Tinh Province Research Articles

Contribution to Taxonomy and Distribution of the Genus Elaphropoda (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Apinae) in Vietnam

Taxonomic notes on the genus Elaphropoda Lieftinck, 1966 (Hymenoptera: Apidae) from Vietnam are presented. Two species of the genus are reported: Elaphropoda percarinata (Cockerell, 1930) was first recorded from Vietnam based on specimens collected from Ha Tinh province in 1998, and is reconfirmed with a specimens collected from Bac Kan province in the Northeastern part of the country in this study, and Elaphropoda khasiana (Schulz, 1906) is recorded from Vietnam for the first time. Redescriptions of the male of E. percarinata and the female of E. khasiana are given with illustrations.

Human ecological effects of tropical storms in the coastal area of Ky Anh (Ha Tinh, Vietnam)

Vietnam is prone to tropical storms. Climate change effects contribute to sea level rise, floods, progression of the low water line and coastal erosion. This paper inventories the perception of local people, assesses and values main aspects of the livelihood damage caused by the tropical storms of the period 2008–2013 in three coastal communes of the Ky Anh District of the Ha Tinh Province in Central Vietnam. The communes were selected because the location of their coastal line is perpendicular to the storm itself, which made them prone to damage. The effects of increasingly extreme weather conditions on three communities in an area most affected by storms and floods on the local residents and their responses to these changing environmental conditions are analyzed and assessed. The results of questionnaires completed by randomly selected local inhabitants of these communes show that storms and related hazards such as flood, sea level rise and heavy rain are perceived as the most impacting climate change intensified phenomena on agriculture and aquaculture, livestock, household property and income. Opinions and measured data provided by the commune and district authorities allow estimating the total direct cost of the tropical storm at 1.56 million $US (The used conversion rate VND/$US is 21,730 when the research was conducted in 2014) during the period 2008–2013. The long-term costs of adaptation and social impact measures will be significantly higher. Details of the monetary figures allow identifying the physical and natural capital of the area as being most affected by the storm. Trend and cost analysis show that the total financial support for hazard prevention and management during 2014–2019 is estimated at 1.19 up to 1.32 million $US. Local stakeholders indicate that climate change adaptation should not be limited to technical measures such as strengthening dikes, but also should target planting protection forests and mangroves and land use planning. Financial support for the relocation policy, stakeholder involvement and integrating climate change adaptation in both the socioeconomic development master plan and local land use planning are also of importance.

Hydrogeochemistry characteristics and salinity of groundwater in Quaternary sediments in the coastal zone of Ha Tinh province

Hydrogeochemistry characteristics and salinity of groundwater in Quaternary sediments in the coastal zone of Ha Tinh province

The Diversity and Antagonistic Ability of <i>Trichoderma</i> spp. on the <i>Aspergillus Flavus</i> Pathogen on Peanuts in North Center of Vietnam

Among 1000 peanut soil samples were collected from Nghe An province, Thanh Hoa province and Ha Tinh province, 44.90% samples occurred <i>Trichoderma</i>. The appearance ratio of <i>Trichoderma</i> in Nghe An, Thanh Hoa, Ha Tinh is 44.30%, 52.00% and 39.50%, respectively. By using in the dual culture method on PDA, The Percent Inhibition of Mycelial Growth (PIRG) was determined to be very high in 28 <i>Trichoderma</i> strains (made up 28.3% in total), 29 others strains was dertermined that to be high PIRG (made up 29,3% in total). The highest PIRG was 100%, occurred on <i>T. harzianum</i><b> </b>(<i>Tri</i>.019(4).NC; <i>Tri</i>.053(1).TG; <i>Tri</i>.011(1).NL; <i>Tri</i>.002(2).NX strain), <i>T. atroviride</i> (<i>Tri</i>.020(2).NC; <i>Tri</i>.011(1).NC strain), <i>T. reesci</i><i><b> </b></i>(<i>Tri</i>.007(1).NĐ), <i>T. hamatum </i>(<i>Tri</i>.039(1).TG), <i>T. virens </i>(<i>Tri</i>.014(4).NC) and <i>T. p</i><i>seudokonigii</i><i> </i>(<i>Tri</i>.014(1).NL).

Chemical composition is of the essential oil from (Desmos cochinchinensis var. fulvescens Ban) from Ha Tinh province

Chemical composition is of the essential oil from (Desmos cochinchinensis var. fulvescens Ban) from Ha Tinh province

Farmer portfolios, strategic diversity management and climate-change adaptation – implications for policy in Vietnam and Kenya

Climate variability is contributing to water-scarcity problems in Kenya and to extreme flooding and drought in Vietnam. This paper compares diversity-based climate adaptation approaches in current land use in the Cam Xuyen district, Ha Tinh province, Central Vietnam and in the Kapingazi river watershed in Embu district, Eastern province, Kenya, in order to understand local responses to climate variability and examine the potential for policy support of diversity management by local people. Literature reviews and trend analysis of local time series of rainfall and temperature were combined with stakeholder interviews and workshops to identify technology and policy options for dealing with current and future climate variability. At all study sites, diversity in land use at farm level and along agriculture–forestry landscape gradients was a key strategy. Policy options to support such an approach could include legalization of agroforestry in Vietnam and a combination of regulations and incentive-based approaches to reconcile household decision-making with longer term and collective actions to benefit landscape diversity in Kenya. Lessons learnt in both study areas about payments for environmental services can be used in policy discussions.

Estimation of radon and thoron caused dose at exraction and processing sites of mineral sand mining area in Vietnam (HA TINH province)

Mineral sands are mined in several countries to supply to the titanium and zircon producing industries. Coastal black mineral sands usually contain, besides ilmenite (FeTiO3) and rutile (TiO2), radioactive minerals such as zircon (ZrSiO4) and monazite (RePO4). Radon and thoron activity concentration originated from natural radioactive contents of the black mineral sand was monitored at the extraction and processing for black minerals in the coastal areas of Ha Tinh Province, one of the around 40 coastal mineral sand deposits in Vietnam. The survey was carried out with the Raduet chambers made by Radosys Ltd—Hungary. The obtained results for 25 investigated points show that the measured values are not high in the residential houses and in case of the sand extraction site as well. At the titanium processing plant the measured values were higher than outside the facility (Radon: 18–55 Bq/m3 with average of 34 Bq/3 and Thoron 33–118 Bq/m3 with average of 58 Bq/m3) but still comparable to the average concentration of the world published by UNSCEAR. The typical outdoor levels of radon and thoron gas are each of the order of 10 Bq/m3. Although the radon concentrations were low in the zircon and titanium processing plants, the thoron concentrations in the houses for separating rutile and zircon were very high. At zircon processing factory, the thoron concentration could reach 2,931 Bq/m3 and the estimated annual effective dose would be 21.4 mSv/a. Intervention has to be taken in order to reduce the thoron level in this factory since the level of thoron and its progenies corresponding to an annual occupational effective dose is beyond the action level of 6 mSv/a.

Parallel radon and thoron measurements in mineral sand mining area of Ha Tinh province

In this study, we have tested the possibility of parallel measurement of radon (222Rn) and thoron (220Rn or Tn) by alpha track detectors at the extraction and processing of black sands that contains high content of Zircon and Monazite minerals in a coastal area of the Ha Tinh province. A pair of cylindrical cups RADUET, designed to separately measure Rn and Tn with CR-39 detectors (Radosys Company Ltd – Hungary), were used for the test. The results showed that concentrations of indoor Rn and Tn in the black sand extraction area are not high (28 ± 6 Bq/m3 for Rn, 14 ± 5 Bq/m3 for Tn). The Rn and Tn concentrations in the indoor air of the titanium processing plant are 34 ± 6 Bq/m3 for Rn, 58 ± 11 Bq/m3 for Tn, and are higher than those concentrations in the residential houses outside the plant (20 ± 4 Bq/m3 for Rn, 16 ± 8 Bq/m3 for Tn) but still comparable to the average concentrations of indoor Rn and Tn reported by the UNSCEAR 2006. At Zircon processing plant, indoor Rn concentrations are similar to those in the titanium processing plant but Tn concentrations in the houses for separating Rutile and Zircon are very high. Indoor Tn concentration is especially high in the house for separating Zircon where it could reach 2931 Bq/m3, hundred times higher than that in the surrounding residential houses and that of the world average published by UNSCEAR 2006.

Chemical composition is of the leaf oil from Uvaria grandiflora Roxb. ex Hornem from Ha Tinh province

The leaf oil of Uvaria grandiflora Roxb. ex Hornem collected from Ha Tinh province, Vietnam, in May 2007 was isolated by steam distillation to give oil yield 0.1% and analyzed by Capillary GC and GC/MS. Thirty three components have been identified accounting more than 94.2% of the oil respectively. The major constituents of this oil appeared to be bicyclogermacrene (35.7%), β-caryophyllene (13.9%) and (Z)-b-ocimene (10.7%). Less predominant constituents included β-elemene (6.6%), germacrene D (6.0%), α-humulene (3.9%), bicycloelemene (2.5%), (E)-b-ocimene (2.3%), α-amorphene (1.8%), β-selinene (1.7%), and a-cubebene (1.0%). All the other components were in concentration of less than 0.1-0.9%.

Residual congener pattern of dioxins in human breast milk in southern Vietnam

This study evaluated residual congener patterns of dioxin/furan (=PCDD/DF) related to tactical herbicides aerially sprayed over the regions of southern Vietnam through Operation Ranch Hand. The study focused on Cam Chinh (CC) commune, Quang Tri province (an area sprayed with tactical herbicides), and the Cam Phuc (CP) commune, Ha Tinh province (a non-sprayed area). Breast milk samples for analysis were collected in September 2002 and July 2003 from lactating primiparous and multiparous mothers born after the war (<31years old). We found the levels of each congener in the CC commune were higher than in the CP commune, and determined specificity in the PCDD/DF congener pattern in CC commune samples by cluster analysis. The congener pattern is characterized by higher (the hexa-, the hepta-, and the octa-) chlorinated PCDD/DFs; this appears to be the same profile as that presented by pentachlorophenol (PCP), rather than 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy acid (2,4,5-T) contaminated with 2,3,7,8-TCDD. A GC/MS study in the 1970s detected the chlorophenols 2,4-di and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol in some Agent Orange samples, which contained, like PCP, a wide variety of PCDD/DF congeners. In this context, it may be expected that certain tactical herbicides contaminated with various chlorophenol impurities, have a unique congener pattern when compared with pure 2,4,5-T formulations.

Cataract surgical outcomes, visual function and quality of life in four rural districts in Vietnam

To evaluate cataract surgical outcomes in four rural districts of Ha Tinh Province, Vietnam. Cross-sectional study. Post-cataract surgery patients sampled randomly from facilities in four rural districts of Ha Tinh Province >3 months after surgery. Postoperative visual acuity (VA), visual function and quality of life. Among 412 patients, the mean age was 74.5 ± 9.4 years, 67% (276) were female, and 377 (91.5%) received intraocular lenses (IOL). Nearly two-thirds of patients had no postoperative visits after discharge. Postoperatively, more than 40% of eyes had presenting VA <6/18, while 20% remained <6/60. The mean self-reported visual function and quality of life for all patients were 68.7 ± 23.8 and 73.8 ± 21.6, respectively. Most patients (89.5%) were satisfied with surgery and the majority (94.4%) would recommend surgery to others. One-third of patients paid ≥$US50 for surgery. In multiple regression modelling, older age (P < 0.01), intraoperative complications (P < 0.01) and failure to receive an IOL (P < 0.01) were associated with postoperative VA <6/60. Satisfaction with surgery was high, and many patients were willing to pay for their operations. Poor visual outcomes were common; however, and better surgical training is needed to reduce complications and their impact on visual outcomes. More intensive postoperative follow-up may also be beneficial.

Forest environmental income in Vietnam: household socioeconomic factors influencing forest use

SUMMARYMuch research has focused on understanding the importance of forest environmental income in different communities and highlighting key socioeconomic characteristics of forest-dependent households. This paper examines the economic importance of forests among rural agriculturalists in Vietnam. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey of 104 households in five study villages in Ha Tinh province in north central Vietnam surrounding the Ke Go Nature Reserve (KGNR). Variables such as migration status of the household, age, income class and landholdings were used to identify characteristics of households with high forest income in both absolute and relative terms. More than half of households reported receiving forest environmental income in cash. Socioeconomic variables were compared between forest cash income (FCI) households and non-FCI households. Non-FCI households had more alternative income sources from wage labour and livestock, while FCI households were significantly younger, tended to live closer to the forest and had larger landholdings. Contrary to other research on forest use, the households deriving the most forest income in both absolute and relative terms were not the poorer households, but those in the middle class. These findings highlight the need for conservation and development projects to pay attention to the specific household factors that influence forest use, rather than relying on assumptions that poverty and forests are always linked.

Blinding Trachoma in the Northern Provinces of Vietnam—A Cross Sectional Survey

Introduction: A prevalence study was conducted in 2001 as part of the SAFE Trachoma Control initiatives in twelve districts of eight northern provinces of Vietnam. The authors present the magnitude and some risk factors of trachomatous trichiasis (TT), trachomatous scarring (TS) and trachomatous corneal opacity (TCO). Methods: Ophthalmologists examined 43,677 people of more than 34 years of age, randomly selected. Ophthalmic loupe, torchlight and the trachoma grading card recommended by WHO were used for this examination. Results: The prevalence of TT was 7.31% (95% CI 7.07–7.55) and 382,950 persons with TT were included in the study population. The rate was higher in females (8.92%) than in males (5.35%). The rate was 13.7% in the district of Me Linh in Vinh Phuc province and in the districts of Ha Tay and Khoai Chau in Hung Yen province, while in the districts of Na Ri (Bac Kan province), Cam Xuyen (Ha Tinh province) and Van Yen (Yen Bai province), the prevalence of TT was less than 2%. The TT rate in the plains was 13%, while in mountainous, coastal and delta terrains, the rate fell to 2.4%, 3.5% and 9.4% respectively. The prevalence of TS and TCO was 8.42% (95% CI 8.21–8.61) and 1.1% (95% CI 1.00–1.20) respectively. Conclusion: Although the magnitude of TT is high, the problem of TCO seems to be less serious. The goal of eliminating blinding trachoma from the study area by 2010 represents a big challenge. Based on these survey estimates, the national program could plan resources for the ‘S’ strategy of trachoma control (surgery for those at immediate risk of blindness).

‘There is Nothing that is Difficult’: History and Hardship on and after the Ho Chi Minh Trail in North Vietnam

The North Vietnamese Army considered the Ho Chi Minh Trail a key part of their victory during the Vietnam War against the United States. The trail was often defended by encouraging large numbers of lowland Vietnamese villagers to show their patriotism by moving to the uplands. Ho Chi Minh himself said of the enormous task of making the trail, ‘There is nothing that is difficult’. Based on fieldwork in Ha Tinh province, where the trail began, this paper addresses what happened after the war to the many migrants who had moved to defend and support the trail. After 1975, many families had expected increased government support as a thank you for their tremendous patriotism and sacrifice during the war. Instead, they became gradually disillusioned with collective farming, and later with the retreat of state services, and incidences of social protest and discontent have been increasingly clamorous in the post-war era.

Species Composition,Diversity and Structure of Secondary Tropical Forests Following Selective Logging in Huong Son,Ha Tinh Province,Vietnam

composition of families and number of commercial species found in the plot PL2 were lower in comparison with those of the two other plots. The medium Sorensen similarity index, ranging from 29.55 to 40.250/0, found for all tree size classes showed a slightly high dissimilarity between plots. Simpson's index for all tree size classes was quite similar among plots though only small difference was found for seedlings in the plot PL2. Shannon-Wiener index (H') in all plots exhibited relatively high, ranging from 1.76 to 3.48, for all size classes combined but revealed slightly low diversity indices for commercial species. Species richness and evenness (H) turned out to be the best indices for demonstrating diversity among plots. The size class distribution with Weibull model showed nearly a continuously inverse J-shaped curve. Except the plot PL2 and the plot PL12 followed a similarly exponential trend, the plot PL22 showed a left skewed shape. However, the result of basal area showed that the PL12 had lower basal area than others. AJI plots showed having some commercial species with relatively high importance value index along with a proportion contributed by other noncommercial ones, i.e. Syz~/gium cinereum and Diospyros apiculata.

Description of a new species of Crocidura (Soricomorpha: Soricidae, Crocidurinae) from Ke Go Nature Reserve, Vietnam

A new species of Crocidura is described from the Ke Go Nature Reserve in Ha Tinh Province, Vietnam. Its small body size and conspicuous brownish black mystacial patches on the muzzle above the upper lips readily distinguish it from the three species of Crocidura commonly reported from Vietnam: C. fuliginosa, C. attenuata and C. indochinensis (formerly C. horsfieldii indochinensis). In body size, the Ke Go shrew most closely resembles another crocidurine, C. wuchihensis, which was originally described as a subspecies of C. horsfieldii from Hainan Island, China, but has recently been identified as a separate species also occurring in Vietnam. The new species can be separated from C. wuchihensis by its smaller body size, certain shorter cranial and dental dimensions (condylo-basal and braincase lengths, incisor to third unicuspid length, upper toothrow length) and deeply emarginate posterior border of the last premolar and each molar. Known only from the holotype, the discovery of the new Crocidura underscores our meager knowledge of Vietnamese Soricomorpha diversity and the need for continued surveys of small mammals in remnant lowland and mountain forests within the country.

Mangrove planting in Vietnam

In 1989, Save the Children Fund (UK) began an experimental project to plant mangroves along a coastal estuary in the Thach Ha district of Ha Tinh province in northern central Vietnam. It was designed and managed by the district forestry and water management officials and implemented through the commune People's Committees. This article looks at the project's goals, with environmental and production oriented views. Its sustainability is judged and the longer-term issues of sustainability, including financial support, ownership rights and enforcement of protection are also addressed. The project has been a basis for a sustainable model of environmental protection and income generation. There are both economic and general benefits, including: protection against salination of fields through flooding; a reduction in time spent on dyke repairs; increased potential for aquaculture in the area; protection against the wind for houses and boats; increased fishing activities; sale or use of seedlings; and increased availability of wood for fuel. It is hoped that this project will promote similar work in other parts of Vietnam. Abstract supplied by kind permission of CABI. This article is hosted by our co-publisher Taylor & Francis.

A new species of living bovid from Vietnam

IN May 1992 a joint survey by the Ministry of Forestry and World Wide Fund for Nature of the Vu Quang Nature Reserve, Ha tinh province, found three sets of long straight horns of a new bovid (Mammalia, Artiodactyla) in hunters' houses1. None of the specimens had dentition. On four follow-up visits by Vietnamese scientists new specimens were discovered and surveys of forests in neighbouring Nghe an province revealed more localities and some partial specimens. In all, we have examined more than 20 specimens. Three have complete upper skulls and dentitions, two have lower jaws and dentitions. Three complete skins have been collected. The specimens are distinct in appearance, morphology and DNA sequence and cannot be ascribed to any known genus. Only two bovid genera are known from this part of Asia, Bos and Naemorhedus = Capricornis2,3. A new genus and species are therefore described. Such a discovery is of great significance. It has been more than 50 years since any comparable find of a large mammal species has been made; the last being the kouprey Bos= Novibos sauveli, another Indochinese bovid (Urbain, 1937). Moreover, the bovids (cattle, goats and antelopes) are a mammal family of great value to mankind. Many species have proven or potential value for domestication or cross-breeding. A three-month field study is planned to observe the living animal.