Impact of the Expansion of Vietnamese Railway System on Ecosystem Services and Natural Cycles

Ecosystem Services Impacted by the Railway System Expansion

The European Bank of Economic Development, the World Bank and other institutions have proposed to partially fund the expansion of the Vietnamese railway system, which runs 1,160 kilometres between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The railway also connects the coastal cities of Hue, Danang and Nha Trang.Currently, the railway is single track and trains can only run at around 50-60kph meaning that journeys are long and slow. The project will involve partial electrification, widening to allow the building of an additional track, and various other civil engineering works that will raise line speeds in places in excess of 100kph. There will also be the construction of new stations and other supporting infrastructure. The railway will pass through urban areas, coastal lowlands used for agricultural purposes, as well as environmentally sensitive coastal rainforest, saltmarsh and the fringes of mangrove swamps.

i. The railway will result in significant land-use change through the construction of tracks, access roads, stations and freight management facilities. How will these works impact ecosystem services?
Break down your answer into impacts on provisioning, regulating and cultural services. Provide examples of both positive and negative impacts where possible.

• Clear and relevant examples of regulating, provisioning and cultural ecosystem services and has demonstrated clear understanding of the concept of ecosystem services
• Ecosystem services clearly linked to specific impacts from project i.e. land-use change, construction of supporting infrastructure
• Some positive as well as negative impacts included in answer
• Examples of regulating, provisioning and cultural services provided,demonstrates understanding of the concept
• Most of the ecosystem services are linked to impacts from the project although there are some gaps and inaccuracies
• Only negative impacts are discussed

• Examples given don’t cover all three categories (regulating, provisioning and cultural )
• Understanding of ecosystem services seems confused or with gaps CEM assessment guidance for tutors and training providers June 2020
• Demonstrates only limited understanding of impacts of the project on ecosystem services
ii. Describe the impact of the railway construction and operation on either the carbon,nitrogen or hydrological cycles. 10 marks

• Chosen either carbon, nitrogen or hydrological cycle
• Shows clear understanding of the natural cycle in how the answer is presented (does not need to describe the natural cycle itself but it should show understanding of interactions from human activity)
• Clearly linking the specific impacts from railway construction and operations on the natural cycle
• Impacts identified are clearly relevant and accurate relating to that natural cycle
• Positive and negative impacts included.

• Chosen either carbon, nitrogen or hydrological cycle
• Shows some understanding of the natural cycle in how the answer is presented but with some inaccuracies
• Included impacts from railway construction and operations on the natural cycle but with some gaps (e.g. a major impact
being missed – for example electricity consumption on the carbon cycle, impact of land use change on the hydrological
cycle)
• Impacts identified are mainly relevant and accurate relating to that natural cycle but with some areas incomplete or
partially inaccurate
• Chosen either carbon, nitrogen or hydrological cycle
• Limited understanding of the natural cycle and linking it to human impacts
• Does not include impacts from both the railway construction and operation
• Impacts identified are incomplete or partially inaccurate
• Impacts described are out of scale with the project

iii. Describe how the railway construction and operational phases could be modified or managed to reduce negative impacts on the natural cycle chosen in part (ii) above 10 marks
• Delegate has very clearly linked management practices that would effectively reduce negative impacts on the natural cycle (e.g. input of pollutants or conservation of resources)
• Range of management practices identified (i.e. more than just one or two)
• Suggested management practices are realistic in the real-world and likely to be effective
 • Delegate has linked management practices with negative impacts on the natural cycles but some of these are missing detail, unrealistic or tangential in addressing the impact
• Range of management practices identified (i.e.more than just one or two)
• Only one or two management practices described with scant detail Answers to each of the above should be no longer than 700 words for each section.