Land Cover Changes in the Extended HA Long City Area, North-Eastern Vietnam During the Period 1988-1998

Abstract

The north-eastern province of Quang Ninh is one of the areas in Vietnam characterised by rapid economic, social and environmental development. Using LANDSAT TM images, this paper analyses land cover changes between the period of 1988-1998. The changes were classified into three main groups: coastal features, natural land features and human features. These main groups were further subdivided into 22 different mapping categories.

The study shows that by 1998, 39.9 per cent of the 1988 land cover had changed. The results also indicate:

(a) a fast expansion of the human features: during these 10 years the area of urban settlements doubled and the area for coal mining activities increased by 75 per cent.

(b) the coastal area changed in a complex way driven by expansion of urbanisation, aquaculture activities, agriculture and mangrove expansion (replanting and natural colonisation of tidal flats without vegetation).

(c) the original dense forest in the area rapidly declined: of the 2,010 ha cover in 1988, only 335 ha remained in 1998. Dense forests mainly changed to degraded and secondary forest.

This approach allows for an accurate quantification, analysis and description of land cover in the present and the past. Therefore the data offer a powerful tool for both planners and strategic environmental assessments. The latter allow for an evaluation of the observed trends and processes in a sustainability context.