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

• DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2023.106887
• Publication Date: 2023-09-26T16:59:25Z
• Authors: Roland Cochard; Mathieu Gravey; Luiz Gustavo Rasera; Grégoire Mariethoz; Christian A. Kull
• Keywords: Land Cover; State forest; Forest degradation

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