Testing data collection tools for foreseeable coastal system tipping points
Author: Trung Tran, Vietnam National University
Between Oct 28th and Nov 4th 2020, VNU-CRES research team working on WP4 "Delta-level interventions to respond to and mitigate against foreseeable coastal system tipping points" tested survey tools in three study sites in Hai Phong, Thai Binh and Ninh Binh provinces in the Red River Delta of Vietnam.
While in the field, the research team were testing the focus group discussion check list and key informant interview questionnaire, which cover topics, such aslivelihood sources, assets and income and the provision of mangrove services; the effects of environmental changes and loss of ecological knowledge on livelihoods, tipping points from respondents’ perceptions; the perceptions of respondents regarding changes in climate over the past decades, and then responses and solutions of the stakeholders to tipping points.
The research team conducted 3 focus group discussions with 33male and female participants, including farmers, collectors, fishermen, vendors, both men and women and 12 interviewed key informants such as local government officials, village leaders and elderly people who have witnessed changes in the mangrove systems. The feedback from the participants will be used to finalize the survey tools, which will be used for actual interviews in December 2020.
