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

8 APPENDIX: 2
Forests in the southern part of the nature reserve are highly disturbed, mainly due to agricultural
encroachment by H’mong communities. In the higher elevation of the northern part, near Xuan Lien
Nature Reserve, the natural habitat is better preserved (Le Trong Trai, pers. comm.). Forest loss has
been indentified as one of the biggest threats to biodiversity, as habitat fragmentation leads to species
loss. The second major threat is hunting, which has already led to rapid decline in large and medium
sized mammals, and the local extinction of some globally threatened species (Osborn et al., 2000).
Interview data indicate that elephant and tiger occurred at the nature reserve until the mid 1980s
but are now extinct in the area. Despite designation no nature reserve management board has been
established. No conservation activities are currently implemented.
Pu Huong Nature Reserve (NGHE AN)
Special use forest: Nature Reserve (49,845 ha)
Forest size: less than 20,000 ha (Kemp et al., 1997)
Forest type: lowland evergreen, montane evergreen, (both with small deciduous elements)
Elevation: 200m to 1,560m a.s.l. (Mount Phu Lon)
Leaf monkey and gibbon species: [Trachypithecus crepusculus], Nomascus leucogenys leucogenys
Pu Huong Nature Reserve was decreed in 1986 to comprise 5,000 ha. In 1995 the Nhe An Provincial
People's Committee approved the establishment of a nature reserve which covers 49,845 ha. The
nature reserve lies at the northern extent of the Annamite mountain range, separated by the Ca river.
The topography of the nature reserve is steep and mountainous, and is dominated by ridges of
mountains, of 950m to 1,560m a.s.l.
Lowland evergreen forest is heavily disturbed and dominated by member of diptoerocarps, while areas
that were previously subjected to commercial timber extraction have now regenerated into mature
forest. In the lower montane forest disturbance is restricted to more accessible areas at lower elevations.
An important part of Pu Huong forest remains undisturbed. But forest clearance for agriculture is
significant. Each year, as much as 200 ha are cleared inside the boundaries (Kemp & Dilger, 1996).
Illegal logging is also intensive. Hunting represents a major threat to biodiversity, particularly to any
populations of large mammal species that remain. Species of conservation concern, such as Saola
and White-cheeked gibbon, were regularly hunted (Kemp & Dilger, 1996), and may be extirpated.
Pu Mat National Park (NGHE AN)
Special use forest: National park (91,113 ha)
Forest size: NA
Forest type: lowland evergreen, lower montane evergreen
Elevation: 100m to 1,841m a.s.l. (90% of the national park is under 1,000m a.s.l.)
Leaf monkey and gibbon species: Trachypithecus crepusculus, Pygathrix nemaeus, Nomascus
leucogenys siki
Two protected areas established in 1986 were combined to provide the legal basis for establishing Pu
Mat Nature Reserve in 1995 with an area of 91,113 ha. The nature reserve was upgraded to national
park status in 2001.
The area is made up of steep mountains up to 1,841m a.s.l., and numerous, usually steep river valleys in
between the mountains. The steep terrain in most parts of the national park has been an obstacle to
extensive clearance of forest. Where the river valleys are broader, there is some cultivation, and three
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