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Site description (2002 baseline)
This IBA comprises the Nam Cat Tien sector of Cat Tien National Park, situated in the lowlands of southern Vietnam, at the foot of the Central Highlands. The topograpy of Nam Cat Tien is characterised by low, gentle hills. The lowlands in the north of the site are poorly drained, and support an area of swamps and lakes, which expands and contracts seasonally. The major vegetation types at the site are lowland semi-deciduous forest, lowland evergreen forest and bamboo. Nam Cat Tien is nationally significant for large mammal conservation, supporting populations of Asian Elephant Elephas maximus, Gaur Bos gaurus, Black-shanked Douc Langur Pygathrix nigripes and Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon Nomascus gabrielle. There are two villages inside the boundary of Cat Tien. The major threats to biodiversity at Cat Tien are conversion of forest land for agriculture, timber extraction, exploitation of non-timber forest products and hunting.

Key biodiversity
Nam Cat Tien is situated in the South Vietnamese Lowlands Endemic Bird Area (EBA), and supports populations of all three bird species that occur in this EBA: Orange-necked Partridge Arborophila davidi, Germain's Peacock Pheasant Polyplectron germaini and Grey-faced Tit Babbler Macronous kelleyi. Nam Cat Tien is also an important site for the conservation of waterbirds. Among the globally threatened waterbird species that have been recorded at the site are White-shouldered Ibis Pseudibis davisoni, White-winged Duck Cairina scutulata and Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus.

Non-bird biodiversity: Nam Cat Tien supports populations of the following globally threatened primate species: Pygmy Loris Nycticebus pygmaeus, Stump-tailed Macaque Macaca arctoides, Pig-tailed Macaque Macaca nemestrina, Long-tailed Macaque Macaca fascicularis, Black-shanked Douc Langur Pygathrix nigripes and Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon Nomascus gabrielle. Confiscated Rhesus Macaques Macaca mulatta have also been released at the site, but this species would not be expected to occur naturally (Ling 2000). There have also been records of Silvered Langur Trachypithecus cristatus by visitors to the park (Murphy 2001).Nam Cat Tien supports populations of Asian Elephant Elephas maximus and Gaur Bos gaurus (Ling 2000). There are also provisional records of Banteng Bos javanicus but it is unlikely that the site supports a viable population (Murphy 2001).

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Nam Cat Tien (Vietnam). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/nam-cat-tien-iba-vietnam on 22/11/2024.