COP27 Japan Pavilion Seminar“Nature-based solutions in forest sector to promote
mitigation and adaptation against climate change sectors?”Issues Related to Land Use andSediment Disaster Risk inMountainous Areas of Vietnam
Dr. Takashi Okamoto

Forestry and Forest Products
Research Institute (FFPRI), Japan

Natural Disasters in Vietnam
NE & NW:

NE
NW

Landslide, Flash Flood
Frost
RRD:

Flood, Erosion
NCC & SCC:

Flood, Erosion
CH:
Drought,Landslide

MRD:

Flood, Erosion

Forests Management and Natural Disasters• In developing countries, well-managed forests can contributeto effective disaster risk reduction.
• It is important to understand the awareness of local
communities regarding forests, land use and natural disasters.

MGC Research Site in Vietnam• We conducted interviews with local
residents in Muong Gion Commune(MGC) about forests, land use, andnatural disasters
ITEMVALUE

Total area

187.1 (km2)

Forest area ratio

47.8(%)

Elevation

500-1,500 (m)Population

11,881

population density

64 (persons/km2)

Main sources of income

livestock (40%), agriculture (30%),
Forestry (10%)

Household income

1,100 (USD/year)

poverty rate

14 (%)

Land Use Issues in MGC

Aerial view of MGC by Google• Due to the mountainous terrain, the farmland area islimited to only 7%.
• Steep slopes with gradients exceeding 30 degrees arealso used as farmland after forests are cleared.
• Surface erosion occurs on slopes, which not only
reduces the productivity of agricultural land, but also
causes river pollution with the sediment.

Sediment Disasters Experienced in MGC• Main damage by the disaster included the destruction of ricepaddies, residential areas, and roads, with associated repair
costs and loss of forests.
Village

FlashfloodLandslideKhop✔

✔

Gion✔

Huoi Teo✔

CutFlood✔
✔

Mac LiuXa✔

✔

✔

Cha CoKeo CaHuoi Van
Huoi Nga

Shallow landslide along a road in MGC

Residents’ Perspectives Against Disasters• The residents know that forests play important role in mitigating sedimentdisaster risks. They also understand that excessive deforestation can cause
disasters.
• In order to maintain their living, it is difficult for them to stop using themountain slopes as farmland, even if the disaster risk would increase.
• They have limited knowledge and experiences in natural disasters mitigation.

National Policies on Forest Conservation• In MGC, 30% of the forests are designated as protected forests.
• Vietnamese government has imposed a “Payment for forest
environmental services (tax)” on the hydropower plant that
benefit from protected forests.
• The payment is distributed to MGC and used to cover the costsof afforestation.

A hill in MGC, devastated 30 years ago but now reforested! The residents
are cooperating with the forest protection policy.

Conclusions• Interviews on land use and sediment disasters were conductedwith residents of mountainous areas in Vietnam.
• In order to make a living, residents are forced to use steep
forest slopes as farmland, even though they are aware of thedisaster risks.
• They have limited knowledge and experiences of disasterprevention such as risk assessment and evacuation methods.

This content is part of a joint project between Vietnam Academy of Forest
Science (VAFS) and FFPRI.