Viet Nam Introduction

This project is directed in providing information about land cover at a regional scale for selected countries in the Asian region (e.g., Cambodia, Vietnam, Lao P.D.R., Myanmar, Bangladesh and Nepal). The investigation of the NOAA AVHRR satellite data is directed towards the detection and monitoring of ecologically important vegetation types at the national level. This similar activity also highlights the areas where there is a major change of land cover (i.e. "hot spots"), both in temporal and spatial aspects.

The use of remotely sensed data particularly the NOAA AVHRR data was considered a major tool for such purpose. On a much wider scale, this kind of information could also be useful for global research and modelling, macro-economic studies, and assessment of the earth's state of environment. The harmonization of land cover categories was adopted in the interpretation of satellite data for these countries towards a comprehensive regional resource assessment and information aggregation, an important decision input for the regional and national context.

Under this volume, the land cover of Vietnam and its related information have been presented while the overall rational behind this activity and its associated methodology appeared in Volume 1-A. It is envisioned that such results will serve as a valuable information for a more direct and appropriate formulation of policies and sensible resource management strategies.

1.2 Vietnam: Study Area

1.2.1 Location and Physical Characteristics

Vietnam natural features are particularly diversified. Three quarters of its land are covered with mountains and hills, mountains slopes are steep. The western mountain range runs from north to south with delta on each end, the Red River Delta in the north and the Mekong Delta in the south, in the middle, a narrow strip of coastal plain. Located in the center of South East Asia, Vietnam stretches vertically between latitude 24⁰N and 9⁰N, and horizontally between longitude 102⁰E and 100⁰E. Vietnam is adjacent to China in the north, Lao P.D.R. and Cambodia in the west and has a coastline of 3,260 km.

Vietnam has an area of 330,363 sq.km. and a population (in 1991) of 67.6 million, resulting a population density of 205 persons per sq.km.. This density is among the highest in the world.

1.2.2 Present Landcover

Vietnam used to be a country rich in forestry resources with many types of forest, mainly tropical evergreen formations. Abundant precipitation, intensive solar radiation, year round high temperatures and long growing season result in a high net productivity rate of plant bamboos. However, the ecosystem of the tropical evergreen forest is extremely complex and fragile, which makes it vulnerable to human interventions. The clearance of forest vegetation for agricultural use leads to rapid impoverishment of the soil, losses of nutrients, and drastic changes in the physical and biological characteristics of this ecosystem.

Figure 1. Regional coverage of NOAA AVHRR satellite data showing Vietnam and other parts of Asia
 

	| Air | Land | Water | Forest Fire | Glacial Lake | Environment Disasters | © 2003 UNEP RRC.AP |Top of the page

In this Report
	Introcution
	Results
	Conclutsions
	Abbreviations

For download whole document:
Doc format
Pdf format

Select the Contry Report