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

Vietnam Primate Conservation Status Review Part 2: LEAF MONKEYS
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Primates are also sold as trophies. A large quantity of wildlife trophies, including stuffed primates,
was reported by Eames & Robson (1993) in Da Lat and along the road between Da Lat and Bao Loc
cities (Lam Dong Province), principally for sale to local tourists or as ornaments in local hotels.
Ghazoul & Le Mong Chan (1994) reported the same activity in Sapa market (Lao Cai Province). There
have been decreasing signs of such trade in Sapa in 1997 and 1998, suggesting a reinforcement of
controls and reflecting a reduced wildlife density (Tordoff et al., 1999).
The possession of wildlife as pets is widespread in Vietnam. Among primates, macaques are the most
commonly encountered. However langurs, gibbons and lorises have also been reported. It is still easy
to find live primates in markets, even though they are protected by Vietnamese law.
Zoological gardens attract many visitors in Vietnam and contain a varied set of exotic species. Primates
are a very popular and important attraction. Unfortunately, a number of the animals come directly
from the wild despite the illegality of such trade.
6.2 Habitat disturbance
Forest destruction in Vietnam was massive during the last half of the 20 th century and although is
now somewhat controlled it still continues.
Strategic herbicide spraying and intensive bombing by American forces during the American war
(1963-1975) contributed to the destruction of large forested areas mainly in the centre and the south
of the country. It has been estimated that about 22,000 sq. km of agricultural land and forests were
destroyed during this period (Collins et al., 1991). Although the forests of northern Vietnam did not
suffer as greatly from the direct effects of the war, indirect impacts were considerable. For instance,
bombing of the north of the country resulted in an exodus of people from the plain of the Red River
Delta to mountainous areas, where they subsequently cleared forest to create agricultural land (Pham
Binh Quyen & Truong Quang Hoc, 1997).
After the war, the demographic explosion and the subsequent increase in demand for agricultural
land led to a considerable reduction of the remaining forest cover. This phenomenon was particularly
apparent in the lowlands and in the northern part of the country where the human density is higher.
Particularly in northern Vietnam, most of the lowland forests were lost and montane forests have
been significantly reduced and highly fragmented. Between 1943 and 1995, natural forest cover in
Vietnam declined from 44% to 28% (Wege et al., 1999).
Although the central region was previously cleared at a slower rate, this trend may soon be reversed. In
the first place, remnant forest blocks in other parts of the country are often too inaccessible to be the
subject of profitable commercial logging or to be converted into agricultural land. In the second place,
human population density in the Central Highlands is increasing due to the transmigration of people
from the over-populated northern provinces. This region received 600,000 migrants between 1976 and
1988 (Pham Binh Quyen & Truong Quang Hoc, 1997). Dak Lak Province, which had the highest
immigration rate of any province in Vietnam, saw its human population rise from 1,026,000 to 1,242,000
between 1990 and 1995 (Brickle et al., 1998). Some of these migrants were officially resettled as part of
government population redistribution programmes but a large number of spontaneous migrants followed
them. The latter were often relatives or friends of officially resettled people.
Besides agriculture encroachment, various disturbances in the natural habitat are caused by the
collection of timber and non timber forest products: rattan, bamboo, fuelwood, fruits, honey,
Cinnamomum sp. tree oil, and medicinal plants.