Assessing the environmental impacts of informal settlements in vietnam: The case study of the hue citadel unesco world heritage site

Informal settlements, including those within UNESCO World Heritage Sites, pose significant environmental risks due to inadequate infrastructure and lack of access to clean water, waste management, or sanitation. A study focusing on the Hue Citadel, a 19th-century fortress in Vietnam, demonstrates that such settlements can have detrimental impacts on both the site's integrity and the surrounding environment. The research suggests that while formal Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) typically focus on large-scale projects, they could be adapted to rapidly assess grassroots issues like informal settlements. This adaptive approach, combined with socio-economic surveys and scientific literature, proposes that an environmental improvement plan might allow residents to remain in areas rich in social and cultural capital, provided their living conditions are addressed. The study highlights the potential for balancing heritage conservation with community needs through targeted interventions.

Nixon, B. (2020). Assessing the environmental impacts of informal settlements in vietnam: The case study of the hue citadel unesco world heritage site. International Journal of Environmental Impacts: Management, Mitigation and Recovery, 3(3), 189–206. https://doi.org/10.2495/ei-v3-n3-189-206