Coupling hydrologic and economic modeling for wetland management multi-optimization in Tram Chim National Park, Vietnam

Abstract

We developed a comprehensive coupling framework with a multi-objective optimization that bridges a water balance model (WBM) and a wetland service model (WSM) to supporting wetland management. The framework was tested for management in Tram Chim National Park (with four wetland zones) where hydro-economic optimization was needed. The framework used (1) a model coupling process bridging WBM and WSM to create a modular hydro-economic model (MHEM), (2) a multi-objective optimization, and (3) an anneal scheduling for scenario optimization. The framework demonstrated its competency in identifying cause–effect/interaction flows (bridges) between WBM and WSM to design MHEM to simulate optimized scenarios; for the case study, the multi-objective optimization was met for all wetland zones. Results suggested a flexible consideration of management scales for optimization, i.e. hydrologic optimization at a zone level and net benefit optimization at a Park level. Our framework is applicable to supporting complex wetland decisions considering multiple objectives.

Keywords:

• coupling framework
• anneal scheduling
• multi-optimization
• hydro-economic model
• multi criteria decision analysis
• wetland management

Acknowledgements

We give special thanks to the following organizations: An Giang University, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering and Tropical Research and Education Center (University of Florida) for PhD research assistantship, PhD McNair Bostick Scholarship for modeling, Tram Chim National Park Authorities, Vietnam's PhD Fellowship Program 322, and World Bank Robert S. McNamara PhD Research Fellowship, and individuals: Ms. Tran Thi Hong Ngoc at An Giang University, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Minh Hai and Mr. Nguyen Van Hung at Tram Chim National Park, and especially Dr. Conor Linstead at WWK-UK for suggestions.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

World Bank Robert S. McNamara PhD Research Fellowship; McNair Bostick PhD Scholarship; Vietnam 322 PhD fellowship Program; University of Florida, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering for PhD research assistantship.