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Site description (2002 baseline):
Site location and context
This IBA comprises Tam Dao National Park, which lies along a mountainous massif. The natural forest at Tam Dao is of two main types: lowland evergreen forest and lower montane evergreen forest. The national park also supports a small area of elfin forest.
Only a single record of a passage migrant Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca qualifies the site as an IBA under criterion A1. It is unlikely that Tam Dao regularly supports populations of this species. If the biome-restricted species recorded at Tam Dao are found in three or more other sites, this site should be dropped.
Non-bird biodiversity: One of the most notable species to occur at Tam Dao National Park is Vietnamese Salamander Paramesotriton deloustali, a globally threatened species, endemic to northern Vietnam. The Vietnamese Salamander population is threatened by habitat loss, collection for the pet trade (this species can be found on sale at Dong Xuan market in Hanoi) and pollution of the streams in which the species lives.Tam Dao National Park supports some of the highest levels of recorded insect diversity in Vietnam, although this may partly reflect the high levels of survey effort at Tam Dao compared with other sites. Two threatened gymnosperm species are known to occur at Tam Dao National Park: Amenotaxus arotaenia and Fokienia hodginsii.
According to the investment plan, Tam Dao supports 21,982 ha of natural forest and 1,351 ha of plantation forest. The natural forest is of two main types: lowland evergreen forest and lower montane evergreen forest. Lowland evergreen forest is distributed at elevations between 700 and 800 m and has a high diversity of tree species. This forest type is heavily degraded at Tam Dao. Lower montane evergreen forest is distributed above 800 m. In addition to the two main forest types, Tam Dao National Park supports 669 ha of elfin forest.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Despite a large national park staff, enforcement of forest management regulations is weak, and the levels of timber and fuelwood extraction, hunting, and other illegal activities are still rather high. Deliberately-set forest fires have cleared large areas of forest at all elevations. Vietnamese Salamander, medicinal plants, orchids and certain insects are collected at unsustainable levels, while wildlife is openly sold in the restaurants of Tam Dao town.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
In 1993, Frontier-Vietnam conducted a biodiversity survey of Tam Dao National Park (then a nature reserve) (Ghazoul, 1994). GTZ are currently formulating an integrated conservation and development project, which will focus on buffer zone management. This will seek to clarify and strengthen management regulations in collaboration with local stakeholders. This work will form part of the formulation process for the national park management plan. Based on the management plan, the project will seek to introduce co-management agreements with local stakeholders, addressing key conservation issues, such as fuelwood extraction, hunting, insect collection and illegal mining. The project will also seek to support and develop altenative livelihood initiatives as well as education and awareness activities.
Tam Dao National Park is located in Son Duong district, Tuyen Quang province, Dai Tu district, Thai Nguyen province, and Lap Thach, Tam Dao and Me Linh districts, Vinh Phuc province. Tam Dao was decreed in 1977 as a nature reserve. In 1993, FIPI prepared an investment plan for Tam Dao, which proposed upgrading the nature reserve to national park status. In 1996, the investment plan was approved and a national park management board was established.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Tam Dao (Vietnam). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/tam-dao-iba-vietnam on 22/11/2024.
