Linking reforestation policies with land use change in northern Vietnam: Why local factors matter

In many countries worldwide, similar state policies on land management have been implemented as a response to deforestation in mountainous areas. So far, few studies have examined to which extent these policies have actually contributed to reforestation. This is the focus of our analysis, based on a case study in Vietnam. Because land access and land use were traditionally governed by common rules, we examine land use changes from an institutional perspective. We use the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework, coupled with an historical perspective and the analysis of actors’ perception and dominant narratives on land management and forests. Results show that national policies significantly interfered with local factors, leading to a complex course of decision-making and action. Substantial reforestation in the area was not a response by farmers to policy incentives but rather the unexpected outcome of the disruption of local institutions by these policies. We argue that, because national interventions have relied on false or exaggerated narratives and beliefs, their implementation is in conflict with the local reality in upland areas, leading to unpredictable and locally dependent outcomes. We defend hence the need for local level studies and also recommend considering local institutions for land use change analysis in contexts where land use systems are characterised by a high degree of human interaction.     

Recent climatic trends and linkages to river discharge in Central Vietnam

In this study, change in rainfall, temperature and river discharge are analysed over the last three decades in Central Vietnam. Trends and rainfall indices are evaluated using non‐parametric tests at different temporal levels. To overcome the sparse locally available network, the high resolution APHRODITE gridded dataset is used in addition to the existing rain gauges. Finally, existing linkages between discharge changes and trends in rainfall and temperature are explored. Results are indicative of an intensification of rainfall (+15%/decade), with more extreme and longer events. A significant increase in winter rainfall and a decrease in consecutive dry days provides strong evidence for a lengthening wet season in Central Vietnam. In addition, trends based on APHRODITE suggest a strong orographic signal in winter and annual trends. These results underline the local variability in the impacts of climatic change at the global scale. Consequently, it is important that change detection investigations are conducted at the local scale. A very weak signal is detected in the trend of minimum temperature (+0.2°C/decade). River discharge trends show an increase in mean discharge (31 to 35%/decade) over the last decades. Between 54 and 74% of this increase is explained by the increase in precipitation. The maximum discharge also responds significantly to precipitation changes leading to a lengthened wet season and an increase in extreme rainfall events. Such trends can be linked with a likely increase in floods in Central Vietnam, which is important for future adaptation planning and management and flood preparedness in the region. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

越南地壳形变研究的若干初期成果（英）

详细介绍了 1984～ 2 0 0 1年间越南地球物理研究所开展的地壳形变 (应变 )监测研究工作及其初步成果。文章指出 ,研究地壳运动时 ,应针对不同的情况 (如构造运动周期 )采用不同的方法 ,而本文着重介绍了地球物理仪器方法 ,此法 (有时与大地测量方法结合 )既可用来监测从几秒到几十年的运动 ,也可监测微小的局部位移。监测用的是前苏联制造的石英管伸缩仪 ,采用光电传感器换能 ,照相记录 ,灵敏度为 10 - 8m m。在用于观测固体潮汐应变时 ,观测精度还取决于应变的周期 :对周日波及更短周期 ,精度可达 10 - 9～ 10 - 1 0 ;而对缓慢的运动则只能达到10 - 7～ 10 - 8,但此时记录具有高稳定性。但用于监测所在地区是否存在断裂活动则无疑具有肯定的效果。最后 ,根据已有的 2处台站 10余年的观测成果 ,得出下列结论 :1.Phu L ien台站位于 Dong Trieu- Cam Pha断裂与红河断裂为边界的区域内 ,而此断裂自古至今都有活动 ,发生过 6级左右地震。但这一地区在 1989～ 1991期间却构造稳定 ,只记录到缓慢的运动速率 (1× 10 - 6 /a) ,也未观测到地震前兆性的应变现象。2 .而在 1993年才开始观测的 Hoa Binth台站 ,到 1997年止 ,则观测到比较大的地壳运动速率 ;其绝对最大幅度高达约 10 0× 10 - 6 ,日均值为 6 0× 10     

基于观测的南海越南沿岸次表层涡旋

In this study, subsurface eddies near the Vietnam coast of the South China Sea were observed with in situ observations, including Argo, CTD, XBT and some processed and quality controlled data. Based on temperature profiles from four Argo floats near the coast of Vietnam, a subsurface warm eddy was identified in spring and summer. The multi-year Argo and Global Temperature and Salinity Profile Programme(GTSPP) data were merged on a seasonal basis based on the data interpolating variational analysis(DIVA) method to reconstruct the three-dimensional temperature structure. There is a warm eddy in the central subsurface at 12.5°N, 111°E below300 m depth in spring, which does not exist in autumn and is weak in winter and summer. From CSIRO Atlas of Regional Seas(CARS) and Generalized Digital Environment Model(GDEM) reanalysis data, this subsurface warm eddy is also verified in spring.     

Organisational hierarchies and decision making process of Chinese multinational enterprises in Vietnam

This paper examines the organisational hierarchies and decision making processes of two Chinese multinational enterprises operating in Vietnam—China Luoyang Floating Glass Corp.(CLFG) and China TCL Holdings Co.Ltd.(TCL).For this study, research data were obtained from in-depth interviews of more than 20 government officials in P.R.China and Vietnam, and managers and staff of those two enterprises.Results indicate that the organisational structures of the two enterprises are still vertical but complex, although moderate changes made to them post the nationwide economic reform of China.Consequently, decision making process follows a "top-down" model, sometimes, with insufficient grassroots information.Findings are discussed in the light of political, social and cultural milieu, and implications are drawn for the management of Chinese multinational enterprises operating in overseas markets.Both CLFG and China TCL are structured on task specialisations.However, departmentalisation in TCL′s overseas division in head office is not only based on products, but also on geographical regions of markets.The organisational structure of TCL in Vietnam is less complex than the international division, but it is more centralised.Decision making at TCL combines more traditional Chinese business philosophy with modern western organisational characteristics.TCL has a strong western influence in its management style.However, some traditional characteristics such as "hero" leadership influence and political influence are involved with decision making at TCL.Amongst others, the transitional economy, social culture, poor management system and political sensitivity have been major elements influencing decision making.In the case of CLFG, some decisions have been made before proper information has been gathered and analysed.     

Ar/Ar Single Grain Dating and Mineral Chemistry of Hornblendes South of the Red River Shear Zone (Vietnam): New Evidence for Early Proterozoic Tectonothermal Event

The pre-Mesozoic metamorphic belt runs parallel to the Day Nui Con Voi - Red River shear zone in Vietnam to the south. The belt is mainly composed of hornblende gneisses, amphibolite lenses and mica-schists. Five hornblendes from a gneiss and an amphibolite were analyzed chemically and chronologically by Electron Probe Micro Analysis (EPMA) and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar methods. EPMA analyses show that hornblendes in the gneiss and the amphibolite have significant amount of edenite component and similar average composition. However, the recalculated Fe³⁺ content is significantly heterogeneous in a thin section while total Fe is nearly the same among the analyses. The rim of each crystal is higher in Fe³⁺/(Fe³⁺ + Fe²⁺) than the core. These chemical and petrological features suggest that the hornblendes have suffered significant oxidation, in particular, largely in the gneiss.

⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar analyses showed that the gneiss has a significant variation of plateau ages (2089±14, 1977±19 and 1873±13 Ma) among three hornblende grains, whereas the amphibolite gives the same plateau ages (2056±14 and 2044±21 Ma) for two grains. All grains of both samples have excess ages in the first few fractions at low temperatures and partial-loss ages between the excess and plateau spectra. The Ca/K ratios indicate some disturbed phases for the lower temperature spectra but the partial-loss ages are also derived from hornblende phase. These facts suggest that hornblende in the gneiss has experienced partial argon loss by oxidation and/or thermally activated argon diffusion process. However, the gneiss and the associated amphibolite have preserved the early Proterozoic tectono-metamorphic event in the hornblende crystals except for their rims, giving new evidence for the early Proterozoic event within the pre-Mesozoic metamorphic belt (northern Vietnam) south of the Red River shear zone in Indochina.     

越南东北部佐田铅锌矿床硫化物S、Pb同位素特征及其地质意义

越南东北部佐田(Cho Dien)铅锌矿床分布在北太省(Bac thai)西部则屯西北,属于华南褶皱系越北隆起区。为了探讨该矿床的成矿物质来源和成矿机制,对该矿床的矿石样品进行了S、Pb同位素组成分析。结果表明,5件样品的11种金属硫化物(闪锌矿、磁黄铁矿、方铅矿)的δ34S值为4.1‰~6.8‰,平均值为5.51‰,极差为2.7‰,显示S同位素组成比较稳定,经计算热液的δ34S值约为7‰。11种金属硫化物样品的206Pb/204Pb、207Pb/204Pb和208Pb/204Pb变化范围分别为18.451~18.682、15.685~15.878、38.909~39.636,平均值分别为18.59855、15.78227和39.30773,矿石矿物μ值为9.36~9.98,平均值为9.80,ω值为39.04~42.63,平均值为40.79。Th/U值为3.92~4.13,平均值为4.03。结果表明,佐田铅锌矿床的硫主要来自沉积围岩及三叠纪的Phia Bioc杂岩,矿石铅主要来自上地壳物质,也有地幔物质的加入。综合上述成果及已有数据认为,佐田铅锌矿是在特提斯成矿域早三叠世碰撞环境下形成的,板块碰撞过程中形成的Phia Bioc花岗岩体为矿床的形成提供了一定的物质基础,属热液型矿床。