Son La province locates in the North West of Vietnam, which is essential
geological position in socio-economic development strategy and protection of
national and regional security and defense. Moreover, Son La is ensuring national
and regional security and defense. Simultaneously, having the watersheds of Da and
Ma River, this province is the crucial protection area for the Northern Delta and has
the two largest hydropower projects in Vietnam. With the terrain predominated by
low mountain, highlands and valleys, abundance of land and climate resources, and a
special local knowledge system, Son La has great prospects for developing
agriculture, forestry, trade and tourism, bringing socio-economic and environmental
efficiencies.
However, low effectiveness of natural resource protection in Son La has
positive effects on other regions in the downstream of Da River and Ma River. In
recent 10 years, land use system and in structure of cultivated plants have been
change rapidly. In the province, land degradation has been more seriously, water
resource has been degraded; environment pollution caused by deforestation and
agricultural chemical and natural hazards have been more frequently and caused more
and more risks [84]. Thus, in long term strategy of socio-economic development need
scientifically consider rapid and sustainable development following functional
regions.
Researching landscape ecology (LE) is a synthetic and interdisciplinary approach
from research of species structure, environment characteristics, ecological and
regional conditions, and distributional regions. Researching ecological landscape
aims to clearly understanding of natural resources and natural conditions; the
interaction relation among natural components; features and functions of each
territorial unit, etc. which are foundations of new proposals of properly and
sustainable natural resource extractions and uses.Thus, nowadays, it is necessary to
research ecological landscapes in Son La province aiming to orientation of ecological
function exploitation, reformation and rehabilitation of provincial territory.
In this fact, the study of “Research of landscape ecology in Son La provinces to
serverve socioeconomic planning and development” contributes to sustainable socioeconomic development in Son La province.