The Biodiversity of Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve - Birdlife ...

characterized by a species community typical of the Central Annamite chain. BHH NR is also
situated in the Annamese Lowlands EBA (Stattersfield et al. 1998), since it supports a number of
the restricted-range bird species which characterise the EBA.
BHH NR forms the southernmost part of the Truong Son IBA (Tordoff et al. 2002). This IBA,
and the forests of BHH, support a fauna typical of the Annamese lowlands. The site qualified as
an IBA under criteria A1, due to the presence of globally threatened species (at the time of
assessment a number of species found in the nature reserve, such as Crested Argus, were
considered globally threatened); A2, due to the presence of restricted-range species; and A3, due
to the presence of biome restricted species. It is also a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA), part of a
globally important network of sites for conservation, due to the presence of Saola Pseudoryx
nghetinhensis and Edwards’s Pheasant Lophura edwardsi.
BHH NR also lies within the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot (Djik et al. 1999). This large
designation covers all of the Indochinese subregion, including the Central Annamites and the
Annamese lowlands.
2.4 History of Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve
Following the first field surveys in the region, BirdLife designated the forests of Bac Huong Hoa
as an IBA, recognising the global importance of the area (Tordoff et al. 2002). BirdLife has
continued its interest in and commitment to the forests of Bac Huong Hoa, through two
MacArthur Foundation funded projects. The first of these projects conducted biodiversity surveys
in the area and established two Site Support Groups (SSGs) in Bac Huong Hoa, in Cup and Cuoi
villages. These were established in August 2004 with the purpose of monitoring populations of
key bird and mammal species and increasing law enforcement. The second project (of which this
report forms a part) aimed to consolidate BirdLife’s involvement in the area through the
designation of a nature reserve, continued support to SSGs and promotion of synergies with other
relevant local stakeholders, to facilitate more effective forest protection.
BirdLife was successful in its efforts to establish a nature reserve in Bac Huong Hoa. The
proposal for the establishment of Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve was prepared by Quang Tri
Forest Protection Department (FPD), with technical assistance from BirdLife and was appraised
by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). On 14th March 2007, Quang
Tri Provincial People’s Committee issued Decision no. 479/QD-UBND, approving the
Investment Plan for Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve. The Investment Plan for the nature reserve
was appraised by Quang Tri Provincial People Committee.
2.5 History of Biological Research
BHH NR has received limited contemporary biological research. The first surveys in modern
times were conducted by Le Manh Hung et al. (2002) in July 2002, for BirdLife International
Vietnam Programme, as part of the DANIDA funded project entitled: “Improved conservation
planning through institutional strengthening in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam”. The primary aim
of this seven day rapid field survey was to assess whether forests in Huong Hoa district qualified
13