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Site description (2002 baseline)
This IBA comprises Pu Mat Nature Reserve, which is situated in the northern Annamite mountains. The highest points in the nature reserve are found in the south, along the mountain ridge that forms the international border between Vietnam and Laos. A series of steep-sided valleys run perpendicular to this ridge, forming a series of smaller north-south ridges. The steep terrain in most parts of the nature reserve has been an obstacle to extensive clearance of forest. Pu Mat is among the best studied sites in Vietnam in terms of biodiversity. The nature reserve supports one of the largest remaining blocks of natural forest in northern Vietnam, and is linked to other protected areas in Vietnam and Laos by contiguous areas of forest. The most widespread vegetation type in the nature reserve is lowland evergreen forest. At higher elevations, lower montane evergreen forest is distributed. Pu Mat is probably one of the most important sites for mammal conservation in Vietnam. A number of threatened mammal species have recently been recorded at the nature reserve, including Saola Pseudoryx nghetinhensis, White-cheeked Crested Gibbon Nomascus leucogenys, Tiger Panthera tigris and Asian Elephant Elephas maximus.

Key biodiversity
Pu Mat is thought to support globally important populations of Crested Argus Rheinardia ocellata and Rufous-necked Hornbill Aceros nipanlensis.

Non-bird biodiversity: The following threatened primate species have been recorded at Pu Mat Nature Reserve (Grieser Johns ed., 2000): Pygmy Loris Nycticebus pygmaeus, Assamese Macaque Macaca assamensis, Rhesus Macaque Macaca mulatta, Long-tailed Macaque Macaca fascicularis, Stump-tailed Macaque Macaca arctoides, Phayre's Leaf Monkey Trachypithecus phayrei and White/Buff-cheeked Crested Gibbon Nomascus leucogenys/gabrielle. However, Long-tailed Macaque is considered to be an invasive species to Pu Mat and is displacing the populations of Stump-tailed Macaques and Assamese Macaques.The following threatened turtle species have been confirmed to occur at Pu Mat: Big-headed Turtle Platysternon megacephalum, Pelodiscus sinensis, Wattle-necked Softshell Turtle Palea steindachneri, Indochinese box Turtle Cuora galbinifrons, Geomyda spengleri Black-breasted Leaf Turtle, Four-eyed Turtle Sacalia quadriocellata, Chinese Stripe-necked Turtle Ocadia sinensis, Keeled Box Turtle Pyxidea mouhotii, Impressed Tortoise Manouria impressa, Elongated Tortoise Indotestudo elongata. In addition, Asiatic Softshell Turtle Amyda cartilaginea, Asian Leaf Turtle Cuora dentata and Chinese Three-striped Turtle Cuora trifasciata have been recorded at interview (Grieser Johns ed., 2000).Two threatened gymnosperm species have been recorded at Pu Mat: Fokienia hodginsii and Cunninghamia konishii (Grieser Johns ed., 2000).It has recently been estimated that Pu Mat Nature Reserve supports 6-10 individual Asian Elephants Elephas maximus, a population that makes Pu Mat one of the most important sites for elephant conservation in Vietnam (Grieser Johns ed., 2000). Grieser Johns ed. (2000) recorded the following threatened ungulate species at Pu Mat: Dark/Pygmy Annamite Muntjac Muntiacus truongsonensis, Giant Muntjac Megamuntiacus vuquangensis, Gaur Bos gaurus, Southern Serow Naemorhedus sumatraensis and Saola Pseudoryx nghetinhensis. The nature reserve has been identified as a key site for large mammal conservation because of its large size (Grieser Johns ed., 2000).

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Pu Mat (Vietnam). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/pu-mat-iba-vietnam on 22/11/2024.