Crop production versus surface-water regulation

Assessing tradeoffs for land-use scenarios in the Tat Hamlet Watershed, Vietnam

authored by

Yohannes Zergaw Ayanu, Trung Thanh Nguyen, Carsten Marohn, Thomas Koellner

Abstract

Local land uses play a critically important role in regulating hydrological services like surface-water runoff. This runoff influences the supply of water to streams and lowland agriculture. Land-use management decisions, in turn, are influenced by economic return. This article examines the tradeoffs between surface-water runoff regulation and income from crop production by using the land-use change impact assessment model and an economic analysis for a case study in Tat Hamlet Watershed, north Vietnam. The traditional composite swidden agriculture was used as baseline scenario, since it has been practised by farmers in the study area for decades. Two alternative scenarios were tested and compared with the composite swidden agriculture: expansion of maize monoculture and introduction of rubber plantations in the uplands. Among the land-use scenarios tested, rubber plantations appear to be better alternatives than maize monocropping in terms of surface-water regulation and improving economic return. However, implementation should consider the interests of local stakeholders as well as an analysis of possible risks and uncertainties involved.

External Organisation(s)

University of Bayreuth
University of Hohenheim

Type

Article

Journal

International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services and Management

Volume

7

Pages

231-244

No. of pages

14

ISSN

2151-3732

Publication date

01.09.2011

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Ecology, Nature and Landscape Conservation, Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 15 - Life on Land

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1080/21513732.2011.634836 (Access: Open)