Study On Mountainous Landscape Ecology Assessment Based On GIS

Geographic Information System (GIS) has become a very effective application that is being applied in many different fields including landscape ecology research. The research area of this thesis is Sapa district which is the highest mountainous region in Vietnam. This region possesses particular geographic features that containing mainly high mountains. In other hand, the complex divided mountains lead to variously other natural conditions like climate, soil, vegetation systems, etc. These natural conditions could give strong advantages to develop its economy especially in developing agriculture, forestry and tourism. But this district could not use up effectively its resources. Thereby, Sapa district is still the poorest district in Vietnam. In order to meet objectives of sustainable development, we need more thorough researches to estimate its natural conditions, and put forward proposals to plan this territory suitably.In this thesis, GIS is used as a mainstream approach to analyze and assess the ecological structure of mountainous region landscape. This thesis sums up the research on landscape ecology, by initially building a theoretical basis and research methods for mountainous landscape ecology. Furthermore, this application uses other theories in fields of ecology, sustainable development, systems and the tropical monsoon nature of Vietnam. Research methods that supported this thesis include:fieldwork, remote sensing image processing, collecting statistical data, rural rapid assessment and quantitative analysis. In particular, the thesis has established and successfully applied a number of integrated GIS models, such as ALES-GIS model for adapting assessment of plant ecology, AHP-GIS model for adapting assessment mountainous land, DEM model for analyzing terrain elevation, etc.This study has made important results and achievements as followings:1. The GIS database system was built to adquately serve research and integrated assessment of mountainous region landscape ecological such as in Sapa district. From the data collected such as satellite remote sensing images, paper topographic maps, land use map, administrative map, statistical yearbooks data, related texts and documents, etc... GIS data platform was built, including spatial data and attribute data. This is an important database for spatial structure analysis, assessment and planning of mountainous landscape use in Sapa district.2. Based on the GIS database, this thesis analyzed structure of mountainous landscape ecology and established system of landscape map for Sapa district. Firstly, landscape ecological structure analysis was conducted according to form factor, which analyzed five natural elements forming vertical structure of the landscape. These five natural elements were topography, geomorphology, soils, climate and vegetation. Each of these factors were analyzed, decentralized and were shown on the visualization of map. Under the help of overlay functions in GIS space, the composition maps were overlayed to form landscape ecological map and landscape ecological zoning map. The analytical results show a differentiation complex of mountainous landscape in Sa Pa, whole territory was divided into3groups of landscape,20areas of landscape,87types of landscape and280patches of landscape.3. Focusing on agricultural and forest landscape of mountainous region, the study conducted level of adaptive landscape ecology assessment. The assessment process mainly focused on three contents:The first was conservation value assessment of the forest landscape and Entropy mathematic model was applied, indicators of forest landscape was simulated to determine conservation boundary of the forest landscape based on GIS technology; The second assessment conducted level of adaptive landscape ecology for some agricultural crops, application ALES-GIS integration model in assessing ecological adaptation for3groups of agricultural crops. The assessment results have identified the specific level of adaptation and shown to be clear boundaries on adaptive assessment maps; The third, sustainable land assessment, application GIS and AHP-GDM model consult the experts, assessment results were categorized for the4types of sustainable land landscape including forest land, land for fruit crops, land for industrial crops and land for medicinal plants.4. This thesis recommends using rational planning of agricultural and forestry landscapes in Sapa district The basis for the proposed planning scheme is based on the results of analysis, landscape assessment, and the current state of agriculture and forestry development in Sapa district. Take the perspective of sustainable development as a key, thesis has identified four zones of landscape function, which include:ecological protection zone, ecological buffer zone, ecological restoration zone and agro-ecological zone. Simultaneously proposed space planning development of agricultural crops, space priority forest development and space ecology conservation.