Vietnam Primate Conservation Status Review 2002 - Hoang Lien ...

5.1.5.2 Dam construction
5 SNUB-NOSED MONKEYS
For the populations of Na Hang Nature Reserve, the most serious threats are posed by the Gam river
hydropower and flood prevention dam project. Construction began in autumn 2002. Some 8500
workers will move into the area for dam contruction. The current workforce has already reached
2000. It is expected that the current population in Na Hang of 4700 people will raise to 15,000 at the
height of the construction boom (EIA 2002). This will lead to increased demand for wildlife products
and firewood.
The direct threat to Na Hang Nature Reserve due to inundation is limited to 220 hectares of mostly
secondary forest along the banks of the Gam and Pac Vang rivers.
Increased activities in the area due to improved accessibility by roads and future lake, noise and
vibrations from blasting in construction and quarry sites, noise from construction and traffic will cause
stress to wildlife populations that can translate into decreased breeding patterns, increased suspectibility
to predation, and avoidance of disturbed areas (even if they are important feeding areas).
5.1.5.3 Mining
Mining exploitation is a serious threat to habitat integrity due to increased demand for wildlife products,
fire wood and construction timber. No environmental impact assessment has been undertaken in
Vietnam for small and medium-scale mining operations.
This activity is widespread in limestone areas where the largest remaining snub-nosed monkey
population occurs. Mines of zinc and aluminum have been based in Ban Thi Commune (Cho Don
District, near the Na Hang Nature Reserve boundary) for several decades. By the year 2000 about
500 m 3 of wood per year for securing mine shafts were extracted from the Ban Thi/Xuan Lac forest
and only by June 2002 the mining company started to source the wood from the Cho Don state forest
enterprise. In 2002 the 700 workers created an increasing demand for wildlife products and firewood
supplied by local villagers. With the completion of a zinc oxidation facility in 2005 the work force is
expected to reach 1700.
Gold mining is a major activity in the Tat Ke sector in Na Hang Nature Reserve. When gold is found,
an area as large as 100 ha may be cleared for prospecting. Furthermore, mining operations also
increase the number of loggers, firewood collectors, and hunters in the region (Ratajszczak et al.,1992;
Dang Ngoc Can & Nguyen Truong Son, 1999).
In Minh Son commune, Bac Me district, adjacent to the Tonkin snub-nosed monkey habitat in Du
Gia Nature Reserve, the provincial state mining company started in February 2003 the development
of a mine for zinc, tin and lead exploitation. The expected work force is 200 employees.
5.1.5.4 Deforestation, habitat degradation and fragmentation
Deforestation, habitat degradation and fragmentation are serious threats in all sites. This is largely
due to agricultural encroachment, fire wood extraction and timber exploitation, as well as road
contruction leading to habitat fragmentation. In addition, the collection of forest products such as
bamboo and rattan, for both local and commercial usage, is common in some areas (Ratajszczak et
al., 1992; Dang Ngoc Can & Nguyen Truong Son, 1999).
The major problem for the long term survival of the species is the fragmentation of the population
into 9 sub-populations. No interbreeding between sub-populations is possible.
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