Current view: Text account
Site description (2002 baseline):
Site location and context
Ban Bung is the southern sector of Na Hang proposed nature reserve. The topography of the site is characterised by steep, rugged limestone hills.
Non-bird biodiversity: Ban Bung, together with Tat Ke, the southern sector of Na Hang, is of particular importance for the conservation of globally threatened primate species. Na Hang is one of only a handful of sites in Vietnam to support Tonkin Snub-nosed Monkey Pygathrix avunculus, and may support the largest population. The globally vulnerable Francois' Leaf Monkey Trachypithecus francoisi francoisi has also been provisionally recorded at Na hang Nature Reserve. Two other globally threatened species, Podocarpus neriifolium and Southern Serow Naemorhedus sumatraensis, have been recorded at the site by Hill and Kemp (1996) and Boonratana (1998).
The natural vegetation of Ban Bung is dominated by limestone forest, with smaller areas of various lowland evergreen and lower montane evergreen forest sub-types. Over 2,000 plant species have been identified at Na Hang proposed nature reserve (McNab et al., 2000), including several species listed in the Red Data Book of Vietnam, such as Garcinia fragraeoides, Dacrydium pierrei and Manglietia fordiana (Hill and Kemp, 1996).About 70% of the natural vegetation cover of Ban Bung is limestone forest although smaller areas of various lowland evergreen and lower montane evergreen forest sub-types also occur. Most of the forest at Ban Bung is distributed on hill slopes, and the montane soils in these areas are highly susceptible to erosion. In some places within the site, forest loss has led to landslides and gullying. Forest at Ban Bung, therefore, plays a valuable role in preventing soil erosion and protecting the water supplies of downstream communities.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The main threats to biodiversity at the site are shifting cultivation practices, over-exploitation of forest products and hunting.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
In January-March 1996, Frontier-Vietnam, in collaboration with IEBR, conducted a biodiversity survey of Ban Bung (Hill and Kemp, 1996). The Frontier-Vietnam survey aimed to enhance existing records of flora and fauna at the site and to investigate the threats posed to the wildlife value of the reserve by the local human populations.In 1998, Fauna and Flora International carried out a project, entitled the Na Hang Rainforest Conservation Project, with the primary objective of strengthening the management and protection of Na Hang Nature Reserve through data gathering and capacity building (Boonratana, 1998).The largest conservation project being implemented at the site is the Creating Protected Areas for Resource Conservation Using Landscape Ecology (PARC) project. Project implementation began in mid 1999. The main source of funding for the project is the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Na Hang is one of only three sites that the project is working at; the others are Yok Don and Ba Be National Parks. At Na Hang and Ba Be, the implementing sub-contractor is Scott Wilson Asia-Pacific Ltd. The project aims to employ a landscape ecology approach to conservation.In addition ot the PARC project, the Tonkin Snub-nosed Monkey Conservation Project (TCP) is currently being implemented at Na Hang proposed nature reserve by Allwetter Zoo and the Zoological Society for the Conservation of Species and Populations (both of Germany). This project, which began in December 1997, aims to protect and restore the forest at Na Hang and its animal populations, particularly Tonkin Snub-nosed Monkey.
Ban Bung is part of Na Hang proposed nature reserve. The investment plan for the proposed nature reserve was approved by the former Ministry of Forestry and by Tuyen Quang Provincial People's Committee in 1994. Subsequently a management board was established for the nature reserve. The site is not included on any government decree. However, the site is included on the 2010 list, as a 41,930 ha nature reserve, under the name Tat Ke-Ban Bung.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ban Bung (Vietnam). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ban-bung-iba-vietnam on 25/11/2024.
