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Site description (2002 baseline):
Site location and context
This IBA comprises Vu Quang Nature Reserve which stretches from the lowlands to the Annamite Mountains. At the landscape level, Vu Quang Nature Reserve is an important link in the Annamite Mountains, between Pu Mat Nature Reserve to the north and Phong Nha Nature Reserve to the south. Vu Quang, together with Nakai-Nam Theun National Biodiversity Conservation Area in Laos, protects the central section of what is perhaps the largest remaining block of contiguous natural habitat in northern Indochina.
A total of 273 bird species are known from Vu Quang Nature Reserve, including 21 globally threatened or near-threatened species. Vu Quang lies in the Annamese Lowlands Endemic Bird Area (EBA). However, the site only supports three restricted-range species, Crested Argus Rheinardia ocellata, Short-tailed Scimitar Babbler Jabouilleia danjoui and Grey-faced Tit Babbler Macronous kelleyi, none of which are restricted to the EBA. In addition, results of a complimentarity analysis with 13 other protected areas in the Annamese Lowlands EBA reveal that Vu Quang Nature Reserve does not fall within the critical sub-set of sites necessary to conserve maximum avifaunal diversity, and should not, therefore, be considered to be a regional bird conservation priority (Eames et al., in press).
Non-bird biodiversity: In 1992 a previously undescribed large mammal species, Saola Pseudoryx nghetinhensis was discovered in Vu Quang Nature Reserve, this was followed by the discovery of another large mammal species, Giant Muntjac Megamuntiacus vuquangensis in 1993. In the years since these discoveries, however, both species have been recorded at a number of other sites in Vietnam and Laos. Consequently, the importance of Vu Quang as a site for mammal conservation may not be as high as was at one time supposed, although the site does support populations of a number of other mammal species of conservation concern, including Gaur Bos gaurus and Red-shanked Douc Langur Pygathrix nemaeus nemaeus. 21 globally threatened or near-threatened species are known from Vu Quang.
At low altitudes, the landscape is largely anthropogenic and consists of many elements including human habitation, agricultural land, grassland and scrub. There are also a few remaining patches of natural forest on steep and inaccessible slopes, and isolated stands of trees and bamboo along rivers and streams. At medium elevations, deeper within the nature reserve, the landscape consists of open secondary forest, and other seral formations. Between 100 and 500 m, much of the forest has been selectively logged, although, above 500 m, the slopes are covered by primary forest. There are five major forest types at Vu Quang Nature Reserve: lowland evergreen forest (100 - 300 m), lower montane evergreen forest (300 - 1,000 m), medium montane evergreen forest (1,000 - 1,400 m), upper montane evergreen forest (1,400 - 1,900 m) and elfin forest (above 1,900 m).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Clearance of forest for agriculture and the development of human settlements is destroying natural habitats and fragmenting forest cover at the nature reserve. Concomitant with human encroachment is the increase of a number of other prime threats such as hunting, grazing of livestock and logging. A further threat is the planned development of National Highway 2, the proposed route of which cuts through Vu Quang Nature Reserve. If this road development were to go ahead, it would fragment habitat, facilitate access to the forest and may encourage human settlement close to the core areas of the nature reserve.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
WWF and FIPI conducted a biodiversity survey of Vu Quang Nature Reserve in 1992. In 1994, BirdLife International in colaboration with the Species Survival Commision of IUCN surveyed Vu Quang Nature Reservewith the specific aim of identifying populations of endemic Lophura pheasants. From July to September 1997, an ornithological survey of Vu Quang Nature Reserve was undertaken by the Vietnam-Russia Tropical Centre (VRTC) and IEBR. Between June 1995 and June 2000, the WWF Indochina Programme-Vu Quang Conservation Project was implemented with funding from the Royal Netherlands Embassy. Project activities during the first three years included guard-station construction, road upgrading and other infrastructure development, and socio-economic and biological research. Project activities during the final two years included field surveys (including a joint BirdLife/WWF ornithological survey in 1999) and community development activities, including irrigation, infrastructure development, planting of fruit trees, apiculture, community forestry and community farming.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Vu Quang (Vietnam). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/vu-quang-iba-vietnam on 22/11/2024.
