Current view: Text account
Site description (2002 baseline):
Site location and context
This IBA concerns the Ke Bang limestone area, bordered by Laos to the south-west and Phong Nha Nature Reserve to the east. Ke Bang is situated in one of the largest areas of contiguous limestone karst in Indochina, which also includes Hin Namno National Biodiversity Conservation Area in Laos, and Phong Nha Nature Reserve in Bo Trach district, Vietnam. The topography of Ke Bang is composed of narrow valleys and precipitous karst ridges. The dominant habitat type at Ke Bang is limestone forest. The nature of the terrain has largelt restricted human encroachment into limestone areas. Ke Bang is significant for its populations of two endemic primates, Hatinh Langur Trachypithecus francoisi hatinhensis and Wulsin's Black Langur T. f. ebenus.
On the basis of the occurrence of three restricted-range bird species, Ke Bang lies within the Annamese Lowlands Endemic Bird Area (EBA). Crested Argus Rheinardia ocellata was recorded by Timmins et al. (1999) by its vocalisations. A single bird was heard on 18 October 1998 to the south of Suoi Cat valley. Two different birds were heard from the Ta Ty area (from B. Cha Lo) on 25 October 1998. Two birds were heard from forest in the Suoi Ken area west of the road south of B. Cha Lo, on 27 October and a single bird was heard in the same area on 28 October.VRTC (1999) recorded one Crested Argus by its vocalisations on a slope of the Yen Hop River valley near Yen Hop village on 19 March 1999.
Non-bird biodiversity: Timmins et al.(1999) recorded the following globally threatened primate species at Ke Bang: Assamese Macaque Macaca assamensis, Stump-tailed Macaque Macaca arctoides, Hatinh Langur Trachypithecus francoisi hatinhensis, Wulsin's Black Langur T. f. ebenus and White/Buff-cheeked Gibbon Nomascus leucogenys/gabrielle. However, Timmins et al. advise caution regarding the exact status and taxonomic identity of Wulsin's Black Langur. The globally endangered Red-shanked Douc Langur Pygathrix nemaeus nemaeus has been recorded by several authors, although the faliure of Timmins et al. to record this species led them to conclude that there may have been a major decline in the species at the site.Southern Serow Naemorhedus sumatraensis has been recorded at Ke Bang in two recent studies: Timmins et al. (1999, provisional record) and VRTC (1999).
The Phong Nha-Ke Bang area is one of the largest areas of continuous karstic limestone forest in Vietnam. The combined area of Phong Nha-Ke Bang-Hin Namno NBCA is certainly the largest contiguous block of such habitat within the protected areas of Indochina (Timmins et al., 1999). The low altitude valley forests of Phong Nha-Ke Bang are thought to be the most intact examples of this habitat type remaining in Vitenam, and therefore assume high conservation significance (Timmins et al., 1999).Approximately 90% of the habitat of Ke Bang area consists of limestone forest, while the reminaing 10% consists of lowland valley forest.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The major threats to biodiversity at Ke Bang are hunting and illegal timber extraction.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
With funding from the United Kingdom Department for International Development, WWF are implementing a project entitled Linking Hin Namno and Phong Nha through Parallel Conservation. The first phase of this project ran for one year, from 1998 to 1999, and focused on research. A second phase, which will run for three years, is planned. The activities of this project at Phong Nha Nature Reserve to date have focused on capacity building for nature reserve staff and collecting baseline data. In addition, the initial planning for an environmental education programme at the site has taken place, and some activities have already been implemented at local schools and Women's Union groups. During 1998, Fauna and Flora International implemented a two-part project in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang area. The first part consisted of a training course for nature reserve staff, while the second part consisted of a survey of large mammals, bats and birds (Timmins et al., 1999).Koln Zoo plan to implement several activities at Phong Nha Nature Reserve, including carrying out biological surveys, and providing equipment and training opportunities to help nature reserve staff carry out their duties more effectively.In 1999, Vietnam-Russian Tropical Centre (VRTC) and WWF studied the biodiversity of the Ke Bang area (VRTC, 1999).
In 1998, FIPI prepared a revised investment plan for Phong Nha Nature Reserve. This investment plan proposed extending the Special-use Forest to incorporate the Ke Bang limestone area, and upgrading the management category from nature reserve to national park. The total area of the proposed national park was given as 147,945 ha (Nguyen Ngoc Chinh et al., 1998). This investment plan has not been approved.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ke Bang (Vietnam). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ke-bang-iba-vietnam on 23/12/2024.
