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Field study in Thua Thien Hue Province
Flood protection and Special Use Forests and Protection Forests
Thua Thien Hue Province is shaped like a bowl to the west with mountains rising abruptly to an altitude of 700 to 1500 metres as is shown in the diagram below. The catchments draining to the sea have a length of only about 50 km. Therefore during the monsoon season, in October and November, when high amounts of precipitation are received in the mountains they drain quickly into the plain creating hazardous flood conditions.
While the forest cover / flooding relationship is complex, the situation in Thua Thien Hue Province represents a relatively extreme case in terms of the potential effect of forest clearance. Due to the short and steep upland areas, deforestation and the subsequent use of land for different purposes (even for plantation forestry) are indeed likely to increase the severity of flood events.
Data on investments in flood control engineering and past flood events were collected and provided an indication of the economic importance of any flood mitigation function provided by Special Use Forests and Watershed Protection Forest areas.
For example the chart below shows loss of life and economic damage in the province over the last 20 years. The flood that occurred in the first week of November 1999 demonstrates the benefits that can be generated by effective flood mitigation. On that occasion 373 people were killed or went missing and the economic damage exceeded $100 million.
Loss of life and economic damge
due to floods in the province
Source: People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue
Province,
Steering Committee of Flood and Storm Resistance
While catastrophic events of this nature are not likely to be largely mitigated by changes in land use, any improvement is welcome in such events and the opportunity to reduce damage during lesser events can be an important service provided by protected areas in Thua Thien Hue Province.
Review of protected areas and their role in socio-economic development
in the four countries of the lower Mekong River region
page updated: 18/05/02