Xe Sap NBCA (XS) Name Xe Sap. Abbreviated: XSP Status ...

Xe Sap NBCA (XS)
GENERAL INFORMATION
Name
Xe Sap. Abbreviated: XSP
Status Established by PM Decree 210, February 1996
Location
Latitude: 15°56’40” - 16°19’0”N Longitude: 106°41’40’’ - 107°28’0”E
Map Sheets Scale I: 50,000
6341 I 6441 IV 6441 I
6341 II 6441 III 6441 II
63441 I 6440 IV 6440 I
Scale I: 100,000
E 48 – 142 E 48 - 143
D 48 - 10 D 48 - 11
Scale I: 200,000
ND 48 - 4
Scale I: 1,000,000
E 48
D 48
Provinces
Districts
Salavan & Xe Kong
Samuoy [Salavan]
Ta-Oy [Salavan]
Kaleum [Xe Kong]
Perimeter
Boundaries
The eastern boundary follows the border with Vietnam.
The southern boundary follows the rivers Nam Talon, Xe Lon and Xe Kong till the
village Ban Talouy Gnai. Approximately 4 km south of Ban Talouy Gnai the NBCA
boundary leaves the Xe Kong and proceeds west along the mountain slopes towards the
southern loop of the Xe Lanong.
The western and northern boundary of the NBCA run mainly where the mountain
slopes start to rise from the undulating land of the river valleys. The western boundary
skirts the villages below the slopes east of Muang Ta-Oy running about 2 km east of
Houay Takan till it reaches Huoay Tanghak. Here it turns eastwards. The northern
boundary remains south of but adjacent to the road leading from Ta-Oy to Samuoy and
reaches the Vietnamese border south of the national border crossing at Dane Dalai.
Area
1335 km2 (Reference: Protected Area Fact-Sheets, Annex 3 to the Mid-1995 Status
Report on Protected Area System Planning and Management in Lao PDR, Forest
Resources Conservation Sub-Programme of the Lao-Swedish Forestry Cooperation
Programme, IUCN).

1498 km2 (Calculated by the Forest Cover Monitoring Project MRC/GTZ)
Proposed
Extensions
Access
The main access is by the unpaved road leading from Salavan to Ta-Oy and further east
to Samuoy. This road runs along the northern side of Xe Sap NBCA, but it does not pass
through the NBCA area. From this road, small access tracks lead to villages situated on
the northern periphery and inside the northern part of the NBCA.
To the southeastern part of Xe Sap NBCA the access is very difficult. It is best by boat
on the Xe Kong and its two major tributaries Xe Sap and Xe Lon, or it is a few days
walk to reach the NBCA.
Stakeholder
Villages and
Population
Due to lack of information and the fact that the Land and Forest Allocation has not yet
been implemented in most of the area, it is only possible to distinguish two types of
villages:
I. Villages situated inside Xe Sap NBCA
II. Villages situated in the surroundings of Xe Sap NBCA.
Principal Local
Resource
Uses
The numbers of persons are the data of the National Population Census 1995 conducted
by the State Planning Committee of the National Statistical Centre.
District Inside NBCA Surroundings Xe Sap NBCA Total No. persons
Villages Persons Villages Persons
Ta-Oy 3 640 25 8.273 8.913
Samuoy 11 2.397 10 1.667 4.064
Kaleum∗ 3 345 11 1.348 1.693
Total 17 3.382 46 11.288 14.670
∗ For Kaleum District the population data are not complete. The NBCA staff listed
village names, which could not be found in the lists of the National Population Census
of 1995.

Ethnic
Composition
District Ethnic Group Inside NBCA Surroundings NBCA Total No. persons
Villages Persons Villages Persons
Pako 2 379 8 2.810 3.189
Ta-Oy Ta-Oy 1 261 8 2.732 2.993
Samuoy
Katang 9 2.731 2.731
Pako 9 1.999 10 1.657 3.656
Katang 2 322 322
Katu Part of one village 76
Kaleum∗ Katu 2 345 6 1.057 1.402
Ngae 2 291 291
BRIEF HISTORY
ECOLOGY
∗ For four villages in Kaleum District the data are missing.
Since October 1996, the Forest Management and Conservation Programme
(FOMACOP), a joint undertaking of the Government of Lao PDR (GoL), the
International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank (WB), the Global
Environmental Facility (GEF), and the Government of Finland through FINNIDA, has
been assisting the Lao government in the Management of Xe Sap NBCA.
Physical
Features
Elevation
Climate
The NBCA, which forms part of the Southern Annamite Mountains, is mostly steep
terrain with high plateaus at about 1400 m asl. There are very steep faces on the
eastern and southern sides rising from 400 m to 1400 m asl. The highest peak called
Dong Be is 2066 m asl.
Altitude between 400 and 2066m above sea level
Xe Sap NBCA lays in the Southeast Asia monsoon climate. During the winter
(November – February), when the sun is to the south of the equator the climate is under
the influence of the cold continental high-pressure region over China. The winds are
clockwise around the high and come from the northeast over Southeast Asia. This is the
Northeast Monsoon, characterized by cold dry air and infrequent light rain.
For the summer (May – August), the sun is to the north of the equator and heats the
landmass beneath to a degree that causes an extensive low-pressure region called
Intertropical Convergence Zone and the Monsoon Trough. Warm winds from the
southwest carry moisture from the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand to the part of
the trough in the Lao PDR region where vertical convection causes rainfall, large
amounts during the height of the monsoon season. This is the Southwest Monsoon. The
air is warm, and humidity high.
Main Forest
Types
Hill Evergreen Forest (dominant)
Semi – Evergreen Forest

Pine Forest
Forest
Cover
This calculation was realized by the Forest Cover Monitoring Project (FCMP)
MRC/GTZ. It is based on interpretation of 1996/97 Landsat TM with the NBCA
boundaries as shown on topographical maps 1:100 000 provided by FOMACOP project.
Verification with the original documents has not taken place. Therefore the data might
be only approximate.
Forest Code Area / ha % of Total Area
Evergreen / Mixed, Continuous Cover, High 58.499 39.1
Cover Density (11,17)
Evergreen / Mixed, Continuous Cover, Medium 53.577 35.8
Cover Density (12, 18)
Evergreen / Mixed, Mosaic (13, 19) 10.336 6.9
Deciduous Continuous Cover (20) 368 0.2
Regrowth (40) 2.897 1.9
Evergreen Wood and Shrub Land (61, 63, 65) 22.009 14.7
Grassland (62) 1.797 1.2
Dry Wood and Shrub Land (64) 166 0.1
Mosaic of Cropping (81, 82) 173 0.1
Grand Total 149.822 100%
Other Habitat
Features
Recorded
Vertebrates
Numerous water falls
Some mountains have rocky cliff faces.
Rhododendron forests at high elevations
Vertebrate Class No. of Species Key Species
Mammals 43 6
Birds 178 19
Reptiles 48 new species∗
Amphibians 33 new species∗
Fish no data no data
∗ Not yet described
EVALUATION
Principal Contributions to the NBCA System
Biodiversity
Values
Nationally significant population of two species of bears
Regionally significant population of gaur, one of the more important species for
conservation
Significant population of dholes

Significant population of Serow
At least one species of Muntjac, large antlered Muntjac
Presence of tigers
Pine Forest and Hill Evergreen Forest here support Pinus dalatensis, a species of pine
previously thought to be endemic to Vietnam, and Kinabaluchloa sp., a genus of bamboo
not previously recorded from Lao or Vietnam (only provisionally identified).
Because of it’s geographical position in the Southern Annamites, it’s altitude range and
variation, and it’s undisturbed old-growth evergreen forest types, as well it’s extensive
areas of high elevation, Xe Sap has unique importance in the NBCA system in Lao PDR.
Watershed
Values
Two major watersheds:
Northwards encompassing Xe Lanong and Xe Pon rivers, which flow into the Xe
Banghiang
Southwards with Xe Lon and Xe Sap rivers as the main tributaries flowing into the Xe
Kong river
Both are important watershed systems supporting human communities as well as
biodiversity and endangered wildlife species. In the Xe Kong River, e.g., live at least
part of the year Irrawaddy Dolphins, one of the most endangered species of Lao PDR.
The Xe Banghiang, which is bordering Dong Phou Vieng NBCA is known for its wealth
in fish with respect to species diversity and quantity.
Cultural
Values
Indigenous Lao Theung culture with strong spiritual ties to the land
Five different “Lao Theung” languages are spoken in the NBCA, of which at least one is
in danger of extinction.
Many funeral and sacred forests
Indochina War relicts
Part of the Ho Chi Min Trail
Security
Values
Recreation and
Tourism
Values
Principal
Threats
International animal trade encouraging the poaching of animals from the NBCA
Unsustainable resource use by outsiders, e.g. over-harvesting of rattan
Upgraded road and bridges on the north side of the NBCA leading to increased
unsustainable resource use in some areas.
Increased human population causing further clearings for crops.

Reasons for
Extensions or
Excisions
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
Contact
Staffing
Mr. Bounthong Outensakda
Manager of Xe Sap National Biodiversity Conservation Area
Forest Management and Conservation Programme (FOMACOP)
National Biodiversity Conservation Areas Management Sub–Programme
Provincial Agricultural and Forestry Office (PAFO)
Salavan, Salavan Province; Tel: 034 – 211 068
Staff is from the Province Agriculture and Forestry Office (PAFO) and the District
Agriculture and Forestry Office (DAFO).
A United Nations Volunteer (UNV) started as Conservation Management and
Operations Advisor in February 1999.
Province District Men Women Total
Salavan 2 1 3
Salavan Ta-Oy 7 2 9
Salavan Samuoy 8 2 10
Xe Kong 8 8
Xe Kong Kaleum 2 2
Total 27 5 32
Organization
Buildings
Equipment
Provincial offices in Salavan and Xe Kong (with PAFO)
Field stations including offices and dormitories in Ta-Oy and Samuoy districts
Two 4WD vehicles
Five motorcycles
Current
Management
Priorities
Training of staff
Development of procedures for:
Patrolling
Monitoring
Participatory management of natural resources by the local villagers
Other
Management
Opportunities
Development of sustainable practices for NTFP use by the local villagers
Development of small scale enterprises
Development of tourism based on the tourist values of:

Landscape
Undisturbed nature
Rare “exotic” animals and plants
Authentic indigenous cultures
Historical war relicts
Participation of local villagers in monitoring of:
Wildlife populations
Habitat changes
Trends in NTFP presence
Trends in NTFP use
Poaching
Documentation of the indigenous knowledge
Stabilization of Slash and Burn Agriculture
Coordination of the biodiversity conservation efforts with the corresponding Vietnamese
institutions on the other side of the border.
Other Relevant
Project
Initiatives
Development Activities implemented by the Forest Management
and Conservation Project (FOMACOP)
Construction of a village school in Ban Kappe, Ta-Oy District
Training of village health workers in Birth Spacing and Primary Village Health
Care in Ta-Oy District for Ban Kappe and Ban Sanang.
Mines Advisory Group (MAG): unexploded ordinance (in Ta-0y and Samuoy districts,
Salavan province)
Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF): improve the health situation for the minorities (in
Kaleum district, Xe Kong province)
REPORTS AND PUBLICATIONS
Caffery, B. (1999). Conservation and Development. Final report of the period of
consultancy from 8.9.1997 to 11.6.1999. FOMACOP (76 pp.).
Costello, N. A. and Sulavan, K. (1993). Katu Folktales and Society. Ministry of
Information and Culture. Institute of Research on Lao Culture and Society.
Duckworth, J. W. (1997). Small Carnivores in Laos: A Status Review with Notes on
Ecology, Behavior and Conservation. Small Carnivore Conservation, The Newsletter
and Journal of the IUCN / SSC Mustelid, Viverrid & Procyonid Specialist Group, 16, 1 –
21.
Duckworth, J. W. (1997). A Survey of Large Animals in the Central Annamite
Mountains of Laos. International Journal of Mammalian Biology, 63: 239 – 250.
Duckworth, J. W., Timmins, R. J. and Evans, T.D. (1997).The Conservation Status of
the River Lapwing Vanellus duvaucelii in Southern Laos. Biological Conservation, 84
(3): 215 – 222
Falke, M. (1999). The Geological Conditions of Xe Sap National Biodiversity
Conservation Area, Salavan and Xe Kong Provinces (4 pp.).

Johnston, J. B. (1999). Inception Report: Conservation Advisor, Xe Sap NBCA.
FOMACOP National Statistical Centre, State Planning Committee (1999). Population
Census Results 1995, Saravan Province, Districts: Taoy and Samuoy, Se Kong Province,
District: Kaleum.
(These data, which are available normally only on diskette, have been printed out for Xe
Sap NBCA)
Robichaud, W. G. (1998). Physical and Behavioral Description of a Captive Soala,
Pseudoryx nghetinhensis. Journal of Mammology, 79 (2): 394 – 405.
Schaller, G.B. (1995). A Wildlife Survey in the Annamite Mountains of Laos, Dec. 1994
–Jan. 1995. Unpublished report to the Wildlife Conservation Society, Vientiane.
Schaller, G.B. (1995). A preliminary survey of the northern Xe Sap region, Salavan
Province, April
25 – May 11, 1996. Unpublished field report. Wildlife Conservation Society.
Showler, D. A., Davidson, P., Vongkhamheng, C. and Salivong, K. (1998). A Wildlife
and Habitat Survey of the Southern Border of Xe Sap National Biodiversity
Conservation Area and the Dakchung Plateau, Xe Kong Province, Lao PDR. Final
Report. Centre for Protected Areas and Watershed Management / Wildlife Conservation,
Society Cooperative Program, Department of Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture and
Forestry, Lao PDR. WCS Wildlife Conservation Society.
Steinmetz, R., Stones, I. and Chan-Ard, T. (1999). An Ecological Survey of Habitats,
Wildlife and People in Xe Sap NBCA. WWF Thailand.
Sulavan, K. and Costello, N. A. (1994). Belief and Practice in Katu Agriculture. The
Ministry for Education and Culture. The Institute of Research on Lao Culture.
Sulavan, Khamluan, T. Kingsada and N. A. Costello (1994). Aspects of Katu Traditional
Medicine. Ministry of Information and Culture. Institute of Research on Lao Culture
(534 pp.).
Sulavan, K, Kingsada, T. and Costello, N. A. (1996). Katu Traditional Education for
Daily Life in Ancient Times. The Ministry for Education and Culture. The Institute of
Research on Lao Culture.
Timmins, R. J., Evans, T. D., Khounboline, K. and Sisomphone, C. (1998). Status and
Conservation of the giant Muntjac Megamuntiacus vuquangensis, and notes on other
Muntjac species in Laos. Oryx 32(1): 59 – 67.
Timmins, R. J. and Vongkhamheng, C. (1996). A Preliminary Wildlife and Habitat
Survey of Xe Sap National Biodiversity Conservation Area and the Mountains to the
South, Salavan Province, Lao PDR. Wildlife Conservation Society New York.
Wagenbreth, I. and Vongsaly, S. (1999). Xe Sap National Biodiversity Conservation
Area, Population Census Data 1995 (9 pp.).