The Change Assessment and Analysis of Impacts From Land Use Policies on Wetland Ecosystems Based on Multitemporal Satellite Image Data: a Case Study in Dong Rui Commune, Tien Yen District, Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam

Abstract

Wetlands are one of the most important ecosystems on Earth and are an important habitat for many species of animals and plants, for disaster mitigation, for improving environmental quality, for storing carbon, and for responding to climate change. However, they are sensitive ecosystems that have been strongly affected by human economic activities, including aquaculture. In this study, we used multitemporal satellite imagery integrated with a verified field survey method to map the mantle of the wetland ecosystem in the Dong Rui commune, Tien Yen district, Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam at 5 times for 4 periods from 1975 to 2020 with high accuracy (overall accuracy = 92,3%, Kappa = 0,91). The results of the study showed that from 1975 to 2000, the area of mangrove forests declined sharply (nearly 2,000 hectares), mainly due to policies on the development and conversion of land use purposes. From 2000 to 2020, the area of mangrove forests was gradually restored, and the area of aquaculture land shrank. Human impacts, especially the effects of local economic development, conservation and development policies, have directly affected and are the main cause of continuous change in each very short period of the Dong Rui commune wetland ecosystem. Assessing the fluctuations of multitemporal wetland ecosystems and analysing the impact of development policies is the basis for planning, conservation strategies, and sustainable development of wetland ecosystems associated with the livelihoods of the council.