Research on the Current Characteristics of Forest Resources and Factors Affecting Forest Resources Management in the National Park Area

In order to determine the area, sustainability of genetic diversity, biomass and reserves of timber species, the scientific basis for forest sustainability in the thesis is the characteristics of forestry land, characteristics of existing forests and the fluctuations of these characteristics over space and time under the impact of the main factors of change and STR.

The main products of this study are: to determine the boundaries, divide and mark the functional zones and buffer zones of the national park; clearly demarcate the land area planned for purposes other than the area planned for the National Park for the harmonious development of forest protection, environmental protection, nature conservation and conservation of rare, precious and endangered wildlife species. Propose a process to guide the monitoring, inspection and supervision of forest resources and biodiversity in the National Park for the purpose of effectively conserving and preventing deforestation, encroachment and illegal conversion of the purpose of use of the National Park. However, with the content of the thesis topic, the main approach of the topic is: Applying geospatial technology in forest resource management in the National Park for the purpose of providing periodic and regular information on: (i). Deforestation and degradation of forest resources; (ii). New forest areas

This research topic has profound scientific and practical significance to overcome the shortcomings of previous studies, contributing to providing a technological process to ensure highly effective management and monitoring of forest resources.

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Chapter 2

CONTENT, METHODS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RESEARCH AREA

2.1. Research content

2.1.1. Research on the current characteristics of forest resources and factors affecting forest resource management in the NKD National Park area

a. Current characteristics of forest resources:

b. Factors affecting forest resource management:

c. Infrastructure for applying geospatial technology in forest resource management in the NKD National Park area

2.1.2. Research on the application of remote sensing index thresholds in early detection of deforestation and forest degradation in the NKD National Park area

a. Building a data set on deforestation and forest degradation:

b. Determine the remote sensing index threshold

c. Verify results

2.1.3. Research on the application of remote sensing index thresholds in detecting areas with new forests in the NKD National Park area

a. Build a data set of areas with new forests:

b. Determine the remote sensing index threshold

c. Verify results

2.1.4. Research proposes some solutions to promote the application of geospatial technology in forest resource management at NKD National Park

a. Proposing a process for applying geospatial technology in early detection of deforestation, forest degradation and new forest areas in the NKD National Park area

b. Propose some measures to support improving the effectiveness of using geospatial technology in forest resource management at the National Park.

c. Propose solutions to improve the effectiveness of forest protection management in the study area.

2.2. Research method

2.2.1. Methodology

One of the important products of the thesis is to propose solutions to promote the application of geospatial technology in forest resource management in the research area and can be applied and replicated in other areas with similar conditions to the research area.

(1). Scientific basis

The scientific basis of optical remote sensing data is the spectral reflectance of natural objects, which can be analyzed and displayed, especially detecting and separating deforested areas with separate areas. Based on the spectral reflectance characteristics of the objects, using specialized models and software, remote sensing data is processed to identify and separate each object. Multi-temporal remote sensing data allows for rapid determination of changes in forest cover in general and deforestation in particular during the time between image acquisition times. Information about forest objects after extraction can create status maps and calculate specific areas at each time as well as synthesize and analyze the results of distribution and changes.

The ARVI vegetation index represents the quality of green vegetation on the ground, the value of this index ranges from -1 to +1, the higher the value, the denser the vegetation. For forests, this index is quite high (about 0.6 to 1), when this value decreases, it means that vegetation is lost, or in other words, the forest is lost. Similarly, for other vegetation indices, the value of the index will represent the quality of vegetation in one way or another. On remote sensing images, the ARVI value is calculated for each pixel,

Therefore, for each area identified as deforested, degraded, or added forest, the number of pixels in that area can be calculated, or in other words, the area of lost, degraded, and newly added forest can be completely indicated because each pixel has a specific size and this parameter depends on the image data used for calculation.

Within the framework of this study, based on the above methodology, the process of identifying and expressing changes in deforestation, degradation and forest addition has been developed. Based on research, surveying the current status, monitoring changes and impacts of the change processes, managers can propose management solutions, protection planning, and restoration for sustainable development.

(2) Key terms used in the thesis

According to the explanation of the terms of the Lao Forestry Law. In this thesis, some important terms including: deforestation, forest degradation, new forest area need to be clarified. Through the terms used, readers can see some research issues that have been limited by the author to suit the author's research capacity, as well as to have a basis for reviewing and evaluating the results of the thesis.

- Deforestation: the forest is cut down, the forest vegetation layer is exploited, leaving a canopy cover of less than 0.1 (lower than the threshold for forest currently applied in Laos);

- Forest degradation: the forest is affected by: selective logging, thinning, forest fires, livestock grazing, etc., reducing the reserve and canopy cover of the forest compared to the original state, before being impacted;

- Area with new forest: Area of forest planting and forest restoration that has met the standards of becoming a forest from areas without forests or with vegetation but not meeting the criteria of becoming a forest (according to the definition of forest in Laos).

(3) Selection of technology and research materials

a) Technology:

- Geospatial technology including (global positioning system, geographic information system and remote sensing) are tools used throughout the contents of the thesis. In addition, the thesis also used statistical analysis tools to analyze data. Specifically as follows:

- Global Positioning System (GPS): GPS was used in the field survey of standard plots to determine basic indicators of forest structure and volume. The survey standard plots were located at the center coordinates of the plots, then the coordinates of the standard plots were transferred from GPS to ArcGIS software to extract remote sensing index values on satellite images. In addition, GPS was also used to locate the coordinates of newly added forest samples, deforestation, and forest degradation. GPS will be a useful tool for verifying the results of detecting deforestation, forest degradation, and newly added forest areas from applying the research results of the thesis into practice in the NKD National Park area.

- Geographic information system (GIS): ArcGIS 10.3 is the main software used in the thesis. The sampling of new forests, deforestation, forest degradation and some other operations were performed on the software. With data in Raster format (remote sensing images) was performed on ArcGIS software. Remote sensing images, immediately after being downloaded to the computer, will be cropped according to the research scope on ArcGIS software. Other operations are also performed on this software such as: calculating KB values, extracting values of remote sensing indicators on images, classifying Raster files according to thresholds to determine deforestation areas, forest degradation, etc.

- Remote sensing (RS). ARVI remote sensing index and Sentinel 2 satellite images were used in the thesis. Some tasks related to satellite images were performed by the author in GEE such as: calculating ARVI images; retrieving information of image scenes (image scene name, shooting time, cloud ratio); extracting ARVI values according to sample areas; downloading satellite images to the computer for analysis in GIS. Setting the pixel values on the image to zero was also performed on GEE. GEE is a powerful image analysis program today, although it is more difficult to perform than some other image processing software because it requires knowing how to manipulate code, but with the research content of the thesis, choosing GEE is appropriate.

- Planet.com has been used in the thesis. This is a Web tool that provides high-resolution satellite images from 3-5 m in 2 forms, commercial and free for some units, individual researchers/educators. Planet also supports users to be able to bring in areas according to boundaries (in .KML file format) to view with 2 screen windows corresponding to 2 time points (day, month, year) that the user chooses. Therefore, this is a useful tool that the author has used to verify the patterns of unchanged forests, deforestation, forest degradation and forest addition as a basis for selecting research samples.

b) Select research data

- Using Sentinel 2 images in research:

Sentinel 2 satellite images (spatial resolution 10, 20, 60 m) were selected for research because these are 2 of the types of optical images with medium and low resolution that are being exploited for free from image providers. Sentinel 2 satellite images were downloaded by the thesis from the Google Earth Engine program.

- Using ARVI index in research:

Experience in the world, in Vietnam as well as in Laos shows that almost no remote sensing index (NDVI; NBR; SAVI; ARVI; IRSI; NDSI; EVI) has outstanding advantages over other indexes in all conditions. Therefore, the application of remote sensing indexes depends on the specific conditions of each region as well as the existing measurement database system in that region.

In this thesis, the application of the ARVI index is studied. Unlike other vegetation indices, ARVI is very effective against topographic and atmospheric effects, which makes it a quality monitoring tool for tropical mountainous areas in developing countries where the concentration of suspended matter (rain, fog, dust, smoke, pollution) in the air is high. Therefore, ARVI is very suitable for monitoring complex terrain and many human impacts such as the area around the NKPNP. Moreover, in addition to the indices already

researched by other authors, the application of this index by the relative index method to the research area will achieve high results, with higher testing accuracy. From there, it contributes to the theoretical and practical basis for the application of ARVI, KB index in particular and CNĐKG in general for forest monitoring, early detection of deforestation, forest degradation, and areas with new forests in Laos.

Applying the thesis's thesis, the research approach flow diagram of the thesis topic is shown below (Figure 2.1).

Figure 2.1. Logical framework of research process

+ Step 1: Determine the area of forest types, area, location of lost, degraded and newly added forests as well as some structural indicators through the 86 OTC system arranged in the field. The causes of difficulties in resource management and deforestation and forest degradation in the area are determined through sociological investigation. The main results of step 1 serve as the premise and basis for step 2.

+ Step 2: Select geospatial technology, remote sensing images and remote sensing indices, calculate and establish appropriate thresholds to detect deforestation, forest degradation and forest addition in reality that have been determined.

+ Step 3: Analyze the ARVI index on the image to determine the index threshold showing deforested areas, degraded forests and newly forested areas. Use actual sample points in the field (threshold samples) to accurately determine the locations of the analyzed areas on the image, and get the analysis value.

+ Step 4: Verify the threshold results. Use actual sample points in the field (different from the threshold samples) according to each index threshold for each object: deforested bare land, degraded forest and newly forested areas, thereby assessing the accuracy of the method.

+ Step 5: The thesis proposes and orients the application of geospatial technology in forest resource management in Nam Ka Dinh National Park.

2.2.2. Research method

2.2.2.1. Content 1: Methods of investigation and assessment of the current status of resources and basic characteristics of some forest types

(i). Determine the forest type/forest status distributed in the NKD National Park area:

Forest type/status is determined according to the classification system stipulated in the Lao Forestry Law 2019 (National Assembly, 2019) [45]. According to Article 16, Clause 7, points a, b, c, d. Forest type is classified according to tree species composition and forest status is classified based on forest reserves (rich, medium, poor, depleted forests, forests with no reserves) (similar to Circular 33/2018/TT-BNNPTNT).

(ii). Method of determining characteristics of forest states

To collect full characteristics of forest structure and status, the thesis conducts survey lines. The survey lines are typical lines (typical according to forest type), representative of forest types, the length of the lines is not determined (according to the length of the forest type). On each line, a number of standard plots (OTC) are established as sample points for the survey. The sequence of steps to establish lines, sample points and conduct field surveys, and measure research indicators is carried out in the following steps.

Preliminary determination of the number of routes, drawing routes on the current distribution map and establishing standard plots according to forest type

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