Thesis
Identifying measures to improve the effectiveness of biodiversity corridors in the Central Annamite Landscape, Vietnam (Abstract and Citation only)
Southern Cross University
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Southern Cross University
2024
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25918/thesis.405
Appears in Recent Southern Cross PhD Theses
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Abstract
Biodiversity corridors are vital for preserving species in human-impacted landscapes, offering refuge during extreme events and supporting climate change adaptation by linking protected areas. Their effectiveness relies on local stakeholder engagement and support. The Central Annamite Landscape (CAL), Vietnam, is a biodiversity hotspot of international significance which is ranked as a ‘critically important’ landscape due to its unique assemblages of species. This landscape is under increasing anthropogenic pressures such as poaching, logging and land conversions, which has reduced the population sizes of many species in the region, a significant number of which are threatened and/or endemic to Vietnam. It is therefore critical to understand the roles of community engagement, the impacts of governance structures, monitoring and planning in safeguarding the biodiversity corridors, ecosystems, and species of the Central Annamite. To assess the effectiveness of biodiversity corridors, the Linkage Mapper toolset for ArcGIS and ‘expert opinion’ were used to estimate connectivity modeling parameters and resistance surfaces for several key taxa. The findings indicated a total of 152,200 ha as suitable biodiversity corridors in Quang Nam (QN) and Thua Thien Hue (TTH) provinces, including natural forests without roads that have significantly lower resistance values than other areas. Key informant interviews and focus group discussions were used to determine and compare the benefit patterns of landowners within and outside the biodiversity corridors. Results showed landowners’ benefits majority included the collection of timber and non-timber forest products (NTFPs), plantation and other incomes from payment for forest environmental services (PFES). The benefits of landholders belonging to, and those outside of, the biodiversity corridors were significantly different (412 USD/ha/year and 330 USA/ha/year, respectively; p< 0.001) as these landowners received support from government programs such as restoration and forest protection patrol incentives while outside corridor’s, landowners get benefits from cultivation, planation (acacia) and NTFPs. My results suggest that current government programs encourage landowners to manage corridors more effectively. The findings of this research are relevant to researchers, government agencies and NGOs seeking to improve the management of biodiversity corridors in general. This thesis contributes to the evidence base and knowledge for improvement of the legal and policy frameworks for enhancing the effectiveness of biodiversity corridors and protected area management in the Central Annamite Landscape.
Details
- Title
- Identifying measures to improve the effectiveness of biodiversity corridors in the Central Annamite Landscape, Vietnam (Abstract and Citation only)
- Creators
- Van Tri Tin Nguyen
- Contributors
- Leslie Christidis (Supervisor) - Southern Cross UniversityCooper Nat Schouten (Supervisor) - Southern Cross UniversityDavid A Newell (Supervisor) - Southern Cross University
- Awarding Institution
- Southern Cross University; Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Theses
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Southern Cross University
- Publisher
- Southern Cross University
- Grant note
- SCU Higher Degrees by Research scholarship ; WWF Viet Nam
- Identifiers
- 991013221313302368
- Copyright
- © Van Tri Tin Nguyen 2024
- Academic Unit
- School of Environment, Science and Engineering
- Resource Type
- Thesis