Assessment of the climate resilient livelihoods of hmong’s ethnic in pa co commune, mai chau district, hoa binh province

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI VIETNAM JAPAN UNIVERSITY PHAN THI LAN ANH ASSESSMENT OF THE CLIMATERESILIENT LIVELIHOODS OF HMONG’S ETHNIC IN PA CO COMMUNE, MAI CHAU DISTRICT, HOA BINH PROVINCE MASTER’S THESIS VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI VIETNAM JAPAN UNIVERSITY PHAN THI LAN ANH ASSESSMENT OF THE CLIMATERESILIENT LIVELIHOODS OF HMONG’S ETHNIC IN PA CO COMMUNE, MAI CHAU DISTRICT, HOA BINH PROVINCE MAJOR: CLIMATE CHANGE AND DEVELOPMENT CODE: 8900201.02QTD RESEARCH SUPERVISORS: Prof NGUYEN TUAN ANH Assoc Prof NGUYEN TAI TUE Hanoi, 2023 PLEDGE I have read and understood the plagiarism violations I pledge with personal honor that this research result is my own and does not violate the Regulation on prevention of plagiarism in academic and scientific research activities at VNU Vietnam Japan University (Issued together with Decision No 700/QD-ĐHVN dated 30/9/2021 by the Rector of Vietnam Japan University) Author of the thesis PHAN THI LAN ANH ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Assoc Prof Nguyen Tuan Anh and Assoc Prof Nguyen Tai Tue, my supervisors, for their supervision throughout this dissertation Thank you for accepting me as your student I am indebted to your invaluable support, encouragement, and advice I could not complete this dissertation without your instruction and feedback from the beginning Many thanks to my friends in the MCCD at Viet Nam Japan University for their encouragement Your inspiration has enhanced my confidence to complete this study This thesis is supported by the project, entitled “Research and application of artificial intelligence in monitoring and predicting of radioactive release in mining areas, a case study in Sin Quyen copper mine” of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, code QG.21.19 Finally, I am thankful to my family Thank you to my wonderful my mother-inlaw for leaving hometown to come to Hanoi city to take care of my baby so that I can have more time for studying TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES i LIST OF FIGURES II LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS III CHAPTER INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background .1 1.2 Research objectives, questions, and hypothesis .2 1.3 Subject and scope .3 1.3.1 Research subject 1.3.2 Scope …………………………………………………………………………………… 1.4 Literature review 1.4.1 International research 1.4.2 National research 1.4.3 Studies in the study site 1.4.4 Key concepts 10 1.5 Overview of research area 13 1.5.1 Natural conditions 13 1.5.2 Natural resources 17 1.5.3 Socio-economic status 19 CHAPTER RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND METHODS 21 2.1 Methodology 21 2.1.1 Research approaches 21 2.1.2 Research methods 22 2.1.3 In-depth interview 24 2.1.4 Focus group discussion .25 2.1.5 Household survey 25 2.1.6 Household case study 27 2.2 Establishing a set of livelihood resilience indicators .27 2.3 Data processing methods 29 CHAPTER RESULTS, DISCUSSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 35 3.1 Current status of livelihood in Pa Co Commune 35 3.2 Climate change impacts in the study site .40 3.2.1 Precipitation 40 3.2.2 Temperature 43 3.2.3 Extreme weather: heat and cold 44 3.2.4 Landslides and erosion 48 3.2.5 Impacts of climate change on livelihood .49 3.3 Assessment of climate-resilient livelihood in the study site 52 3.3.1 Social capital .55 3.3.2 Natural capital .58 3.3.3 Financial capital 59 3.3.4 Human capital .61 3.3.5 Physical capital 63 3.4 Limitations of this study 69 3.5 Recommendations 69 3.5.1 General recommendations 71 3.5.2 Specific recommendations 71 CONCLUSIONS 73 REFERENCES 75 APPENDIX 78 LIST OF TABLES Table 1.1 The research objectives, questions and hypothesis Table 1.2 Time, place, research contents of the fieldwork in Pa Co commune Table 1.3 Definitions of livelihood resilience 12 Table 1.4 Average annual temperature 15 Table 3.1 Description of study commune in 2019 35 Table 3.2 Major income of Pa Co commune in 2019 37 Table 3.3 Number of hot days for levels for period 2001-2020 46 Table 3.4 Number of very cold days/ extreme cold days in Mai Chau station for period 2001-2020 46 Table 3.5 Damages caused by natural disasters in Mai Chau 50 Table 3.6 Damages caused by disasters in the past 10 years 50 Table 3.7 Results of livelihood resilience in livelidhood to climate change in the Pa Co commune 52 Table 3.8 Assessment of capacity to adapt to climate change through five sources of capital 67 i LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1.1 Map of Pa Co commune, Mai Chau district, Hoa Binh province Figure 1.2 Landscapes in Pa Co commune 17 Figure 1.3 Hang Kia and Pa Co nature reserve 18 Figure 2.1 Framework of the thesis 21 Figure 2.2 Climate-resilient livelihood framework 27 Figure 3.1 Livelihoods in Pa Co commune 36 Figure 3.2 Major income sources of households (%) 37 Figure 3.3 Hmong space and Tourist 38 Figure 3.4 Annual variation of rainfall at Mai Chau station 41 Figure 3.5 Change of total annual precipitation in Mai Chau (2001-2020) 42 Figure 3.6 The annual variation of the number of heavy rainy days 42 Figure 3.7 Trend of heavy rainfall days in period 2001-2020 43 Figure 3.8 Annual variation of temperature at Mai Chau station in the period 2001-2020 43 Figure 3.9 Change of average temperature in Mai Chau (2001-2020) 44 Figure 3.10 Average number of hot days per month according to levels in the period 2001-2020 45 Figure 3.11 Change in the total number of hot days at Mai Chau station in the period 2001-2020 45 Figure 3.12 The number of days of extreme cold/severe cold per year at Mai Chau station in the period 2001-2020 47 Figure 3.13 The changing trend of the total number of cold days at Mai Chau station in the period 2001-2020 48 Figure 3.14 Landslide along the way to Pa Co Commune 48 Figure 3.15 Household’s perception on the impacts of natural disasters (%) 49 Figure 3.16 Radar map of indicators of five capitals of Tourism livelihood resilience 54 Figure 3.17 Proportion of support from neighbor 55 Figure 3.18 Local people Participate in the social community 56 Figure 3.19 Local people Participate in the social community 57 Figure 3.20 Local people owning farmland 59 Figure 3.21 Local people access to bank account 60 Figure 3.22 Income of Tourism households 60 Figure 3.23 Education level of Tourism households 62 Figure 3.24 The local people participate in training course of production 63 Figure 3.25 Road status under bad weather 64 Figure 3.26 Distance from household to water resources and the nearest market 64 Figure 3.27 Local people owning essential equipment for production 65 Figure 3.28 Climate resilience assessment in Pa Co 66 ii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviations Full contents CC Climate change DFID UK Agency for International Development IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change FC Financial Capital HC Human Capital LR Livelihood Resilience NC Natural Capital SC Social Capital iii CHAPTER INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background Climate change has been affecting natural resources and the environment, and the socio-economic activities of many countries worldwide The Earth's climate has been changing, and failure to keep warming below 2°C might make the changes irreversible and lead to devastating consequences which have impacted the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly impoverished women, endangering their livelihoods (UNDP, 2017) Vietnam is one of the countries in the world that are severely affecting by climate change (MONRE, 2016) The most often publicized effect of climate change is sea-level rise, which has consequences such as crop and arable land loss due to salt-water intrusion and storm surges in the coastal zones (IPCC, 2014) However, the susceptibility of Vietnam to the effects of CC is not limited to the coastal regions Currently, there is inadequate understanding of and support for addressing the implications of CC on disadvantaged (and minority) communities in Vietnam's vast rural and mountainous regions In the Northern mountainous areas, CC has reduced rainfall during some seasons, causing more severe droughts in some areas Furthermore, natural catastrophes are particularly dangerous on steeply sloping land and land prone to cause the landslides and soil erosion Due to high levels of poverty, poor infrastructure, limited access to technologies, and an increased reliance on natural resources, the effects of climate change are projected to be more severe in mountainous areas in Vietnam In the high mountainous areas, opportunities to develop sustainable and resilient livelihoods are limited The rural poor's livelihoods and well-being are strongly reliant on natural resources, making them particularly vulnerable to environmental deterioration and climate change's effects Furthermore, developing countries like Vietnam have insufficient capacity to assist their poor rural populations in adapting to a changing environment As a result, a good adaptation strategy to climate change will be REFERENCES Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) (2003) Climate Change and development in Vietnam: Agriculture and Adaptation for the Mekong Delta Region GTZ report Division 44 - 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Shall we start? If the respondent agrees 🡪 Start the interview If the respondent refuses 🡪 End the conversation A IDENTIFICATION IDENTIFICATION ANSWERS IDENTIFICATION Fullname Address Gender GPS ANSWERS Ethnic B DETAILS OF THE INTERVIEW PART I IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE Has the recent changes in temperature, rainfall and extreme weather events in the locality affected the economic life of your family? Much influence Insignificant influence No influence If YES, production activity was affected by what abnormal weather phenomenon? Erosion Landslides Drought Storm, typhoon Long lasting hot weather Others Flood Long cold days Please share information about damages (if any) caused by disaster in the past 10 years: Properties/Activi ty Unimpact ed Slightly impacted Average impacted Significantl y impacted Totally destroyed Livelihood (income, daily activity) Agriculture 78 Livestock Aquaculture Fishery Other… Cultivated land Livestock farm Aquaculture land Boat, ship, fishing net House, interia Human health Transport system Water system Bank loan Production Facility Infrastructure, society Information access After disaster, household income was increased or decreased? Decreased Increased Unchanged Do you know anything about climate change in your locality? Yes No Have you ever attended any training courses related to climate change? Yes No PART II: LIVELIHOOD CAPITALS Human capital Please share some demographic information below: No Groups Number of people Total number of people in your family Number of working people Number of people receiving pension or subsidy Number of people under or over working age Your highest education level: Illiterate 3.Secondary school Primary school 4.High school College, University Does your family have members that have health problems affecting ability to practice livelihoods? 79 Yes No 3.1 If yes, please assess the level of impact on ability to practice livelihoods No Normal Much Very much Social capital Do you participate in the following social organization? (Multiple choice) No Communist Party Authorities National Front Women Group 10 Youth Union Veterans Farmer Group 11 Vocational association 4.The elderly group Shrimp Farmer Group 12 Others Do you participate in training workshops on production for households? Yes No Do you often discuss, help or get help from other households having similar production activity? Yes No Financial capital How many sources of income does your household have? (multiple answers) Agriculture Tourism Forestry Trading, service Handicraft Officials Industrial worker Other (specify) Annual average income of your household: (million VND) What type of house you live in? (Ask, observe) Soil house Flat roof house Wooden stilt house Storey house Solid tile roof house Other (specify) 10 Does the family actively borrow capital to create resources for economic development and improve the household's quality of life? Yes No 10.1 If yes, please provide information: Purpose Sources of support or loans Amount 80 (1- Relatives and friends; 2-Community and district organizations; 3- Banks; 4Other (specify )) (Million Dong) Physical capital 11 Please indicate the distance from the house to (km) Nearest market: Nearest hospital: Commune People's Committee: School: Nearest water storage: 12 Please assess the road conditions in normal and rainy/dry season Scale Normal season Rainy/dry season Very bad 0 Bad 1 Normal 2 Good 3 Very good 4 13 Do you own, rent or borrow farming equipment/ production facilities? Own Rent Borrow Natural capital 14 Does your family own farmland? Yes No 15 Please define the severity of soil erosion on farm None Slight Moderate Severe PART III: DISASTER RISK ADAPTATION MEASURES When disaster occurred and you could not your main livelihood, could you another livelihood? (For household having fewer livelihood) Yes No Do you participate in training courses of local officials on knowledge or skills to adapt to climate change in the locality? Yes No Could you please share the methods that your family takes to prevent and mitigate natural disasters? Move to a safe place Applying high technology to production Ensure property safety (strengthening Monitor weather information houses, reinforcing embankments) Prepare necessary items and necessities Changing production methods (switching (money, food, etc.) breeds, plants) Recommendations of households to improve the effectiveness of ecotourism models? 81 Your recommendation to adapt with climate change and reduce climate change risk in your locality (if any) THANK YOU! 82 APPENDIX B: IN-DEPTH INTERVIEW Can you introduce yourself (name, occupation, residence place, etc)? What is your main livelihood? How about your livelihood situation in recent years? Do you have any difficulties or facilitations in working? How are they? How have these livelihoods been affected most by climate change in the commune? Why? Which groups are at risk the most? Why? What is the role of the forests in the commune while coping with climate change and natural disasters/ extreme phenomena? What is the relationship of the indigenous knowledge and forests to community livelihood? What are the challenges of the ecosystem and forests in the commune? Which solutions have been taken by the local government and community in order to mitigate these effects? Which livelihoods have the best resistance to climate change? Why? 10 How often you participate in the meetings, workshops in the commune? 11 When you have difficulties in your livelihoods or life, where you get support? What kind of support you need? Why? 12 What measures have the local authority been taking to soften the impacts of climate change, natural disasters/ extreme phenomena (especially to soften the risks to livelihoods) 13 Does local authority benefit from climate change? If any, please list the details What are the plans and choices of the locals to make use of these opportunities? 14 Do you have any suggestions for the local authority and people to strengthen resilience to climate change? 13 Do you participate in any social organizations or groups? Do you think? 14 In your household, who prefers to take part in these meetings, wife or husband? Why? 15 In your family, who has the final decision in discussions? Why? 16 Is it helpful when joining in? Sincerely thank 83 APPENDIX C: FIELD WORK ACTIVITIES In-depth interviews Eco-tourism activities and surveys with eco-tourism households Surveys with Handicraft households Surveys with agriculture households 84 APPENDIX D: DISASTER DAMAGE STATISTICS IN HOA BINH 85 86 87 88 89