wetland area and
resources. In an indirect way, CC influences local people’s life and activities,
especially those who are reliant to wetland resources for living, eventually, it
affects land-use and resource-use behaviors.

-

H2: In the context of CC, the sustainability of Dong Rui wetland resources is at

medium level because it is severely affected by CC impacts and human activities.
-

H3: Solutions for sustainable use of wetland resources in the context of CC

require the integration and synergy of institution and policy, science and technology,
finance, capacity development and participation enhancement for stakeholders, and
international collaboration.
1.4.

Objects and Scope of the research

1.4.1. Research objects
-

The wetland resources in Dong Rui area, Tien Yen district, Quang Ninh

province.
-

Sustainability of the coastal wetlands, pressures from CC, human activities on

wetlands, and societal responses in the context of climate change.

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