Vulnerability, Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Change in the Northwest Mountainous Regions of Vietnam

PhD by Publication


Tran, Van Thanh. 2023. Vulnerability, Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Change in the Northwest Mountainous Regions of Vietnam. PhD by Publication Doctor of Philosophy. University of Southern Queensland. https://doi.org/10.26192/wv2q8
Title

Vulnerability, Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Change in the Northwest Mountainous Regions of Vietnam

TypePhD by Publication
AuthorsTran, Van Thanh
Supervisor
1. FirstProf Geoff Cockfield
2. SecondDr Duc-Anh An-Vo
3. ThirdProf Shahbaz Mushtaq
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
Qualification NameDoctor of Philosophy
Number of Pages123
Year2023
PublisherUniversity of Southern Queensland
Place of PublicationAustralia
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.26192/wv2q8
Abstract

Vietnam is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change in the world. Within the country, the Northwest Mountainous Regions (NMRs) are considered some of the most vulnerable communities, due to topography and socio-economic factors. Therefore, targeted adaptation is increasingly seen as both a necessary and urgent response. However, the extent and dimensions of vulnerability need to be carefully examined in order to develop effective adaptation pathways. This research aimed to explore vulnerability, resilience, adaptation to climate change in the NMRs, particularly among ethnic communities. Specifically, we aimed to (1) identify which communities are more vulnerable to climate change, (2) identify differences in measures of farmers’ household resilience among communities, and (3) investigate the major factors contributing to farmers’ adaptation choices in relation to climate change. The case studies are located in the Phu Yen district of Son La province in the NMRs. Data were collected in the field from late 2018 to early 2019. Primary data is from interviews and field observations, as well as insights from local decision-makers, resource managers, scientists. Climate data, which could be compared to perceptions of climate change, was collected from the Phu Yen meteorological station and the Hydro-Meteorological Data Centre of Vietnam (HMDC) from 1961 to 2017. The resulting vulnerability assessment, based on a set of indicators quantified from respondents’ self-reporting, indicates that two of the ethnic communities were, on average, more vulnerable, particularly on livelihood strategies, health, water, housing and productive land, and social networks components when compared to the other two ethnic communities. Our study also reveals that indicators of household livelihood resilience differed between ethnic communities and between genders, with ethnicity being relatively more important than gender in determining outcomes. The research identified a number of areas where changes of institutional and socio-economic factors could increase livelihood resilience scores. There is also evidence of potential benefits in targeted resilience programs. Among ethnic groups, women’s responses showed, on average, a lower resilience than those of men. The study found that a high percentage of farmers had noticed changes in the frequency of particular climate attributes and climate hazards, somewhat in line with climate data. To cope with these changes, recorded adaptation strategies applied in the study region included crop management and protection (soil and plant), diversifying crop, finding off-farm jobs, and changing crop varieties. Survey respondents also identified obstacles to adaptation measures, such as lack of credit, lack of family labour, insufficient agricultural inputs, limited farm size, and difficulties in assessing updated weather information. Regression results from binary logistic models reveal that age, gender, farm size, irrigation, extension services, credit availability, level of education and updated climate information have a significant influence on farmers’ preference for adaptation strategies regarding climate change and climate hazards.

KeywordsLivelihood vulnerability; household livelihood resilience; climate change and variability; climate change impacts; farmer's perceptions, adaptation; intersectional approaches
Related Output
Has partAssessing Livelihood Vulnerability of Minority Ethnic Groups to Climate Change: A Case Study from the Northwest Mountainous Regions of Vietnam
Has partNuanced assessment of livelihood resilience through the intersectional lens of gender and ethnicity: evidence from small-scale farming communities in the upland regions of Vietnam
Contains Sensitive ContentDoes not contain sensitive content
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020419999. Other environmental sciences not elsewhere classified
410402. Environmental assessment and monitoring
389999. Other economics not elsewhere classified
Public Notes

File reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher/author.

Byline AffiliationsCentre for Applied Climate Sciences (Research)
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