a.TFF_rpt_on identification-planning - HCV Resource Network

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
OF LAM DONG PROVINCE
THE PROJECT OF PILOTING AN APPROACH TO MULTIPLE-USE
FOREST MANAGEMENT IN LAM DONG PROVINCE
REPORT ON
Identification, Planning and Management
of
Forests of High Conservation Value
This report was made possible through support provided by the Trust Fund for Forests and its
contributing donors (Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland). The opinions
expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the <strong>TFF</strong>
of its donors
Director of
BirdLife Programme
Chief of Technical
Advisor
Project Management
Unit
Tran Van Con
Le Van Huong
August 2009

Identification, planning and management of forests of high conservation value: final
consultancy report
Mr. Simon Mahood
(BirdLife International Vietnam Programme)
Mr. Le Trong Trai
(BirdLife International Vietnam Programme)
Mr. Tran Van Hung
(BirdLife International Vietnam Programme)
Mr. Le Anh Hung
(Consultant)
With contributions from:
Mr. Do Tuoc
Mr. Ha Van Tue
Mr. Le Van Cham
Mr. Vu Van Me
Funded by the Trust Fund for Forests and its contributing donors
(Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland)
Hanoi, 2009
2

Consultancy coordinators
Jonathan C. Eames and Pham Tuan Anh
Project funding
The Trust Fund for Forests and its contributing donors (Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden and
Switzerland)
Citation
Mahood, S. P., Le Trong Trai, Tran Van Hung and Le Anh Hung (2009) Identification,
planning and management of forests of high conservation value: final consultancy report.
BirdLife International Vietnam Programme, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Contact details of consulting agency
Office location:
BirdLife International in Indochina
N6/2+3, Lane 25,
Lang Ha Street,
Hanoi,
Vietnam
Tel: (+84 43) 514 89 04
Fax: (+84 43) 514 89 21
Email: birdlife@birdlife.org.vn
Website: www.birdlifeindochina.org
Postal address:
BirdLife International in Indochina
P.O Box 89 - 6 Dinh Le, Hanoi
3

Table of Contents
Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................6
Conventions Used.......................................................................................................................7
Glossary of Terms ......................................................................................................................7
Abbreviations and Acronyms Used............................................................................................7
Executive Summary....................................................................................................................8
1. Introduction ..........................................................................................................................11
1.1 Project location...................................................................................................................11
1.2 Project sites.........................................................................................................................12
1.3 Project context ....................................................................................................................15
1.4 Project content ....................................................................................................................16
1.5 Report content ....................................................................................................................16
2. Methods ................................................................................................................................17
2.1 Developing the criteria for identification of forest of high conservation value 17
2.2 Desk analysis to identify potential sites of high value for biodiversity .............................18
2.3 Field surveys to ground-truth the desk analysis .................................................................18
2.3.1 Indicator species for the field surveys .............................................................................19
2.3.2 Methodology for the field survey ....................................................................................20
3. Results ..................................................................................................................................21
3.1 Results of the desk analysis................................................................................................21
3.1.1 Gymnosperms..................................................................................................................21
3.1.2 Mammals .........................................................................................................................22
3.1.3 Birds ................................................................................................................................22
3.1.4 Amphibians......................................................................................................................23
3.1.5 All indicator species ........................................................................................................23
3.2 Results of the field surveys presented by Forest Management Unit ..................................23
3.2.1 Bidoup Nui Ba National Park..........................................................................................27
3.2.1.1 Gymnosperms...............................................................................................................27
3.2.4.2 Mammals and birds ......................................................................................................44
3.2.5 Lam Vien Landscape Protection Are...............................................................................45
3.2.5.1 Gymnosperms...............................................................................................................45
3.2.5.2 Mammals and birds ......................................................................................................46
3.3 Results of the field survey presented by species ................................................................46
3.3.1 Species accounts for indicator species ............................................................................46
3.3.2 Species accounts for other species of conservation concern ...........................................52
4. Multiple-use forest management plans.................................................................................54
4.1 Zoning plan for Bidoup Nui Ba National Park...................................................................54
4.2 Zoning plan for Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest.....................................................56
4.3 Zoning plan for D’Ran Watershed Protection Forest.........................................................58
4.4 Zoning plan for Don Duong Forest Company....................................................................59
4.5 Zoning plan for Lam Vien Landscape Protection Area......................................................60
4.6 Zoning plan for Forest Seedling Joint Stock Company of Central Highland Region 61
5. Management Interventions ...................................................................................................62
5.1 Strictly protect all broadleaved evergreen forests ..............................................................64
5.2 Strictly prohibit illegal timber exploitation ........................................................................67
5.3 Strictly prohibit hunting and trapping and snaring of wildlife, especially of globally
threatened birds and mammals .................................................................................................67
5.4 Protect forests of high landscape value ..............................................................................68
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5.5 Regulate research programmes...........................................................................................69
5.6 Design protection area for Banteng....................................................................................69
5.7 Conduct supplementary field survey to expand habitat in broadleaved forest for Greycrowned
Crocias (altitude 900-1,500 m) ..................................................................................70
5.8 Create habitat corridors through forest restoration.............................................................71
5.9 Change the forest-use category of selected compartments.................................................72
5.10 Regulate sustainable forest exploitation...........................................................................74
5.11 Obtain payments for environmental services ...................................................................74
5.12 Develop sustainable exploitation of non-timber forest products......................................75
5.13 Forest lease for eco-tourism .............................................................................................76
5.14 Produce seeds and seedlings.............................................................................................76
6. Other recommendations........................................................................................................76
References ................................................................................................................................77
Appendix I: Criteria for identifying forest of high conservation value, Lam Dong Province 78
Appendix II: Field survey itinerary and staff list.....................................................................80
Appendix III: Data sheets used during the field survey ..........................................................82
Appendix IV: Maps..................................................................................................................84
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Acknowledgements
BirdLife in Indochina wish to thank project management unit, and in particular Mr. Le Van
Minh the Vice Director of DARD, Lam Dong Province, and director of the project, Mr. Le
Van Huong the director of Bidoup Nui Ba National Park and vice director of <strong>TFF</strong> project, Mr.
Do Van Ngoc the project officer and Mr. Pham Viet Hung the project accountant, for inviting
us to undertake this consultancy package and for their close cooperation throughout.
We also wish to extend our gratitude to the members of the multi-sectoral provincial working
group who have been intimately involved in the project throughout, firstly the group leader
Mr. Le Van Minh the vice director of DARD and the deputy leaders of the group Mr. Ho
Quoc Thanh the vice director of the Department of Forestry and Mr. Bui Thanh Phong the
vice director of FPD, and all the group members, namely Mr. Nguyen Truc Bong Son the
head of Planning Section, Mr. Trinh Ngu Hung the director of Da Nhim Watershed Protection
Forest, Mr. Nguyen Van Quy the director of Lam Vien Landscape Protection Area, Mr.
Vuong Hung the director of D'Ran Watershed Protection Forest, Mr. Nguyen Ba Luong the
director of Don Duong Forest Company, Mr. Nguyen Van Luong the director of the Seedling
Centre of Central Highland Region, Mr. Doan Doan Ai the vice director of Bidoup Nui Ba
National Park, Mr. Le Trong Thuong the DPI officer, Mr. Phan Huy Dat of the Department of
Justice, Mr. Cao Van Danh the vie chairman of Lac Duong District, Mr. Dinh Ngoc Hung the
vice chairman of Don Duong District, Mr. Tran Tuong the vice chairman of Da Lat City, as
well as officers from the Department of Finance and the Department of the Interior who
contributed their time and expertise.
The field surveys were a significant logistical undertaking which would not have been
possible without the help and support of the following individuals who provided support
during the field survey and training courses, and later provided valuable data for the zoning
exercise, namely, Mr. Doan Doan Ai the vice director of Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, Mr.
Duan from the technical section of Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, Mr. Trinh Ngu Hung the
director of Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest, Mr. Minh from the technical section of Da
Nhim Watershed Protection Forest, Mr. Vuong Hung the director of D'Ran Watershed
Protection Forest, Mr. Nguyen Van Hai the head of the technical section of D'Ran Watershed
Protection Forest, Mr. Nguyen Ba Luong the director of Don Duong Forest Company, Mr.
Thuyet from the technical section of Don Duong Forest Company, Mr. Nguyen Van Luong
the director of Seedling Centre of Central Highland Region and Mr. Thanh from the technical
section of Seedling Centre of Central Highland Region and Mr. Nguyen Van Quy the director
of Lam Vien Landscape Protection Area. BirdLife in Indochina wish to thank the consultants
who worked on the field survey for the excellent work they did both then and during the
training courses, namely Mr. Do Tuoc, Mr. Ha Van Tue and Mr. Le Van Cham. All those
involved in the field surveys would like to extend warm thanks to the highly-skilled staff of
the Forest Management Units who accompanied the survey teams in the forest.
This report could not have been produced without the work of Mr. Vu Van Me, who provided
guidance on forest management laws and regulations and Mr. Le Anh Hung who tirelessly
produced the many maps in the report. Finally, the authors wish to thank Pham Tuan Anh and
Jonathan C. Eames for their comments on an advanced draft of this document.
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Conventions Used
Plant names for groups assessed by IUCN (gymnosperms and palms) plus any other
threatened species, names and species limits follow IUCN, for all other species, names and
species limits follow Tran Phoung Anh et al. (2007). Common names are not given. Mammal
sequence, species limits, English and scientific names follow Wilson and Reader (2005),
except where scientific names and species limits differ from IUCN, when we follow IUCN,
with scientific names given at first mention. Bird sequence, species limits, English and
scientific names follow IUCN (BirdLife Checklist 2009), with scientific names given at first
mention. Diacritical marks are omitted from Vietnamese names due to typographical
limitations and the restricted understanding of international readers.
Glossary of Terms
Endemic Bird Area (EBA) refers to an area supporting at least two restricted-range bird
species. A restricted-range bird species is one with a global breeding range of less than 50,000
km 2 . Globally threatened species refers to a species assigned a category of threat (Critically
Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable) in the IUCN Red Lists of Threatened Animals and
Plants (IUCN 2009); the term excludes species listed as Near Threatened or Data Deficient.
Indochina refers to the biogeographic region of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.
Abbreviations and Acronyms Used
ASEAN – Association of South-east Asian Nations
CR – Critically Endangered
DARD – Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
DD – Data Deficient
LC – Least Concern
DoNRE – Department of Natural Resources and the Environment
EBA – Endemic Bird Area
EN – Endangered
FIPI – Forest Institute of Planning and Investment
FMU – Forest Management Unit
FPD – Forest Protection Department
GPS – Global Positioning System
IUCN – International Union for the Conservation of Nature
MARD – Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
MoNRE – Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment
NT – Near Threatened
NTFP – Non-timber forest product
PRA – Participatory Rural Appraisal
Sp. – Species (used where species identification is uncertain)
SUF – Special-use Forest
<strong>TFF</strong> – Trust Fund for Forests
VU – Vulnerable
GIS – Geographical Information System
WPF – Watershed Protection Forest
FSC – Forest Stewardship Council
PES – Payment for Envirenmental Services
REDD – Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation
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Executive Summary
This report details the results of a consultancy to identify, plan and manage forest of high
conservation value in six Forest Management Units, namely, Bidoup Nui Ba National Park,
Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest, D'Ran Watershed Protection Forest, Don Duong
Forest Company, Lam Vien Landscape Protection Area and Forest Seedling Joint Stock
Company of Central Highland Region, located in Lam Dong Province, Vietnam. Together
these Forest Management Units encompass the three Vietnamese Forest categories: Specialuse
Forest, Watershed Protection Forest and Production Forest.
Forest of high conservation value was defined using a set of criteria developed through a
participatory process involving over 40 stakeholders, including members of the Project
management Unit, management staff of the six Forest Management Units and BirdLife
technical staff. A number of different methods were used to evaluate forest compartments
against these criteria, including literature review, GIS analysis and field survey.
A desk study was conducted to identify forest of potential high value for biodiversity. The
results of this desk study were ground-truthed through an extensive field survey. The field
survey rapidly assessed the distribution of a number of indicator species, in order to determine
if forest compartments met the criteria for forest of high conservation value. The field surveys
validated the results of the desk analysis.
The field survey highlighted the importance of the project area for globally threatened
Gymnosperms. Gymnosperm indicator species were found in all forest compartments
surveyed. Particularly noteworthy was the discovery of more mature individuals of Taxus
wallichiana in D'Ran Watershed Protection Forest than were previously known, and the
discovery of this species in Lam Vien Landscape Protection Area.
Indicator species of mammal and bird were found in almost all forest compartments
contianing suitable habitat for these species. The field survey discovered three new locations
for Grey-crowned Crocias Crocias langbianis, a globally Endangered bird species previously
known only in modern times from three locations. The new locations in Da Nhim Watershed
Protection Forest, D’Ran Watershed Protection Forest and Don Duong Forest Company
greatly extend the known range of the species. At one site in Don Duong Forest Company, a
herd of the globally Endangered Banteng Bos javanicus were recorded, this species is now
almost extinct in Vietnam, so this record is also of high significance.
Zoning plans for each Forest Management Unit were created following the criteria for forest
of high conservation value. Functional zones were delimited and their distribution and areas
of overlap are discussed. Based on these zoning maps, management interventions were
designed for each of the Forest Management Units. These management interventions follow
multiple-use principles, are compatible with the stated management objectives of Forest
Management Units and permissible under the laws and regulations of Vietnam. It is
recommended that these management interventions are implemented in each of the Forest
Management Units for which they apply.
Bidoup Nui Ba National Park
The zoning plan is characterized by the following:
• Large areas of forest of high value for biodiversity;
• High potential for identifying areas of high landscape value;
• Large areas of forest which protect a watershed;
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• High potential for obtaining payment for environmental services;
• Limited potential for exploitation of non-timber forest products.
Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest
The zoning plan is characterized by the following:
• Significant areas of high value for biodiversity;
• Large areas of forest with high protection value;
• High potential for obtaining payment for environmental services;
• Potential for exploitation of non-timber forest products;
• Areas of broadleaved evergreen forest which protect water sources for local
communities.
D’Ran Watershed Protection Forest
The zoning plan is characterized by the following:
• Small, but significant areas of high value for biodiversity;
• Large areas of forest with high protection value;
• High potential for obtaining payment for environmental services;
• Potential for exploitation of non-timber forest products
• Large areas of forest with importance to local communities
• High levels of overlap between zones with little conflict of interests.
Don Duong Forest Company
The zoning plan is characterized by the following:
• Large area of forest of high value for biodiversity;
• Large areas of forest with high protection value;
• Potential for obtaining payment for environmental services;
• Potential for exploitation of non-timber forest products;
• Large areas of forest with importance to local communities;
• High levels of overlap between zones.
Lam Vien Landscape Protection Area
The zoning plan is characterized by the following:
• Small area of forest of high value for biodiversity;
• Large areas of forest of high landscape value;
• Small area of forest with high value for protecting dams and reservoirs;
• High potential for obtaining payment for environmental services;
• Potential for exploitation of non-timber forest products;
Forest Seedling Joint Stock Company of Central Highland Region
The zoning plan is characterized by the following:
• No significant areas forest of high value for biodiversity;
• Large areas of forest of high landscape value;
• Small area of forest with high value for protecting dams and reservoirs;
• High potential for obtaining payment for environmental services;
• High potential for exploitation of non-timber forest products;
Management measures recommended for FMUs are:
Based on the FHCV zoning plan, a number of mangement measures are recommended for
each FMU (see Table 1). These management measures must be consistent with management
objectives of each FMU, and follow current laws and regulations of Vietnam. A total of 14
9

management measures are recommended for six FMUs in the project area and it is grouped
into three groups which is based on forest significances.
Management measures are grouped into three groups as follows:
Group 1: management measures for forest protection and conservation which include forest
protection, conservation, forest inventory, forest researches, fire prevention and control, and
prevention of pest and diseases
Group 2: management measures for forest development which include establishment of green
corridor, forest restoration, expansion of planted forests.
Group 3: management measures for forest utilization which include timber exploitation,
harvest of NTFP, forest lease for eco-tourism, application of PES and REDD,
Table 1: Management measures recommended for six FMUs in Lam Dong Province
# Management measures
Bidoup Nui Ba
National Park
Da Nhim
Watershed
Protection Forest
D’Ran Watershed
Protection Forest
Don Duong
Forest Company
Lam Vien
Landscape
Protection Area
Group 1. management measures for
protection and conservation of forests
1 Strictly protect broadleaved evergreen forest;
2 Strictly prohibit illegal timber exploitation
3 Strictly prohibit hunting and trapping and
snaring of wildlife, especially of globally
threatened birds and mammals
4 Protect forests of high landscape value
5 Regulate research programmes
6 Proposed protection area for unique Bangten
group
7 Conduct additional field survey to extend
habitat in broadleaved forest for Greycrowned
Crocias (altitude 900-1,500 m)
Group 2. management measures for forest
development
8 Expand area of broadleaved evergreen forests
to create green corridor which connect patches
of broadleaved evergreen forests
9 Transform forest categories in some
compartments
Group 3. management measures for forest
utilization
10 Regulate sustainable forest exploitation
11 Apply PES and, REDD
12 Develop sustainable exploitation of nontimber
forest products
13 Forest lease for eco-tourism
14 Produce forest seeds and seedlings
Note: Grey cells indicated that proposed management measures should be applied for FMUs
Forest Seedling
Joint Stock
Company of
Central Highland
Region
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1. Introduction
1.1 Project location
The project is located in Lam Dong Province, Vietnam. This province is situated in the
southern part of the Central Highlands; it contains a number of peaks above 2,000 m
elevation. In the part of the province where the project is located, natural vegetation consists
of broadleaved evergreen forest with smaller areas of deciduous forest at lower altitudes.
Owing to clearing and burning, much of the forested land is now covered in pine forest
dominated by Pinus keysia, particularly at middle and lower elevations. The area is part of
the Da Lat Plateau Endemic Bird Area, because it contains a number of bird species whose
global distribution is restricted to montane forest of Lam Dong and adjacent Dak Lak
provinces. The project area is therefore irreplaceable for biodiversity in global terms.
The project focuses on six Forest Management Units, namely Bidoup Nui Ba National Park,
Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest, D'Ran Watershed Protection Forest, Don Duong
Forest Company, Lam Vien Landscape Protection Area and Forest Seedling Joint Stock
Company of Central Highland Region, located in Lam Dong Province, Vietnam. The area
encompassed by the Forest Management Units totals 162,671 hectares. The following
paragraphs provide detail on these Forest Management Units. These Forest Management
Units together encompass examples of all three forest categories, namely Special-use Forest,
Protection Forest and Production Forest (Table 1). Some of the Forest Management Units
support forest under more than one category.
Table 1. Distribution of the three forest management categories between the Forest
Management Units in the project.
Special-use
Forest
Forest Management Unit
Bidoup Nui Ba National
Park 56,437
Da Nhim Watershed
Protection Forest 0
Protection
Forest
Production
Forest
8,266 0
23,466 21,435
Total
64,703
44,901
D'Ran Watershed
14,728 240
Protection Forest 0
14,968
Don Duong Forest
2,935 15,860
Company 0
18,795
Lam Vien Landscape
13,805 0
Protection Area 0
13,805
Forest Seedling Joint
0 5,499
Stock Company of 0
5,499
Central Highland
Region
Total 56,437 63,200 43,034 162,671
Note: data from Sub-FIPI report (figures approved by Decision 450/QD-UBND issued on 19
February 2008 by Lam Dong Provincial Peoples Committee re-categorization of the three
forest categories)
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1.2 Project sites
Bidoup Nui Ba National Park
Bidoup Nui Ba National Park was established under Decision 1240/QD-TTg issued on 19
November 2004 by Prime Minister regarding “Change Bidoup Nui Ba Nature Reserve into
Bidoup Nui Ba National Park”. Bidoup Nui Ba National Park is now under direct
management of Lam Dong Provincial Peoples Committee. A forest management board was
established in 1986 and this became the national park management board in 2004.
The national park is located within the administrative area of Lac Duong District and a part of
Dam Rong District, Lam Dong Province. It is located approximately 50 km distance from Da
Lat city on Provincial Route 723. The national park will become part of the administrative
area of Da Lat City when Da Lat becomes an official city under the central Government.
Bidoup Nui Ba National Park covers five communes and one town of Lac Duong district,
namely Lat, Da Sar, Da Chais, Da Nhim and Dung K’No, Lac Duong town and small part of
Da Tong Commune in Dam Rong District.
The national park has the following stated objectives:
• Conserve forest ecosystems restricted in distribution to the local area which are
characterised by a subtropical climate, high mountains and endemic, rare and valuable
faunal and floral elements. In combination with adjacent national parks and nature
reserves this makes for a large land area set aside for nature conservation and makes a
significant contribution to conservation in the Da Lat Plateau, Southern Plateau, and
South Central region of Vietnam;
• Contribute to the protection of the watershed of the Dong Nai and Srepok Rivers and
lakes, which serve the socioeconomic activities of Lam Dong Province, the Southern
Plateau, the south-east of Vietnam and the coastal region of south-central Vietnam;
• Conserve primary forest landscapes to embellish and develop the native cultural
characteristics of Da Lat City, provide a location for the development of ecotourism,
scientific research and environmental education and reinforce defence security in Lam
Dong Province and the central highlands.
Bidoup Nui Ba National Park supports a large area of forested land, of which most is
coniferous or mixed coniferous and broadleaved evergreen forest (see Table 2).
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Table 2. Vegetation cover in the project area
Vegetation cover
Bidoup Nui
Ba
National
Park
Area (ha)
Da Nhim
Watershed
Protection
Forest
Don
Duong
Forest
Company
D'Ran
Watershed
Protection
Forest
Lam Vien
Landscape
Protection
Area
Forest
Seedling
Joint
Stock
Company
of Central
Highland
Region
Area Area Area Area Area
(ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha)
43.262 15.635 12.993 10.973 4.557
I-Forested land 58,236,95
1-Natural forest 56.731,65 41.967 14.109 12.209 8.677 4.223
Broadleaved evergreen forest 20.937,32 6.464 9.380 1.283 1.131 4
- Rich broadleaved evergreen
1.122 755
forest
- Medium broadleaved
2.990 2.858 833 751
evergreen forest
- Poor broadleaved evergreen
297 1.430 372 31
forest
- Regenerating forest 2.055 4.337 78 349 4
Deciduous forest 7 1.810 0
Coniferous forest 19.645,16 31.287 1.556 9.623 7.533 4.219
Mixed broadleaved and
coniferous forest 14.340,78
Mixed tree and bamboo
forest 1.610,57
936 93 1.303 2
3.009 287 7
Bamboo forest 197,82 264 985 5
2-Planted forest 1.505,30 1.295 1.526 784 2.295 334
II- Bare land 5.940,95 1.640 3.160 1.975 2.833 942
III-Agriculture land 525,10
Total (I+II+III) 64.703 44.901 18.795 14.968 13.805 5.499
Note: vegetation cover data from Sub-FIPI and report on justification of functional zones of
Bidoup Nui ba national park, Forest Resource and Environment Centre, FIPI, 2008
Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest
Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest was established by Decision 333/QD/UBTC, issued on
9 May 1987 by Lam Dong Provincial Peoples Committee. From its establishment in 1987 to
29 October 2008, Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest was under direct management of
Lam Dong DARD under Decision 720 QD/UBTC issued on 18 November 1987 by Lam
Dong Provincial Peoples Committee. From 29 October 2008 it has been managed by Lac
Duong District People Committee under Decision 2826/QD-UBND issued by Lam Dong
Provincial Peoples Committee on 29 October 2008.
Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest encompasses Da Chais, Da Nhim, Da Sar, Dung K’No
and Lat communes, as well as Lac Duong district town. A road runs for approximately 80
kilometres through the Forest Management Unit, connecting Thai Phien to Da Sar and Da
Chais and Klong Klanh villages. The condition of the road is often bad.
The primary function of Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest is to protect forest in the
watershed of the Dong Nai River, and forest surrounding Da Nhim hydropower plant.
13

Most of the land in the Forest Management Unit is covered by coniferous forest dominated by
Pinus keysia (see Table 2). However, it does support some smaller areas of broadleaved
evergreen forest.
D'Ran Watershed Protection Forest
D'Ran Watershed Protection Forest was formerly known as Don Duong Police Forest
Management Unit, the name was changed following Decision 2828/QD-UBND issued on 29
October 2008 by Lam Dong Provincial Peoples Committee. D'Ran Watershed Protection
Forest now is directly managed by Don Duong District Peoples Committee.
D'Ran Watershed Protection Forest covers Da Ron, Lac Lam and Lac Xuan communes, and
Thanh My and D’ran district towns. The main objectives of this Forest Management Unit is
to:
• Protect and develop forest in a sustainable manner;
• Increase forest cover;
• Protect forest ecosystems;
• Protect soil against erosion;
• Maintain water recharge capacity of land;
• Ensure effective use of bare land;
• Protect the forests which surround the Da Ron irrigation reservoir, the M’Rang
irrigation and the Da Nhim reservoirs.
D'Ran Watershed Protection Forest is almost entirely covered by coniferous forest dominated
by Pinus keysia (see Table 2). It also supports a small area of broadleaved evergreen forest.
Don Duong Forest Company
Don Duong Forest Company is a state owned company established by Decision 134/QD-UB
issued on 30 September 2002 by Lam Dong Provincial Peoples Committee as Don Duong
Forest Enterprise. On 22 August 2008, Don Duong Forest Enterprise was converted into Don
Duong Forest Company under Decision 2267/QD-UBND issued on 22 August 2008 by Lam
Dong Provincial Peoples Committee. Following this Decision it is now directly managed by
Lam Dong Provincial Peoples Committee.
Don Duong Forest Company covers six communes, namely Lac Xuan, Ka Do, Pro, Ka Don
and Tu Tra, as well as Dran town (all in Don Duong District, Lam Dong Province).
The main functions of Don Duong Forest Company are to protect, manage, utilize and
develop the forest allocated to it. In coordination with local authorities it is to organize and
mobilize participation of local communities in forestry production and create jobs for them
through issuing forest protection contracts. Don Duong Forest Company implements the
following activities:
• Manage and protect forests through planting trees, maintaining existing forest cover
and enriching standing forests;
• Exploit and process timber and non-timber forest products from natural and planted
forests;
• Develop agro-forestry;
• Design agro-forestry facilities and projects;
• Develop a business mining and selling other construction materials (e.g. stone and
sand);
• Produce seeds of forest trees and provide agricultural services to local communities.
14

A secondary function of Don Duong Forest Company is to protect the watershed of the Dong
Nai and the Dai Ninh Rivers.
Most of Don Duong Forest Company is covered by broadleaved evergreen forest, some of
which has been selectively exploited for timber. It also contains a significant area of
deciduous forest dominated by trees for the family Dipterocarpaceae (see Table 2).
Lam Vien Landscape Protection Area
The land encompassed by Lam Vien Landscape Protection Area has a long and complicated
history of legislation. Its current form (as Lam Vien Landscape Protection Area) was
established under Decision 882/2004/Qð-TTg issued by Prime Minister on 12 August 2004
and is directly managed by the Peoples Committee of Da Lat city. It is included on a list of
Special-use Forests to be established by the year 2010, prepared by the FPD of MARD, as a
28,000 ha cultural and historical site (FPD 2003). This list has not yet been approved by the
government.
Lam Vien Landscape Protection Area covers the communes of Ta Nung, Xuan Tho and Xuan
Truong, Tram Hanh and wards 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12 of Da Lat city. The primary
objectives of Lam Vien Landscape Protection Area are to protect forest to protect the
environment around Da Lat city and maintain a beautiful landscape to attract tourists.
Approximately half of the land cover in this Forest Management Unit is coniferous forest
dominated by Pinus kesiya (see Table 2). Most of the rest of the land is either bare ground or
covered by plantation forest. Lam Vien Landscape Protection Area supports some small areas
of broadleaved evergreen forest.
Forest Seedling Joint Stock Company of Central Highland Region
The Forest Seedling Joint Stock Company of Central Highland Region was directly managed
by the National Seed Centre up until 2007, from then it became a Joint Stock Seed Company
and only activities implemented under the 661 programme on the site are managed by the
National Seed Centre.
The Forest Seedling Joint Stock Company of Central Highland Region covers Tho Xuan and
Xuan Truong communes, these are administered by Da Lat city. The objectives of this Forest
Management Unit are to produce forest seeds and seedlings for forest development and
conserve existing natural forest for seeds and seedlings production.
Almost all of the natural forest in this Forest Management Unit is coniferous forest dominated
by Pinus kesiya (see Table 2). One quarter of land area is not natural forest; it supports
plantation forest and bare ground.
1.3 Project context
In Vietnam, remaining natural forests are subject to logging, conversion to tree plantations
and clearance for permanent and shifting agriculture. Although a comprehensive system of
protected areas has being proposed within the Management Strategy for a Protected Area
System in Vietnam to 2010, recent reviews have shown that the coverage of the nation's
biodiversity within the system is incomplete. Moreover, a large number of protected areas
have been heavily degraded, to the point of reducing their biodiversity value significantly.
15

Much of Vietnam’s important biodiversity, including the majority of the population of a
number of highly threatened species (MoNRE et al. 2005), occurs outside special-use forest
and watershed protection forest managed for biodiversity conservation. A recent analysis of
the Dong Nai Conservation Landscape specifically demonstrated that many important areas
for biodiversity conservation in Lam Dong Province are outside special-use forest (Pilgrim
et al. 2006). Conservation of this biodiversity through protected areas alone is thus unlikely
to be successful, however, as there is an increasing body of evidence indicating that
biodiversity conservation can only adequately achieved by considering land-use in the wider
landscape (e.g. Soares-Filho et al. 2006 and Wiens 2007).
Most of the permanent forest estate in Vietnam is classified as either Watershed Protection
Forest or Production Forest (much of which is managed by State Forest Enterprises). At
present, however, there are no specific provisions under Vietnam's Forest Protection and
Development Law to promote the conservation of biodiversity outside of Special-use
Forests, elsewhere in the national forest estate. There is both a compelling scientific,
economic, and moral case for attempting to conserve biodiversity outside protected areas,
through the identification of forests of high conservation value within this extensive and
permanent forest estate. In many cases, there is no land-use conflict between Special-use
Forests and Watershed Protection Forests, and less than may be imagined with respect to
State Forest Enterprises. This approach is already recognized in other ASEAN countries like
Indonesia and Malaysia, where securing “germplasm reserves” within Production Forests is
seen as a prerequisite for forest regeneration. Another compelling argument for piloting
multiple-use forest management within different forest categories is that, under certain
conditions, specific areas within Watershed Protection Forests and Special-use Forests may
be suitable for low-level sustainable use by human communities living in and around these
areas. Uses such as fuelwood extraction, non-timber forest products collection or, even,
cutting of timber for household use, if closely managed and monitored, can make important
contributions to the livelihoods of poor, forest-dependent communities, while remaining
consistent with the management objectives of Watershed Protection Forests and Special-use
Forests.
1.4 Project content
The objective of the project is to maximize the contribution of Vietnam’s three forest
management categories to reducing poverty, providing environmental services, sustaining
biodiversity values, and supporting national economic development. To this end, the project has
already provided training in the identification of forest of high conservation value to 85 staff
from the six Forest Management Units and provincial DARD, and training in planning and
management of forests of high conservation value to 22 staff. Through a participatory
workshop, the project worked with staff from the six Forest Management Units, DARD and the
Project Management Unit to formulate a set of criteria for identification of forest of high
conservation value (Appendix I). BirdLife International Vietnam Programme (hereafter
BirdLife) conducted surveys to identify forest of high conservation value in the project area,
according those criteria. Through the training provided by BirdLife, Forest Management Unit
staff and DARD have the capacity to apply these criteria to identify additional forest of high
conservation value, and to plan and manage these forests, guided by this report.
1.5 Report content
This report details the work undertaken by BirdLife to identify, plan and propose
management of forest of high conservation value in Lam Dong Province. It reports on the
processes used to identify and plan forest of high conservation value. It also details the
results of the identification of forest of high conservation value. Zoning plans were produced
16

according to the criteria, and these are presented for each Forest Management Unit in the
project area. We then make management recommendations for each of the Forest
Management Units, based on the zoning plans. These management recommendations follow
multiple-use principles. This term refers to management of forests for a more diverse range
of uses than previously. Thus in this document, this will include management of important
parts of production forests in a way compatible with biodiversity conservation and,
conversely, management of non-core zones of special-use forest and watershed protection
forest for a more diverse range of uses. Because the six Forest Management Units are
representative of the three forest categories in Vietnam, this can serve a model which can be
applied throughout the country.
2. Methods
2.1 Developing the criteria for identification of forest of high conservation
value
To define forest of high conservation value set of criteria were produced. The objective of
developing criteria for identifying forest of high conservation value in Lam Dong Province is
to:
• Aid Forest Management Units in the identification of forest of high conservation value
in Lam Dong Province;
• Support the Forest Management Units in piloting multiple-use forest management;
• Help relevant Forest Management Units to fulfil the terms of Principle No. 9 of the
Forest Stewardship Council (the Forest Stewardship Council Principle No. 9 is
“Maintenance of High Conservation Value Forests (HCVFs) defined as environmental
and social values that are considered to be of outstanding significance or critical
importance”.)
The criteria used for zoning purposes cover a number of categories, so that forest which is of
high value for different uses can be identified, mapped and managed appropriately. The
criteria must fulfil all the following requirements:
• Following Forest Stewardship Council Principle No. 9 on management of forest of
high conservation value;
• Pursuant to current laws and regulations of Vietnam;
• Relevant to Lam Dong Province;
• Either of importance on a global or national scale, or of high importance to local
people;
• Easy to measure or assess;
• Will facilitate appropriate and useful zoning.
The criteria were designed through a participatory consultative process involving over 40
different stakeholders. Criteria were drafted by BirdLife technical staff and subjected to an
internal review process which utilized the expertise of a diverse team of Vietnamese national
and international staff. The provisional criteria were then presented to the Project
Management Unit for comment and then revised accordingly. A two day workshop was held
in Da Lat city on 2nd and 3rd October 2008 in which BirdLife technical staff presented the
revised set of criteria to the Provincial Multisectoral Working Group, Project Management
Unit, managers of relevant Forest Management Units and other staff members. The
provisional criteria were then discussed in a fully participatory manner and revised
accordingly by BirdLife technical staff. The revised criteria were then presented to members
17

of the Project Management Unit for their approval. These approved criteria are those
presented in Appendix I.
The criteria are grouped under five categories which correspond to different zoning classes.
Data relating to criteria will be gathered from various sources: field surveys, GIS analysis,
examining existing documents and legislation and participatory rural assessments. In many
cases it will be possible to use GIS layers created by other stakeholders (e.g. the map of forest
of very critical value created by MARD), rather than repeating analyses already carried out.
2.2 Desk analysis to identify potential sites of high value for biodiversity
To identify potential sites which support forest of high value for biodiversity, a desk analysis
was conducted. The accuracy of this exercise was subsequently ground-truthed through a field
survey. Data on other indicators in the criteria for identifying forest of high conservation
value (Appendix I) was gathered from managers of Forest Management Units and generated
using simple GIS analysis according to the criteria.
The desk analysis was conducted on four taxonomic groups, birds, mammals, amphibians and
Gymnosperms. It was conducted using forest cover maps produced by FIPI (2006) and
through review of the available literature. For the GIS analysis, data on the elevational and
habitat associations and preferences of key indicator taxa were gathered from the published
literature and from BirdLife technical experts. A GIS was used to select areas of the Forest
Management Units which met the criteria which would likely define these species distribution
within the project area. Maps were produced which display the areas which met the criteria
for each taxonomic group. Ground-truthing locations were selected based on these maps, and
through consultation with the Project Management Unit.
The criteria used to produce maps displaying the likely distribution of high conservation value
forest were as follows (in these criteria rich and medium quality forest are specific FIPI terms
which refer to broadleaved evergreen forest of high and medium timber value respectively.
They are used as a proxy for unlogged forest and forest which has been selectively logged):
Forest of high conservation value for threatened Gymnosperms:
- Rich and medium forests
- From 900 to 2,600m elevation
Forest of high conservation value for birds:
- Rich and medium quality forest
- 900 to 2,500 m elevation
Forest of high conservation value for mammals:
- Rich and medium quality forest
- 0 to 2,000 m elevation
Forest of high conservation value for amphibians:
- Rich and medium quality forests
- Within 100 m of streams
- Above 800 m elevation
2.3 Field surveys to ground-truth the desk analysis
The results of the desk analysis were ground-truthed using a field survey. Sites were selected
based on the results of the GIS analysis and data obtained from the literature search. Care was
taken to avoid selecting survey sites where existing information was already of a high quality.
18

Conversely, where the literature revealed that certain sites might support high conservation
value forest but there was a degree of uncertainty in the current data, these sites were actively
selected.
The field survey was conducted between 26 April and 21 May by BirdLife technical staff and
expert consultants. The survey itinerary, a list of the areas surveyed and the survey staff is in
Appendix II. The survey aimed to rapidly determine the occurrence of indicator species in
selected forest compartments in the Forest Management Units on a presence/absence basis.
2.3.1 Indicator species for the field surveys
The indicator species consisted of all globally and nationally threatened birds and mammals
thought to persist in the study area, and a number of species of Gymnosperm (as detailed
below). Amphibians were not surveyed due to time and logistical constraints.
Gymnosperms: The following species were searched for in each forest compartment
surveyed:
No Species IUCN 2008 VN 2007
1 Pinus krempfii VU
2 Pinus dalatensis DD
3 Fokienia hodginsii NT EN
4 Dacrycarpus imbricatus LC
5 Dacrydium elatum NT EN
6 Keteleeria evelyniana LC VU
7 Nageia wallichiana LC
8 Podocarpus neriifolius LC
9 Podocarpus pilgeri LC
10 Taxus wallichiana EN VU
11 Calocedrus macrolepis VU EN
Mammals: Practically, many of the threatened mammal species were considered to be too
difficult to detect in a rapid survey, and this proved to be true. The following mammal species
were proposed as the target species for the survey because they are relatively easy to detect:
• Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon Nomascus gabriellae
• Black-shanked Douc Langur Pygathrix nemaeus
• Stump-tailed Macaque Macaca arctoides
• Northern Pig-tailed Macaque Macaca leonina
• Gaur Bos gaurus
• Sambar Cervus unicolour
• Bear spp. Ursus spp.
The following species of mammal are not considered globally threatened, but some of them
they are on the Red List for Vietnam. Additionally, their presence might indicate that
populations of threatened species which in the project area face similar threats, might persist
in the same area. Therefore they were also considered target species for the survey:
• Southwest China Serow Capricornis milneedwardsii
• Large-antlered Muntjac Muntiacus vuquangensis
• Muntjac sp. Muntiacus sp.
• Wild Pig Sus scrofa
19

Detections of any other mammal species or their signs were opportunistically recorded.
Birds: Only two bird species were surveyed, namely Grey-crowned Crocias Crocias
langbianis and Collared Laughingthrush Garrulax yersini. Other bird species encountered
were recorded opportunistically.
2.3.2 Methodology for the field survey
Gymnosperms
Gymnosperms were surveyed by two teams, each consisting of a botanical expert and at least
one member of Forest Management Unit staff. Gymnosperm surveys were conducted
throughout the day. Data were collected on datasheets (Appendix III) in the field. If a species
was detected then a tick was placed in the relevant box, if not, then a cross was placed in the
box. Extra information was also recorded where relevant.
In each forest compartment the survey team concentrated their effort in habitat at elevations
most suitable for target species. The teams searched for indicator species on foot, using
existing roads and trails, and where possible, by car. The knowledge of Forest Management
Unit staff and local guides was utilized to target the most suitable locations. For each single
species stand of Gymnosperms, the following data were collected: number of individuals, area
of the stand and location (using GPS). Each survey team carried the following equipment:
GPS, compass, data sheets and pencils and a map.
Mammals and birds
Data on the presence of target bird and mammal species were collected by three teams, each
consisting of a BirdLife staff member and a relevant member of staff from the Forest
Management Unit who had previously received training by the project in the use of map,
compass and GPS (local guides were also used where required). Data were collected
throughout the day, starting from dawn. If there was moderate or heavy rain, or moderate or
strong wind then that survey was abandoned.
Data were collected on datasheets (Appendix III) in the field. If a species was detected then a
tick was placed in the relevant box, if not, then a cross was placed in the box. Extra
information, e.g. number of individuals, was also added.
The survey was rapid in nature. Each forest compartment was surveyed for no more than one
day. If target bird and mammal species were detected in a forest compartment early in a given
day, then the survey team moved on to the next forest compartment. In each forest
compartment the survey team concentrated their effort in habitat at elevations most suitable
for target species. The teams actively searched for indicator species on foot, using existing
roads and trails. Transects were walked slowly (1 to 1.5 km/hour).
Each survey team carried the following equipment: GPS, compass, data sheets and pencils,
map, tape measure (for measuring ungulate tracks), binoculars, playback equipment (an MP3
player and speaker) and a laminated key to ungulate prints.
Mammals
Mammals were recorded through opportunistic encounters, both by sight or sound, and
through searching for tracks of ungulates. Survey team members recorded all species
encountered. The primary method used to survey for mammals is walking slowly along dirt
roads and trails searching for footprints, dung and foraging signs, particularly focusing on
areas of bare ground, such as on the edge of streams or in clearings. A tape measure was used
20

to measure animal tracks, and help identify to species. Gibbons were surveyed through
opportunistically listening for their songs. To avoid double counting of gibbons, the survey
teams recorded the time and the bearing and distance to any gibbons heard in the “notes”
column of the data sheet.
Birds
For Collared Laughingthrush the most suitable habitat is broadleaved evergreen forest with
dense undergrowth above 1,500 m elevation, and for Grey-crowned Crocias the most suitable
habitat is broadleaved evergreen forest at 900 to 1,150 m elevation. In suitable habitat, the
survey team broadcasted prerecorded songs of the target bird species at 100 meter intervals
and waited at each broadcast station for three minutes after broadcasting to detect responding
birds. Significant time was not spent identifying non-target bird species at the expense of
surveying for target species, however, other restricted-range species were recorded
opportunistically. Any locations where either of the target species were detected was recorded
using GPS and written in the notes section of the datasheet.
3. Results
3.1 Results of the desk analysis
Using the results of GIS analysis of habitat and elevation, key areas for mammals, birds,
amphibians and Gymnosperms were identified. A subset of these areas was selected as for
field surveys to ground-truth the results of the desk analysis. The literature search enabled the
survey team to identify certain areas which did not require surveying, since information for
these areas is already good, and to locate areas which were particular priorities for survey.
Much of the relevant information was recently summarised by Pilgrim et al. (2007). Here the
key survey areas for each of the taxonomic groups are described, and the rationale for
selecting certain sites for field survey is discussed.
3.1.1 Gymnosperms
The key Gymnosperm species are thought to be restricted to higher altitude forest (900 m
elevation) (Map 4). Fire maintained patches of coniferous forest do not support populations of
key Gymnosperm species, instead, these species occur as emergents or single species stands
within broadleaved or mixed evergreen forest. It is illegal to log many of the threatened
Gymnosperms, however since these are valuable timber species their distribution may be
limited by patterns of law enforcement.
The highest priority area for Gymnosperm survey was considered to be Bidoup Nui Ba
National Park. The south-west portion of Bidoup Nui Ba National Park (and adjacent
compartments of Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest), and a number of other areas in the
centre, north-east and south-east of Bidoup Nui Ba National Park are the areas which were
thought most likely to support good populations of Gymnosperms in Lam Dong Province. It
was thought that Don Duong Forest Company may also still support key species of
Gymnosperm and therefore this site was a priority for survey. In addition, it was thought
possible that the southern part of the western sector of Lam Vien Landscape Protection Area
supported some key species of Gymnosperms, although this area was considered a low
priority for survey.
21

3.1.2 Mammals
The target mammals in the project area are thought to exhibit relatively broad habitat
preferences; it is thought that their distribution is mainly limited by hunting pressure.
However, they are likely to favor areas below 2,000 m elevation and prefer rich and medium
quality broadleaved forest and mixed forest, including areas with some bamboo. Large
ungulates are thought to prefer a matrix consisting of patches of open coniferous forest, where
they can graze, interspersed with patches of denser broadleaved forest and bamboo where
they can shelter from predators.
The highest priority areas for mammal survey were located in the northern part of the project
area, in Bidoup Nui Ba National Park (Map 1). The national park contains extensive areas of
habitat which are highly suitable for mammals. Since the mammal fauna of some parts of the
park are well known, whilst others are less well known, the recommendations of the Forest
Management Unit manager were followed and field surveys focused on areas of the national
park where there is a lack of knowledge on the status of mammals. Adjacent parts of Da Nhim
Watershed Protection Forest are also likely to contain significant populations of key mammal
species.
The GIS analysis suggested that parts of Don Duong Forest Company also constitute a
significant area of habitat suitable for mammals. This area was considered to be of medium
priority for survey because it was already known to be forest of high conservation value,
because it supports a population of Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon (Pilgrim et al. 2007).
However, additional surveys were considered desirable in this area, because they might reveal
the presence of other threatened mammal species, such as Black-shanked Douc Langur
(Pilgrim et al. 2007).
3.1.3 Birds
The target bird species in the project area are thought to have narrower habitat preferences
than the mammals. They inhabit rich and medium quality evergreen forest between 900 and
2,500 m elevation. These habitats also support all the other bird species of conservation
concern on the Da Lat Plateau.
Owing to their preference for rich and medium quality forest, the high priority areas for birds
were similar to the target areas for mammal survey (Map 2). Bidoup Nui Ba National Park
and adjacent areas of Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest was a priority location for bird
survey. Within these Forest Management Units, areas of broadleaved evergreen forest
between 900 and 1,500 m elevation were considered likely to support Grey-crowned Crocias,
and broadleaved evergreen forest between 1,500 and 2,500 m elevation likely to support
Collared Laughingthrush.
Although there is only a small amount of potentially suitable habitat in D'Ran Watershed
Protection Forest, this area was considered a priority for survey for Grey-crowned Crocias.
This is thought to be the area where a specimen of this species was collected in 1939
(BirdLife International 2001), and before this study, its current status at the site was unknown
(Pilgrim et al. 2007). Don Duong Forest Company was also considered likely to support
populations of Grey-crowned Crocias owing to its habitat and elevation characteristics. It was
therefore also considered to be a high priority for survey.
22

The forest in the southern part of the western sector of Lam Vien Landscape Protection Area,
adjacent to Tuyen Lam Lake, was predicted by the GIS analysis to be suitable habitat for both
target bird species. However, it is already well known that this forest supports populations of
both Grey-crowned Crocias and Collared Laughingthrush. It was thought that further survey
in this area would add very little to the knowledge of the conservation importance of forest in
Lam Dong Province, and was therefore considered to be a low priority.
3.1.4 Amphibians
The key amphibians in the project area primarily inhabit high and medium quality forest at
high altitudes (above 800 m elevation) close to streams (Map 3). Amphibians show high
levels of endemism at high altitudes, and it is likely that the higher altitude forest in the
project areas contains populations of threatened and localized species.
Owing to these habitat preferences, the areas which are likely to contain significant
populations of threatened and endemic amphibians in the project area are in the south-west
portion of Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, and along the eastern edge of that Forest
Management Unit. Additionally, there are a few scattered areas which the desk analysis has
highlighted as being of possible importance to amphibians, particularly in Don Duong Forest
Company.
3.1.5 All indicator species
There is much overlap in the locations of priority survey areas for indicator species (Map 5)
owing to the similar habitat preferences of the different groups of indicator species. All the
species groups have an affinity for rich and medium quality forest at middle and high
altitudes. Mammals have the largest amount of potentially suitable habitat, owing to their
tolerance of a greater range of altitudes and forest types. This overlap in priority areas for
survey means that surveys for more than one species group can be conducted at the same
time. Areas of forest which most probably constitute forest of high value for biodiversity were
categorized in terms of high and low priority for survey, according to reasons already
discussed. Areas not listed were not considered priorities for survey according the GIS
analysis.
• The eastern edge of Bidoup Nui Ba National Park (forest compartments 51, 85, 87, 88,
89,90, 91, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130) (high priority);
• The south-west portion of Bidoup Nui Ba National Park (forest compartments 43, 58,
59, 60, 76, 77, 78, 79, 100, 101) (high priority);
• The south-east portion of Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest (forest compartments
42, 61, 62, 63, 75, 103) (high priority);
• The centre-east part of D'Ran Watershed Protection Forest (forest compartment 324)
(high priority);
• The centre-south of Don Duong Forest Company (forest compartments 326, 327, 331,
333, 336, 337, 338) (high priority);
• The southern part of the western sector of Lam Vien Landscape Protection Area
adjacent to Tuyen Lam Lake (forest compartments 161 and 162) (low priority).
3.2 Results of the field surveys presented by Forest Management Unit
Field surveys were used to ground truth the results of the desk analysis, the results are
summarised in Table 3. Of surveyed forest compartments which were predicted to be of high
23

conservation value for mammals and birds by the desk analysis, indicator mammal or bird
species were found in 81% of them. Similarly, of surveyed forest compartments predicted by
the desk analysis to be of high conservation value for Gymnosperms, all were found to
contain Gymnosperms of high conservation value by the field survey. Therefore, it is possible
to have a high level of confidence in the results of the desk analysis: compartments which
were predicted as being of high conservation value but not surveyed can be assumed to
contain forest of high conservation value.
Photo 1. Field survey team debating the best possible route for survey.
When an indicator species was not recorded in an individual forest compartment this does not
indicate that it is absent from that forest compartment, nor does it indicate that that forest
compartment is not forest of high conservation value. Rather, the results of the field survey
taken as a whole validate the desk analysis and the criteria used to remotely identify forest of
high conservation value in the project area.
24

Figure 1. Survey routes cover within the project area
25

Table 3. The occurance of indicator species in surveyed Forest Management Units in the
project area during the field survey
Species
Pinus krempfii
Pinus dalatensis
Fokienia
hodginsii
Dacrycarpus
imbricatus
Dacrydium
elatum
Keteleeria
evelyniana
Nageia
wallichiana
Podocarpus
neriifolius
Podocarpus
pilgeri
Taxus
wallichiana
Cephalotaxus
mannii
Calocedrus
macrolepis
Pinus latteri
Grey-crowned
Crocias
Collared
Laughingthrush
Yellow-cheeked
Crested Gibbon
Black-shanked
Douc Langur
Stump-tailed
Macaque
Northern Pigtailed
Macaque
Bidoup
Nui Ba
National
Park
Da Nhim
Watershed
Protection
Forest
D'Ran
Watershed
Protection
Forest
Don Duong
Forest
Company
Lam Vien
Landscape
Protection
Area
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Forest Seedling
Joint Stock
Company of
Central
Highland
Region
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Gaur N/A N/A
Banteng N/A N/A
Southwest China
N/A N/A
Serow
Sambar N/A N/A
Large-antlered
N/A N/A
Muntjac
Muntjac sp. N/A N/A
Wild Pig N/A N/A
Bear sp. N/A N/A
Note: shaded cells indicate detection, blank cells indicate that the species was not detected,
N/A indicates that that Forest Management Unit was not surveyed for that species
The following sections provide more detail on the results of the field surveys, arranged by
Forest Management Unit. It should be remembered that this was a rapid field survey
conducted for the purpose of ground-truthing the desk analysis. It was not a comprehensive
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
26

iodiversity survey, and survey effort was not consistent between surveyed compartments.
Therefore, species will inevitably have been missed and it is not useful or scientifically
defendable to compare species lists between forest compartments. In forest compartments
from which no indicator species were recorded this should not be interpreted as an indicator
that that forest compartment does not contain forest of high conservation value. Instead, it
should simply be interpreted at face value: no indicator species were found during the field
survey in that forest compartment.
This section only details records made during the field survey following methods outlined in
the Methods section of this report. These are the only records shown in maps showing the
results of the survey. However, records from other sources, e.g. reports from park staff and
additional records which came to light during the course of the survey are mentioned where
appropriate.
3.2.1 Bidoup Nui Ba National Park
3.2.1.1 Gymnosperms
Surveys to locate key species of Gymnosperm were conducted in 18 forest compartments.
Gymnosperms of high value for conservation were found in all of them (see Map 6). The
following paragraphs detail the occurrence of Gymnosperms in each of the compartments
surveyed, which is summarised in Table 4.
Table 4. The occurance of Gymnosperms of high conservation value in surveyed
compartments in Bidoup Nui Ba National Park
Species
48
50
51
56
59
60
76
77
78
89
90
100
101
102A
103
124
127A
128
Pinus
krempfii
Pinus
dalatensis
Fokienia
hodginsii
Dacrycarpus
imbricatus
Dacrydium
elatum
Keteleeria
evelyniana
Nageia
wallichiana
Podocarpus
neriifolius
Podocarpus
pilgeri
Taxus
wallichiana
Cephalotaxus
mannii
Calocedrus
macrolepis
Pinus latteri
Note: shaded cells indicate detection, blank cells indicate that the species was not detected
27

Photo 2. Forest of high value for biodiversity, Bidoup Nui Ba National Park. This Forest
Management Unit still contains areas of broadleaved evergreen forest with spectacular
emergant Pinus krempfii along ridgelines.
Forest Compartments 43 and 44
Although they were not surveyed, local people reported that in forest compartments 43 and 44
(which are dominated by Pinus kesiya) there are small numbers of Dacrycarpus imbricatus
and Podocarpus neriifolius in the remnant broadleaved evergreen forest patches.
Forest Compartments 48, 50, 51 and 56
Although these forest compartments were not surveyed by the Gymnosperm survey team, the
mammal and bird survey team made notes on the occurrence of Gymnosperms in these forest
compartments. In forest compartment 48 they recorded Dacrycarpus imbricatus and
Podocarpus neriifolius. In forest compartments 50 and 51 they recorded a number of Pinus
krempfii and Pinus dalatensis on ridges as well as two Dacrydium elatum in the former forest
compartment. In forest compartment 56 they recorded five Dacrycarpus imbricatus.
Forest Compartment 59
This forest compartment contains areas of open coniferous forest dominated by Pinus kesiya,
planted forests and areas of mixed evergreen forests. In the latter habitat five of the indicator
species were found, namely Pinus krempfii, Pinus dalatensis, Fokienia hodginsii,
Dacrycarpus imbricatus and Podocarpus neriifolius. Two Pinus krempfii each of 60 to 70 cm
diameter at breast height, one Pinus dalatensis of 60 cm diameter at breast height were found
at 12°08’26.2”N 108°26’52.7”E, 1,758 m elevation, as well as many Pinus krempfii saplings.
At 12°08’48.7”N 108°31’51.1”E, 1,756 m elevation, a stand of 15 to 20 Fokienia hodginsii of
40 to 100 cm diameter at breast height was found together with a small number of saplings
(height: 0.6 to 4 m). At the same location, four cut stumps of Fokienia hodginsii were
recorded. Judging from the age of the stumps the trees were logged less than five years ago.
Also in that location was one fallen Fokienia hodginsii of more than 100 cm diameter at
breast height. At 12°08’28.4”N 108°30’58.6”E, 1,758 m elevation, three Dacrycarpus
imbricatus of 60 to 100 cm diameter at breast height were recorded and at least 15 to 20 large
28

examples of this species were seen, scattered throughout the compartment. A number of
Podocarpus neriifolius were recorded; the trees were small: 0.6 to 4 m in height and 10 to 12
cm diameter at breast height.
Forest Compartment 60
Four indicator species were found in this compartment, namely Pinus krempfii, Pinus
dalatensis, Dacrycarpus imbricatus and Podocarpus neriifolius. On one ridge at 1,552 m
elevation, five Pinus krempfii of 40 to 80 cm diameter at breast height and many saplings with
a height of 0.4 to 6 m were recorded. At 12°09’32.5”N 108°26’16.7”E, 1,559 m elevation,
one Pinus dalatensis with a 50 cm diameter at breast height was recorded. No saplings were
found close to it, indicating low recruitment to the population. At 12°08’41.7”N
108°29’33.3”E, 1,552 m elevation, one Dacrycarpus imbricatus with a diameter at breast
height of 100 cm was recorded. Podocarpus neriifolius were quite abundant throughout the
compartment.
Forest Compartment 76
Five indicator species were found in this compartment, namely Taxus wallichiana, Pinus
krempfii, Pinus dalatensis, Dacrycarpus imbricatus and Podocarpus neriifolius. One Taxus
wallichiana, a sapling 1.2 m in height was seen at 12°07’08.1”N 108° 25’28.6”E, 1,720 m
elevation. At 12°07’11.0”N 108°25’20.6”E, 1,760 m elevation, one Pinus dalatensis with a 60
cm diameter at breast height was recorded. One large (40 cm diameter at breast height)
Dacrycarpus imbricatus with many saplings was seen at 12°07’26.8”N 108°25’13.5”E, 1,680
m elevation. One Pinus krempfii, 40 cm diameter at breast height and 20 to 25 m high, (with
no associated saplings) was also recorded.
Forest Compartment 77
Four indicator species were recorded in this compartment, namely Pinus krempfii, Pinus
dalatensis, Dacrycarpus imbricatus and Podocarpus neriifolius. At 12°09’12.3”N 108°
26’22.3”E, 1,544 m elevation, two Pinus krempfii were found. Approximately 30 metres from
that location one Pinus dalatensis with a diameter at breast height of 30 cm and three
Dacrycarpus imbricatus saplings (0.6 to 3 m high) were also found. A number of Podocarpus
neriifolius were found scattered close to the location 12°09’04.4”N 108°26’22.3”E, 1,519 m
elevation.
Forest Compartment 78
Five indicator species were recorded in this compartment, namely Taxus wallichiana,
Dacrycarpus imbricatus, Podocarpus neriifolius, Pinus krempfii and Pinus dalatensis. At
12°06’51.3”N 108°27’37.1”E, 1,642 m elevation, two Taxus wallichiana saplings of 0.4 to
0.6 m height were recorded. At 12°06’43.9’N 108°27’10.2”E, 1,758 m elevation, many
Dacrycarpus imbricatus saplings (0.4 to 7 m high) were recorded and at the same location,
one very large Pinus krempfii (200 cm diameter at breast height, 30 to 35 m high) was found.
Many Podocarpus neriifolius saplings were found scattered throughout the compartment. At
12°05’42.6”N 106°37’02.3”E, 1,823 m elevation, one Pinus dalatensis (30 cm diameter at
breast height, 25 m high) was found, and in the surrounding area many Dacrycarpus
imbricatus and Podocarpus neriifolius saplings were seen.
Forest Compartment 89
This forest compartment is dominated by broadleaved evergreen forest. Six indicator species
were found in this compartment, namely Fokienia hodginsii, Pinus krempfii, Dacrydium
elatum, Dacrycarpus imbricatus, Nageia wallichiana and Taxus wallichiana. However,
almost all of the Fokienia hodginsii have been illegally logged owing to the construction of
route 723 (Da Lat to Nha Trang). The survey team located only two Fokienia hodginsii at
29

12°10’59”N 108°42’04”E, 1,595 m elevation, and one cut stump at 12°11’22”N
108°43’00”E, 1,842 m elevation. Pinus krempfii were more abundant but had a scattered
distribution, except for a stand of ten trees which was recorded at 12°10’30”N 108°42’33”E,
1,525 m elevation. A number of Dacrydium elatum were found at N12 10 51 E 108 42 07,
1,524 m elevation and a number of Dacrycarpus imbricatus were seen at 12°10’27”N
108°42’15”E, 1,484 m elevation, including many saplings. Two Nageia wallichiana (20 cm
diameter at breast height) were recorded at 12°11’04”N 108°43’07”E, 1,641 m elevation. No
large Taxus wallichiana were found, although saplings of less than one metre in height were
not uncommon.
Forest Compartment 90
In the broadleaved evergreen forest in this compartment six indicator species were found,
namely Pinus krempfii, Pinus dalatensis, Fokienia hodginsii, Dacrydium elatum,
Dacrycarpus imbricatus and Podocarpus neriifolius. Pinus krempfii was found quite
commonly throughout the surveyed area. Notably, three trees were found at 12°10’45”N
108°41’17”E, 1,483 m elevation, (the diameter at breast height of the largest was 200 cm) and
others were found at 12°10’45”N 108°41’39”E, 1,532 m elevation. In contrast, Pinus
dalatensis was less common and more scattered, for instance, trees were found at 12°10’46”N
108°41’14”E, 1,467 m elevation, and 12°10’43”N 108°41’18”E, 1,475 m elevation.
Populations of Fokienia hodginsii have been heavily exploited in this compartment and there
are few large trees remaining: one tree of 120 cm diameter at breast height was found at
12°10’47”N 108°41’41”E, 1,514 m elevation, and another standing tree and one cut stump
(60 cm diameter at breast height) were found at 12°10’36”N 108°41’43”E, 1,552 m elevation,
(at the latter location there was recently cut timber awaiting removal from the forest).
Dacrydium elatum and Dacrycarpus imbricatus were found in small numbers scattered
throughout the forest compartment. A large number of Podocarpus neriifolius were recorded,
but all were saplings.
Forest Compartment 100
Six indicator species were found in this forest compartment, namely Pinus krempfii, Pinus
dalatensis, Fokienia hodginsii, Dacrycarpus imbricatus, Podocarpus neriifolius and Taxus
wallichiana. One Pinus dalatensis was found close to the boundary with compartment 78.
Two large Pinus krempfii were recorded. One small Fokienia hodginsii (30 cm diameter at
breast height) was found as well as one cut stump, this tree was probably felled three or four
years previously. Many large Dacrycarpus imbricatus were recorded as were small (3 to 4 cm
diameter at breast height) Podocarpus neriifolius. One Taxus wallichiana sapling was
recorded close to a stream.
Forest Compartment 101
This forest compartment was very similar to forest compartment 100. However, only one
indicator species was recorded, one Dacrycarpus imbricatus at 12°04’16”N 108°25’30”E,
1,519 m elevation.
Forest Compartment 102A
Although most of the land area in this compartment is Pinus kesiya forest, some areas of
broadleaved evergreen forest were found on steep slopes. Seven indicator species were
recorded in the broadleaved evergreen forest, namely Pinus krempfii, Pinus dalatensis,
Fokienia hodginsii, Taxus wallichiana, Dacrycarpus imbricatus, Dacrydium elatum and
Podocarpus neriifolius. Pinus krempfii was quite common, but scattered, the only group
found was three trees at 12°05’20”N 108°24’49”E, 1,671 m elevation, Pinus dalatensis was
found less commonly (for instance at 12°05’14”N 108°24’47”E, 1,657 m elevation) Fokienia
hodginsii was found in small groups, for instance a stand of 11 trees were found at
30

12°05’29”N 108°24’49”E, 1,724 m elevation. At 12°05’01”N 108°23’42”E, 1,735 m
elevation, a group of 12 mature Taxus wallichiana, some of which were at least 100 cm
diameter at breast height, and many saplings were found. According to Mr. Cil Ten (a ranger
responsible for this forest compartment), there are approximately 30 Taxus wallichiana each
with a diameter at breast height exceeding 25 cm in this forest compartment. No mature
Podocarpus neriifolius were found, only saplings.
Forest Compartment 103
Most of the forest in this compartment is broadleaved evergreen forest with emergent Pinus
krempfii, although there are some areas of Pinus kesiya, included some which has been
planted. Three indicator species, namely Pinus krempfii, Dacrycarpus imbricatus and
Podocarpus neriifolius, and one additional species of conservation concern, Cephalotaxus
mannii, were recorded. Although not an indicator species, this species is classified as
Vulnerable by both IUCN and the Vietnam Red Data Book. One Cephalotaxus mannii (20 cm
diameter at breast height) was located in a narrow strip of broadleaved evergreen forest along
a stream surrounded by forest of Pinus kesiya (12°04’57”N 108°22’53”E, 1,736 m elevation.
In the forest where this species was found were many Pinus krempfii, the survey team
estimated that there were about 100 trees of this species present, often in high concentrations,
for instance there was a stand of 18 trees at 12°04’56”N 108°22’12”E, 1,075 m elevation.
Additionally, one tree of 200 cm diameter at breast height was recorded at 12°05’28”N
108°22’41”E, 1,795 m elevation, and 12 standing dead trees (cause of death unclear) were
found at 12°04’37”N 108°22’02”E, 1,657 m elevation. Dacrycarpus imbricatus and
Podocarpus neriifolius were less numerous, and were found scattered throughout the
broadleaved forest. Only one mature Podocarpus neriifolius was found, an individual of 18
cm diameter at breast height at 12°04’41”N 108°22’02”E, 1,653 m elevation, all the others
were saplings.
Forest Compartment 124
This compartment supports mainly broadleaved evergreen forest with some patches of
grassland. Four of the indicator species were found in this compartment, namely Pinus
krempfii, Pinus dalatensis, Dacrycarpus imbricatus and Dacrydium elatum. Of these, Pinus
krempfii is the most common, followed by Pinus dalatensis. Both these species were
commonly found as scattered individuals or small stands. One stand of four Pinus krempfii
were found at 12°08’25”N 108°40’53”E, 1,498 m elevation, and a group of Pinus dalatensis
was found at 12°08’13”N 108°41’01”E, 1,583 m elevation. These two species together with
Dacrycarpus imbricatus and Dacrydium elatum were found quite commonly between
12°08’13”N 108°41’01”E, 1,583 m elevation, and N12 08 03 E108 41 10, 1,580 m elevation.
Local people reported that Fokienia hodginsii also occurs in this forest compartment, although
the species has been heavily exploited and thus the only trees remaining are located on the
north side of Ra Rich Mountain.
Forest Compartment 125
This compartment was flooded during the time of the survey, so the survey team could not
access it. However, according to reports from rangers of the national park, the species
composition of the forest is similar to forest compartment 127A. The rangers reported that the
following indicator species were present: Fokienia hodginsii, Pinus dalatensis, Pinus
krempfii, Dacrycarpus imbricatus and Podocarpus neriifolius.
Forest Compartment 127A
Six indicator species were recorded in this forest compartment, namely Fokienia hodginsii,
Pinus dalatensis, Pinus krempfii, Dacrycarpus imbricatus, Podocarpus neriifolius and Taxus
wallichiana. At 10°13’56.7”N 108°42’07.2”E, 1,766 m elevation, one large Fokienia
31

hodginsii (100 cm diameter at breast height, 25 to 30 m high) and many saplings (0.2 to 10 m
high) were found along an old trail 600 to 700 m in length. At the same location there were
many Pinus krempfii of 30 to 80 cm diameter at breast height and a lot of saplings. At
12°02’31.5”N 108°41’20.3”E, 1,776 m elevation, one Taxus wallichiana of 1.6 m height and
a number of Fokienia hodginsii saplings were recorded. At 12°02’45.5”N 108°41’32.5”E,
1,836 m elevation, a stand of 5 to 6 mature Pinus krempfii and many saplings were noted.
Nearby, there were Taxus wallichiana, Dacrycarpus imbricatus, Podocarpus neriifolius and
Fokienia hodginsii. At 12°02’36.2”N 108°41’43.6”E, 1,820 m elevation, one Pinus krempfii
(200 cm diameter at breast height, 35 m high) and many saplings were recorded. At
12°02’24.6”N 108°41’56.5”E, 1,840 m elevation, a stand of Pinus dalatensis (60 to 120 cm
diameter at breast height) were found, together with a number of smaller stands (3 to 5 trees
each) of mid-sized Dacrycarpus imbricatus, Fokienia hodginsii and Pinus krempfii.
Forest Compartment 128
Seven indicator species were found in this compartment, namely Keteleeria evelyniana, Taxus
wallichiana, Dacrycarpus imbricatus, Pinus krempfii, Pinus dalatensis, Fokienia hodginsii
and Podocarpus neriifolius. At one location a number of indicator species were found,
including four large Taxus wallichiana (100 cm diameter at breast height) and many small
saplings, six Keteleeria evelyniana (40 to 100 cm diameter at breast height) and many
saplings, and a large number of Dacrycarpus imbricatus (40-80 cm diameter at breast height).
Many Podocarpus neriifolius were found distributed throughout the compartment. At
12°09’19.1”N 108°26’09.5”E, 1,552 m elevation, one Fokienia hodginsii (60 cm diameter at
breast height), one Pinus krempfii (40 cm diameter at breast height) and one Dacrycarpus
imbricatus (at least 100 cm diameter at breast height) were recorded. In addition, one large
Pinus dalatensis was recorded 30 to 40 metres from that location.
3.2.1.2 Mammals and birds
Surveys to locate key species of mammal and bird were conducted in 24 forest compartments.
Mammals or birds of high value for conservation were found in 20 (83%) of them (see Map
7). However, this does not mean that the forest compartments in which no indicator species
were found do not contain forest of high conservation value for mammals and birds. The
following paragraphs detail the occurrence of Mammals and birds of conservation concern in
each of the compartments surveyed, which is summarised in Table 5.
32

Table 5. The occurance of mammals and birds in surveyed compartments in Bidoup Nui Ba National Park
Species
43
44
47
48
50
51
54
56
58
59
60
76
77
78
79B
89
90
91
100
102
103
124
125
127A
Grey-crowned
Crocias
Collared
Laughingthrush
Yellowcheeked
Crested Gibbon
Black-shanked
Douc Langur
Stump-tailed
Macaque
Northern
Pigtailed
Macaque
Gaur
Banteng
Southwest
China
Serow
Sambar
Large-antlered
Muntjac
Muntjac sp.
Wild Pig
Bear sp.
Note: shaded cells indicate detection, blank cells indicate that the species was not detected

Forest Compartments 43 and 44
No indicator species were recorded in these forest compartments by the survey team. However,
White-cheeked Laughingthrush Garrulax vassali, a restricted-range species with a preference for
edge habitats, was recorded in both forest compartments and park rangers reported that several
indicator species have recently been seen there including Black-shanked Douc Langur, Stumptailed
Macaque and Sambar.
Forest Compartment 47
In this forest compartment broadleaved evergreen forest is restricted to ridges. Most of it is
secondary forest. A pair of Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbons was seen at 12°16’34.1”N
108°33’49.7”E and six Black-shanked Douc Langurs were seen at 12°15’38.7”N 108°34’02.6”E.
At 12°15’57.1”N 108°34’15.4”E three or four Stump-tailed Macaques were seen and one footprint
of a Gaur was found. In an area previously occupied by a village (12°15’49.6”N 108°34’27.5”E)
four nests of Sambar were found, as well as two piles of dung and eight signs of foraging. Tracks,
dung and foraging signs of Wild Pig and muntjac species were commonly encountered. Old
scratch marks were found on a tree made by a bear species, thought most likely to be a Sun Bear
were found at 12°14’34.0”N 108°34’51.1”E. In addition, three separate Crested Argus Rheinardia
ocellata (Near Threatened) were heard vocalising and tracks thought to have been made by an
Asian Golden Cat Pardofelis temminickii (Near Threatened) were found.
Forest Compartment 48
Coniferous forests dominated by Pinus kesiya with patches of broadleaved evergreen forest create
a large area of habitat suitable for mammals of conservation concern in forest compartments 46,
47 and 48. In forest compartment 48 three groups of Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon totalling
eight individuals were heard from 12°14’57.5”N 108°35’03.6”E and one additional group of four
was seen at a different location. One troop of 14 Black-shanked Douc Langurs and one troop of 8
to 10 Stump-tailed Macaques were seen. One old footprint made by a Gaur was found close to
damage to a tree also thought to have been caused by this species. One muntjac species was seen
and tracks and signs of Wild Pig were regularly recorded. A burrow thought perhaps to have been
made by a pangolin Manis species was recorded. In addition, tunnels just below the surface of the
ground were found which almost certainly were made by a mole Euroscaptor species. Smalltoothed
Mole Euroscaptor parvidens (considered Data Deficient globally) has been recorded in
Lam Dong Province once before (the type specimen, taken at 800 m elevation on the Di Linh
plateau); it is therefore possible that these signs were made by this species.
Forest Compartment 50
This forest compartment contains a mosaic of broadleaved evergreen forest and mixed
broadleaved and coniferous forest. Two groups of Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbons totalling six
or seven individuals were heard vocalising simultaneously. One troop of four or five Blackshanked
Douc Langurs and one troop of three Stump-tailed Macaques were seen. A number of
ungulate footprints were recorded, including one Southwest China Serow print close to a
waterfall. Footprints of Wild Pig were recorded and two nests found. One muntjac species was
seen and footprints of at least three individuals were recorded. Scratch marks made by a bear
species, thought most likely to be a Sun Bear were found in four locations: old scratch marks were
found in one location and new scratch marks found at 12°17’04.3”N 108°40’01.9”E,
12°17’04.7”N 108°39’59.5”E and one other location. A Binturong Arctictis binturong
(Vulnerable) was also seen. In addition, a burrow thought to have been made by a pangolin
species, prints considered to have been made by a Leopard Cat Prionailurus bengalensis and the
quill of an East Asian Porcupine Hystrix brachyura were recorded.

Forest Compartment 51
This compartment contains primary broadleaved evergreen forest, much of it at mid and high
elevations. Vocalisations of Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon were heard twice. A troop of five or
six Black-shanked Douc Langurs was seen at 12°17’28.3”N 108°40’54.5”E and foraging signs of
a troop of Stump-tailed Macaque were found at 12°17’28.4”N 108°41’18.6”E. Footprints of
muntjac species were found three times and another individual was heard. Footprints of Wild Pig
were found in seven locations and the scratch marks of a bear species, thought most likely to be a
Sun Bear were found on one tree. In addition, a burrow thought to have been made by a pangolin
species was found.
Forest Compartment 54
The survey focussed on the areas of broadleaved evergreen forest in the south of this forest
compartment. Two groups of Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon were heard vocalising from
12°13’53.3”N 108°37’35.5”E. One group contained three individuals and was located at one
kilometre distance from this location on a bearing of 210 degrees; the other group contained two
individuals and was located at two kilometres distance from this location on a bearing of 140
degrees. One troop of six or seven Black-shanked Douc Langurs was seen at 12°14’0.5”N
108°37’38.6”E. The tracks of one muntjac species and two Wild Pigs were recorded, and a
footprint of a Southwest China Serow was found near to the side of a waterfall at 12°13’52.9”N
108°37’31.3”E. Scratches made by a bear species, thought most likely to be a Sun Bear were
found in ten locations, seven of these were old, but three had been made very recently, two of
these were at 12°13’52.9”N 108° 37’31.3”E and 12°14’49.5”N 108°37’25.9”E.
Forest Compartment 56
In this forest compartment, one troop of Black-shanked Douc Langurs was seen at 12°13’51.6”N
108°34’07.5”E, but it was not possible to estimate the number of individuals involved. Tracks
made by a Sambar and a muntjac species were recorded as were many tracks and dung from Wild
Pig. Very old scratch marks made by Asian Black Bear Ursus thibetanus were found on a tree.
Additionally, the survey team recorded one Impressed Tortoise Manouria impressa, one Hog
Badger Arctonyx collaris, two Black Giant Squirrel Ratufa bicolor and heard one Crested Argus.
Forest Compartment 58
This forest compartment is almost completely covered by coniferous forest dominated by Pinus
kesiya. The only indicator species recorded was Wild Pig, which was detected by footprints. In
addition, droppings made by an East Asian Porcupine were found in two locations.
Forest Compartment 59
This forest compartment contains significant areas of broadleaved evergreen forest. In this habitat
Collared Laughingthrush was seen and heard at 12°08’18.3”N 108°28’02.9”E, 1,737 m elevation,
and Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbons were heard vocalising. A number of ungulate species were
also recorded, namely Sambar, muntjac species and Wild Pig. Three other species of bird
restricted to the Da Lat Plateau Endemic Bird Area were recorded, namely Black-hooded
Laughingthrush Garrulax milleti (Near Threatened), Orange-breasted Laughingthrush Garrulax
annamensis and Vietnam Greenfinch Carduelis monguilotti (Near Threatened), as well as one
more widespread Near Threatened species, Short-tailed Scimitar-babbler Jabouilleia danjoui.
35

Forest Compartment 60
Although this forest compartment contains a large area of broadleaved evergreen forest at suitable
altitude for a number of the indicator species, no indicator species were recorded during the
survey.
Forest Compartment 76
This forest compartment contains both broadleaved evergreen forest and coniferous forest.
Collared Laughingthrush was seen and heard at 12°06’50.4”N 108°25’19.6”E, 1,848 m elevation,
and Wild Pig was also detected. The only other species of conservation concern recorded in this
forest compartment was Short-tailed Scimitar-babbler.
Forest Compartment 77
This forest compartment supports a large area of broadleaved evergreen forest. Collared
Laughingthrush was seen and heard at 12°07’36.6”N 108°25’24.0”E, 1,950 m elevation, and a
troop of Stump-tailed Macaque was seen at 12°09’4.4”N 108°26’22.3”E, 1,519 m elevation. A
muntjac species and Wild Pig were recorded and one Yellow-billed Nuthatch Sitta solangiae
(Near Threatened) was seen.
Forest Compartment 78
Although this forest compartment contains a large area of broadleaved evergreen forest at an
elevation suitable for a number of the indicator species, none were recorded during the field
survey. One Near Threatened species, Short-tailed Scimitar-babbler, was heard and seen.
Forest Compartment 79B
This forest compartment contains a large area of broadleaved evergreen forest. In this habitat
Collared Laughingthrush was heard and seen at 12°07’44.8”N 108°29’26.5”E, 1,840 m elevation.
Forest Compartment 89
Collared Laughingthrush was found commonly in this forest compartment and one group of
Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon was found at 12°10’28”N 108°42’31”E and footprints made by a
muntjac species were recorded. Crested Argus, Short-tailed Scimitar-babbler and White-cheeked
Laughingthrush were also recorded. Although it was not recorded by the survey team, the
occurrence of Grey-crowned Crocias in this forest compartment has been confirmed by a Mr. Do
Manh Hung, vice-Director of Bi Doup-Nui Ba National Park. He has made photographic records
of this species from and near close to route 723 at altitudes of 1, 450 m and 1,600 m elevation (Do
Manh Hung pers.comm).
Forest Compartment 90
Collared Laughingthrush was found commonly in this forest compartment. One group of Yellowcheeked
Crested Gibbon was heard at 12°10’37”N 108°41’35”E. Short-tailed Scimitar-babbler,
White-cheeked Laughingthrush and Yellow-billed Nuthatch were also recorded.
Forest Compartment 91
Collared Laughingthrush was found commonly in this forest compartment, and White-cheeked
Laughingthrush and Yellow-billed Nuthatch were also recorded.
Forest Compartment 100
This forest compartment contains a number of forest types. In the broadleaved evergreen forest
Collared Laughingthrush was heard and seen at 12°06’48.7”N 108°25’30.9”E, 1,771 m elevation
36

and a troop of Stump-tailed Macaque was recorded. White-cheeked Laughingthrush was also
recorded.
Forest Compartment 102
Although this forest compartment contains only small patches of broadleaved evergreen forest,
Collared Laughingthrush was seen and heard at four locations: 12°06’9.2”N 108°23’26.4”E, 1,868
m elevation, 12°05’41.4”N 108°24’40.1”E, 1,646 m elevation, 12°05’39.7”N 108°24’36.5”E,
1,657 m elevation, and 12°06’05.7”N 108°22’22.3”E, 1,762 m elevation. In addition, the
footprints of a muntjac species were seen. White-cheeked Laughingthrush, Short-tailed Scimitarbabbler,
Black-headed Parrotbill Paradoxornis margaritae (Near Threatened) and Yellow-billed
Nuthatch were also recorded.
Forest Compartment 103
Collared Laughingthrush was found commonly in this forest compartment, and a group of
Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon was heard at 12°5’15”N 108°21’5”E. White-cheeked
Laughingthrush, Short-tailed Scimitar-babbler, Vietnam Greenfinch and Yellow-billed Nuthatch
were also recorded.
Forest Compartment 124
Collared Laughingthrush was recorded in this forest compartment and fresh footprints of a Sambar
were found in this forest compartment along the trail to Mt Gia Rich. Short-tailed Scimitar
babbler, White-cheeked Laughingthrush, Black-headed Parrotbill and Yellow-billed Nuthatch
were also recorded.
Forest Compartment 125
Footprints made by Wild Pig were found in this forest compartment.
Forest Compartment 127A
In this forest compartment, foraging signs left by a troop of Stump-tailed Macaque were found at
12°02’45.5”N 108°41’32.5”E, 1,836m elevation. Footprints made by Sambar (at 12°02’31.5”N
108°41’20.3”E, 1,787 m elevation), a muntjac species and Wild Pig were also recorded.
3.2.2 Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest
3.2.2.1 Gymnosperms
Surveys to locate key species of Gymnosperm were conducted in six forest compartments.
Gymnosperms of high value for conservation were found in all of them (see Map 8). The
following paragraphs detail the occurrence of Gymnosperms in each of the compartments
surveyed, which are summarised in Table 6.
Table 6. The occurance of Gymnosperms of conservation concern in surveyed
compartments in Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest
Species 42 61 62 63 75 93
Pinus krempfii
Pinus dalatensis
Fokienia hodginsii
Dacrycarpus imbricatus
Dacrydium elatum
37

Keteleeria davidiana
Keteleeria evelyniana
Nageia wallichiana
Podocarpus neriifolius
Podocarpus pilgeri
Taxus wallichiana
Cephalotaxus mannii
Calocedrus macrolepis
Pinus latteri
Note: shaded cells indicate detection, blank cells indicate that the species was not detected
Forest Compartment 42
In this forest compartment three indicator species were found. Two Pinus krempfii (40 cm
diameter at breast height) were recorded as well as six large Dacrycarpus imbricatus and
many saplings. A number of Podocarpus neriifolius were found growing throughout the
forest.
Forest Compartment 61
In this forest compartment three indicator species were found. One Pinus krempfii (80 cm
diameter at breast height) was found at 12°08’36.3”N 108°25’03.8”E, 1,572 m elevation. A
stand of four Dacrycarpus imbricatus with many regenerating saplings was found at
12°08’25.8”N 108°24’33.3”E, 1,568 m elevation, and many Podocarpus neriifolius
(including a large number of saplings) were found scattered throughout the forest
compartment.
Forest Compartment 62
Three indicator species were found in this forest compartment. A number of small
Podocarpus neriifolius were found scattered throughout the compartment. One Dacrycarpus
imbricatus (100 cm diameter at breast height) was found at 12°10’25.3”N 108°24’32.6”E,
1,582 m elevation, and another two were at 12°08’31.0”N 108°33’34.1”E, 1,573 m elevation.
In addition, one Pinus krempfii (30 cm diameter at breast height) with no associated saplings
was found at 12°09’55.3”N 108°23’44.3”E.
Forest Compartment 63
In this forest compartment three indicator species were recorded. One Pinus krempfii (30 cm
diameter at breast height) with two associated saplings (0.6 to 1.2 m high) were recorded at
12°09’23.5”N 108°23’08.6”E, 1,562 m elevation. One Dacrycarpus imbricatus (20 cm
diameter at breast height) with many associated saplings was recorded at 12°10’16.9”N
108°24’42.4”E, 1,548 m elevation. Although no mature specimens were found, Podocarpus
neriifolius saplings were regularly recorded.
Forest Compartment 75
In this forest compartment there are substancial areas of broadleaved evergreen forests as well
as some areas of Pinus kesiya. Three indicator species were found in this forest compartment.
One Pinus krempfii (30 cm diameter at breast height) with many associated saplings was
found at 12°06’50.2”N 108°24’17.2”E, 1,562 m elevation, and one Dacrycarpus imbricatus
(50-60 cm diameter at breast height) was found 10 metres from that location. In addition, two
Pinus krempfii were found at 12°06’27”N 108°22’32”E, 1,605 m elevation. Many saplings of
Dacrycarpus imbricatus and Podocarpus neriifolius were found throughout the forest
compartment
38

Forest Compartment 93
This forest compartment was not on the original survey itinerary; however, the survey team
located two Keteleeria evelyniana (50 cm diameter at breast height) at 12°08’02”N
108°39’00”E, 1,423 m elevation, on grassland adjacent to Pinus kesiya forest.
3.2.2.2 Mammals and birds
Surveys to locate key species of mammal and bird were conducted in four forest
compartments. Mammals or birds of high value for conservation were found in all of them
(see Map 9). The following paragraphs detail the occurrence of Mammals and birds of
conservation concern in each of the compartments surveyed, which are summarised in Table
7.
Table 7. The occurance of mammals and birds in surveyed compartments in Da Nhim
Watershed Protection Forest
Species 42 61 62 63 75A
Grey-crowned Crocias
Collared Laughingthrush
Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon
Black-shanked Douc Langur
Stump-tailed Macaque
Northern Pig-tailed Macaque
Gaur
Banteng
Southwest China Serow
Sambar
Large-antlered Muntjac
Muntjac sp.
Wild Pig
Bear sp.
Note: shaded cells indicate detection, blank cells indicate that the species was not detected
Forest Compartment 42
This compartment contains a significant quantity of broadleaved evergreen forest, including some
at altitudes suitable for Grey-crowned Crocias. Consequently the field survey focused on trying to
locate this species. Although this species was not found, a troop of at least ten Northern Pig-tailed
Macaques was recorded close to the road which heads north into Dak Lak Province and footprints
made by a Wild Pig were recorded.
Forest Compartment 61
This forest compartment contains broadleaved evergreen forest at an elevation suitable for Greycrowned
Crocias, however, it was not recorded in this forest compartment during the field survey.
It also supports forest at an elevation suitable for Collared Laughingthrush, that species was
recorded at three locations: 12°08’44.1”N 108°24’25.1”E, 1,674 m elevation, 12°08’43.4”N
108°24’06.4”E, 1,598 elevation, and 12°08’28.6”N 108°23’43.7”E, 1,558 elevation. Footprints of
a Wild Pig were seen along a dirt road in this forest compartment. Three species restricted to the
Da Lat Plateau Endemic Bird Area, Orange-breasted Laughingthrush, Vietnamese Cutia Cutia
legalleni (Near Threatened) and Vietnam Greenfinch, and two other restricted-range Near
Threatened species, Short-tailed Scimitar-babbler and Yellow-billed Nuthatch were also recorded.
39

Forest Compartment 62
Grey-crowned Crocias was seen and photographed at two locations in this forest compartment in
broadleaved evergreen forest adjacent to a dirt road. The locations were 12°09’27.3”N
108°22’08.4”E, 1,517 m elevation, and 12°09’08.0”N 108°22’34.8”E, 1,506 m elevation.
Additionally, in this forest compartment vocalisations made by a troop of Stump-tailed Macaque
were heard at 12°10’35.6”N 108°25’09.0”E, 1,630 m elevation and footprints made by a Wild Pig
were recorded. Two other species of conservation concern, namely Orange-breasted
Laughingthrush and Yellow-billed Nuthatch were also recorded.
Forest Compartment 75A
Much of the forest in this forest compartment is broadleaved evergreen, at an altitude suitable for
Grey-crowned Crocias. However, this species was not recorded in this forest compartment. Four
indicator species were recorded in this forest compartment. Collared Laughingthrush was heard
and seen, one group of Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbons was heard vocalising (at 12°6’0.2”N
108°22’54”E), and a Wild Pig and a muntjac species were detected through their footprints. Four
bird species of conservation concern were recorded in this forest compartment, namely Shorttailed
Scimitar-babbler, Vietnamese Cutia, Yellow-billed Nuthatch and Black-headed Parrotbill.
3.2.3 D'Ran Watershed Protection Forest
3.2.3.1 Gymnosperms
Surveys to locate key species of Gymnosperm were conducted in four forest compartments.
Gymnosperms of high value for conservation were found in all of them (see Map 10). The
following paragraphs detail the occurrence of Gymnosperms in each of the compartments
surveyed, which are summarised in Table 8.
Table 8. The occurance of Gymnosperms of conservation concern in surveyed
compartments in D’Ran Watershed Protection Forest
Species 314 315 324C 325A
Pinus krempfii
Pinus dalatensis
Fokienia hodginsii
Dacrycarpus imbricatus
Dacrydium elatum
Keteleeria davidiana
Keteleeria evelyniana
Nageia wallichiana
Podocarpus neriifolius
Podocarpus pilgeri
Taxus wallichiana
Cephalotaxus mannii
Calocedrus macrolepis
Pinus latteri
Note: shaded cells indicate detection, blank cells indicate that the species was not detected
Forest Compartment 314
In this forest compartment the survey was conducted in a low lying area close to Da Nhim
Lake which supported broadleaved evergreen forests mixed with some coniferous forests
dominated by Pinus kesiya. Two indicator species were found in this compartment, namely
Keteleeria evelyniana and Dacrycarpus imbricatus. Fifteen Keteleeria evelyniana were found
growing close together at 11°53’02”N 108°37’45”E, 1,177 m elevation. Dacrycarpus
40

imbricatus was only found in broadleaved evergreen forest, it was recorded at 11°47’51”N
108°29’50”E, 1,352 m elevation. In the northern part of this forest comaprtment, in an area
which the survey team did not have time to survey, Mr. Ke (staff of D'Ran Watershed
Protection Forest) reported the presence of Fokienia hodginsii, Calocedrus macrolepis, and
Cephalotaxus mannii,. Additional forest compartment 324A and 324B are also presenting
trees such as Dacrycarpus imbricatus, Taxus wallichiana, Cephalotaxus mannii and Nageia
wallichiana.
Forest Compartment 315
The forest cover in this forest compartment is similar to that in forest compartment 314. The
only indicator species found was Keteleeria evelyniana. A stand of five trees was seen at
11°52’28”N 108°37’50”E, 1,281 m elevation.
Forest Compartment 324C
The forest cover in this forest compartment is primarily coniferous forest dominated by Pinus
kesiya, although patches of broadleaved evergreen forest persists along streams. In one patch
of broadleaved evergreen forest, three indicator species were recorded, namely Dacrycarpus
imbricatus, Nageia wallichiana, and Taxus wallichiana, as well as one additional
Gymnosperm species: Cephalotaxus mannii. Two Cephalotaxus mannii were recorded at
11°47’52”N 108°29’0.0”E 1,450 m elevation. Taxus wallichiana was more abundant and was
scattered throughout remaining broadleaved evergreen forest. Dacrycarpus imbricatus was
also found throughout the forest compartment, notably a stand of three trees was found at
11°47’56”N 108°29’47”E, 1,409 m elevation, and one tree with a diameter at breast height of
100 cm was found at 11°47’51”N 108°29’50”E, 1,352 m elevation. Although quite a large
number of Nageia wallichiana were recorded, they were all saplings.
Forest Compartment 325A
The forest cover in this forest compartment is similar to that in forest compartment 324C. In
one patch of broadleaved evergreen forest three indicator species were found, namely
Dacrycarpus imbricatus, Nageia wallichiana, and Taxus wallichiana, as well as one
additional Gymnosperm species: Cephalotaxus mannii. Taxus wallichiana was found
scattered throughout suitable habitat, with one notable individual recorded at 11°47’50”N
108°29’41”E, 1,451m elevation. Dacrycarpus imbricatus exhibited a similar distribution and
was found entirely as singletons, except for two trees growing close by one another at
11°47’54”N 108°29’02”E, 1,475 m elevation. Nageia wallichiana was more abundant than
either of these two preceeding species, but only saplings were found. Two Cephalotaxus
mannii were recorded at 11°47’54”N 108°29’02”E, 1,475 m elevation, one of these trees had
a diameter at breast height of 60 cm. Ngo Thanh Phuong, a member of staff from this Forest
Management Unit, reported that in the south-west of this forest compartment (an area which
could not be surveyed owing to time constraints) there is a small group of Cephalotaxus
mannii.
3.2.3.2 Mammals and birds
Surveys to locate key species of mammal and bird were conducted in five forest
compartments. Mammals or birds of high value for conservation were found in three (60%) of
them (see Map 11). The following paragraphs detail the occurrence of Mammals and birds of
conservation concern in each of the compartments surveyed, which are summarised in Table
9.
41

Table 9. The occurance of mammals and birds in surveyed compartments in D’Ran
Watershed Protection Forest
Species 312A 314 315 324A 324B 324C 325A
Grey-crowned Crocias
Collared Laughingthrush
Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon
Black-shanked Douc Langur
Stump-tailed Macaque
Northern Pig-tailed Macaque
Gaur
Banteng
Southwest China Serow
Sambar
Large-antlered Muntjac
Muntjac sp.
Wild Pig
Bear sp.
Note: shaded cells indicate detection, blank cells indicate that the species was not detected
Forest compartment 312A
This forest compartment supports mixed broadleaved evergreen and coniferous forest at 1,000
to 1,200 m elevation. One group of Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon was heard at
11°53’0.2”N 108°36’0.4”E.
Forest compartment 314
This forest compartment supports mixed broadleaved evergreen and coniferous forest at 1,000
to 1,200 m elevation. In this habitat one pair of Grey-crowned Crocias was recorded at
11°53’27.0”N 108°37’40.3”E, 1,128 m elevation. In addition, two groups of Yellow-cheeked
Crested Gibbon were heard at 11°53’2”N 108°37’4.0”E and 11°54’3.0”N 108°38’3.0”E.
Black-hooded Laughingthrush, White-cheeked Laughingthrush and Yellow-billed Nuthatch
were also recorded.
Forest Compartment 315
This forest compartment supports similar habitat to forest compartment 315. Two pairs of
Grey-crowned Crocias were recorded at 11°52’45.2”N 108°37’30.2”E, 1,230 m elevation,
and 11°51’26.7”N 108°37’40.3”E, 1,030 m elevation, respectively. Two other species of
conservation concern were recorded, namely Black-hooded Laughingthrush and Whitecheeked
Laughingthrush.
42

Forest compartments 324C and 325
As predicted by the desk analysis, no indicator species were found in these forest
compartments. The field surveys confirmed that these forest compartments do not contain
habitat suitable for any of the indicator species.
3.2.4 Don Duong Forest Company
3.2.4.1 Gymnosperms
Surveys to locate key species of Gymnosperm were conducted in three forest compartments.
Gymnosperms of high value for conservation were found in all of them (see Map 12). The
following paragraphs detail the occurrence of Gymnosperms in each of the compartments
surveyed which are summarised in Table 10.
Table 10. The occurance of Gymnosperms of conservation concern in surveyed
compartments in Don Duong Forest Company
Species 326 327 331
Pinus krempfii
Pinus dalatensis
Fokienia hodginsii
Dacrycarpus imbricatus
Dacrydium elatum
Keteleeria davidiana
Keteleeria evelyniana
Nageia wallichiana
Podocarpus neriifolius
Podocarpus pilgeri
Taxus wallichiana
Cephalotaxus mannii
Calocedrus macrolepis
Pinus latteri
Note: shaded cells indicate detection, blank cells indicate that the species was not detected
Owing to time constraints, the team was not able to survey forest compartments 333A, 333B
and 336 as planned. However, when travelling to forest compartment 331 they were able to
survey forest compartments 326 and 327. Staff of Don Duong Forest Company reported that
forest compartment 318 supports a population of Fokienia hodginsii and three standing Pinus
dalatensis, and forest compartment 333A supports a stand of Nageia wallichiana distributed
over three hectares (the diameter at breast height of some of these trees is reported to be 50 to
60 cm).
Forest Compartment 326
This forest compartment supports selectively logged broadleaved evergreen forest. Four
indicator species were recorded in this forest compartment, namely Dacrycarpus imbricatus,
Dacrydium elatum, Nageia wallichiana and Podocarpus neriifolius. Just one sapling of
Nageia wallichiana was recorded, at 11°44’0.0”N 108°35’58”E, 1,231 m elevation, and only
one Dacrydium elatum was found, at 11°42’55”N 108°35’15”E, 1,234 m elevation.
Dacrycarpus imbricatus was found more commonly than either of the two preceeding
species, although individuals were highly scattered. A number of Podocarpus neriifolius
(diameter at breast height of most trees was approximately 20 cm) were found, similarly
scattered throughout suitable habitat.
43

Forest Compartment 327
The main forest cover type in this compartment is deciduous forest dominated by members of
the family Dipterocarpaceae. The forest compartment supports just one patch of exploited
broadleaved evergreen forest located close to the boundary with forest compartment 326. In
this forest patch two indicator species were recorded, namely Dacrycarpus imbricatus and
Podocarpus neriifolius. They were both scarce and occured as scattered individuals, although
a stand of four Podocarpus neriifolius were found at 11°43’37”N 108°36’32”E, 1,115 m
elevation. Additionally, another Gymnosperm, Pinus latteri (considered Near Threatened by
IUCN) was recorded at 11°43’09”N 108°36’85”E, 828 m elevation.
Forest Compartment 331
This forest compartment is dominated by coniferous forest, bamboo forest and deciduous
forest dominted by members of the family Dipterocarpaceae. Only a small part of the forest
compartment located close to the boundary with forest compartment 326 is exploited
broadleaved evergreen forest. This forest patch supported three indicator species, namely
Dacrycarpus imbricatus, Nageia wallichiana and Podocarpus neriifolius. One Nageia
wallichiana (diameter at breast height 20 cm) was recorded at 11°42’36”N 108°36’18”E,
1,131 m elevation. In addition, a group of 20 Pinus latteri were seen at 11°42’33”N
108°36’18”E.
3.2.4.2 Mammals and birds
Surveys to locate key species of mammal and bird were conducted in three forest
compartments. Mammals or birds of high value for conservation were found in all of them
(see Map 13). The following paragraphs detail the occurrence of Mammals and birds of
conservation concern in each of the compartments surveyed, which are summarised in Table
11.
Table 11. The occurance of mammals and birds in surveyed compartments in Don
Duong Forest Company
Species 326 327 331
Grey-crowned Crocias
Collared Laughingthrush
Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon
Black-shanked Douc Langur
Stump-tailed Macaque
Northern Pig-tailed Macaque
Gaur
Banteng
Southwest China Serow
Sambar
Large-antlered Muntjac
Muntjac sp.
Wild Pig
Bear sp.
Note: shaded cells indicate detection, blank cells indicate that the species was not detected
Forest Compartment 326
44

This forest compartment contains a significant area of broadleaved evergreen forest at an
elevation suitable for Grey-crowned Crocias. Seven pairs of Grey-crowned Crocias were
recorded along a 25 kilometer transect that passed through this forest compartment and forest
compartment 331. In addition, Black-hooded Laughingthrush, Orange-breasted
Laughingthrush, White-cheeked Laughingthrush and Yellow-billed Nuthatch were recorded.
Forest Compartment 327
Although this forest compartment was not in the original survey plan, informants reported the
presence of Banteng Bos javanicus so it was decided that it should be surveyed. This forest
compartment is predominantly deciduous forests dominated by members of the family
Dipterocarpaceae with just a small area of exploited broadleaved evergreen forest. During the
survey three fresh Banteng tracks were recorded at 11°42’47.7”N 108°40’06.4”E. Local
residents also reported the presence of Banteng as follows: Mr. Ngo Vuong reported that
during October 2008 two Banteng raided his maize crop at 11°43’22.7”N 108°39’02.8”E, and
Mr. Ama Vien (of Ya Hoa village, Kado Commune, Don Duong District) reported that in
2008 a herd of approximately 20 Banteng destroyed his crops, tracks of this herd could still be
seen at 11°42’47.7”N 108°40’06.4”E. A number of other indicator species were recorded.
One group of two Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon was heard from 11°41’41.6”N
106°38’34.0”E, located at two kilometres distant from this point on a bearing of 350 degrees.
A troop of five or six Black-shanked Douc Langurs was seen at 11°43’53”N 108°36’14”E.
Footprints of Sambar (at 11°43’39.6”N 108°39’29.7”E), a muntjac species, Wild Pig and
droppings from a Siamese Hare Lepus peguensis were recorded. Small Asian Mongoose
Herpestes javanicus was also seen. White-cheeked Laughingthrush and Black-hooded
Laughingthrush were recorded.
Forest Compartment 331
This forest compartment supports similar vegetation to the adjacent forest compartment 327.
Seven pairs of Grey-crowned Crocias were encountered along a 25 kilometer transect that
passed through this forest compartment and forest compartment 326. The Grey-crowned
Crocias were recorded at 11°44’09.3”N 108°34’39.6”E 1,195 m elevation, 11°43’39.2”N
108°34’47.3”E, 1,218 m elevation, 11°43’20.0”N 108°34’45.0”E, 1,218 m elevation,
11°43’10.3”N 108°34’40.5”E, 1,237 m elevation, 11°42’56.0”N 108°34’36.4”E, 1,302 m
elevation, 11°42’44.0”N 108°35’31.7”E, 1,008 m elevation and 11°44’27.5”N
108°35’06.0”E, 1,257 m elevation. One group of two Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbons was
heard from 11°12’22.8”N 108°38’03.3”E located at two kilometres distant on a bearing of
340 degrees. The only other primate recorded was one Black-shanked Douc Langur, which
had been killed by hunters. Footprints of Sambar (at 11°43’06.0”N 108°38’23.6”E), a muntjac
species and Wild Pig were recorded. In addition, Black-hooded Laughingthrush, Orangebreasted
Laughingthrush and White-cheeked Laughingthrush were recorded.
3.2.5 Lam Vien Landscape Protection Area
3.2.5.1 Gymnosperms
A survey to locate key species of Gymnosperm was conducted in one forest compartments.
Gymnosperms of high value for conservation were found in that forest compartment (see Map
14). The following paragraphs detail the occurrence of Gymnosperms in each of the
compartments surveyed, which are summarised in Table 12.
45

Table 12. The occurance of Gymnosperms of conservation concern in surveyed
compartments in Lam Vien Landscape Protection Area
Species 162
Pinus krempfii
Pinus dalatensis
Fokienia hodginsii
Dacrycarpus imbricatus
Dacrydium elatum
Keteleeria davidiana
Keteleeria evelyniana
Nageia wallichiana
Podocarpus neriifolius
Podocarpus pilgeri
Taxus wallichiana
Cephalotaxus mannii
Calocedrus macrolepis
Pinus latteri
Note: shaded cells indicate detection, blank cells indicate that the species was not detected
Forest Compartment 162
Four indicator species were found in this forest compartment, namely Dacrycarpus
imbricatus, Nageia wallichiana, Podocarpus neriifolius and Taxus wallichiana. At
11°53’27.1”N 108°24’21.5”E, 1,606 m elevation, one mature Dacrycarpus imbricatus (30 cm
diameter at breast height) was found with many saplings of this species and Taxus
wallichiana close by. At 11°53’23.0”N 108°24’22.6”E, 1,560 m elevation, two mature
Nageia wallichiana and many small saplings were found. Two standing mature Taxus
wallichiana were found, one at 11°52’02.1”N 106°34’23.2”E, 1,553 m elevation, (36 cm
diameter at breast height, 20 m high), another at 11°53’27.1”N 108°24’15.5”E, 1,606 m
elevation, (50 cm diameter at breast height, 25 m high), and one fallen tree (100 cm diameter
at breast height) was found at 12°01’58.0”N 108°24’32.1”E, 1,587 m elevation. At the latter
location many saplings (0.4 to 5.0 m high) of Podocarpus neriifolius were found. Many
saplings of Taxus wallichiana and Nageia wallichiana were found at 12°01’58.2”N
108°24’28.0”E, 1,569 m elevation.
3.2.5.2 Mammals and birds
Surveys to locate key species of mammal and bird were not conducted in this Forest
Management Unit, for reasons stated in section 3.1.2.
3.3 Results of the field survey presented by species
3.3.1 Species accounts for indicator species
The following paragraphs summarise the status of the indicator species in the project area. For
each species, the species name is given first, followed by the IUCN Red List category (IUCN
2009), followed by the Vietnamese Red List Category (Anon 2007) (if relevant). If the
species is a restricted-range bird (Stattersfield et al. 1998) then this is indicated after the
IUCN threat category.
46

Cephalotaxus mannii Vulnerable, Vulnerable
Survey results suggest that this species is rare in the project area. Most records came from
D'Ran Watershed Protection Forest (two each in forest compartments 324C and 325A). Staff
of this Forest Management Unit report that there is also a small stand of Cephalotaxus mannii
in an area not covered by the survey. A singleton was recorded in forest compartment 103 of
Bidoup Nui Ba National Park.
Fokienia hodginsii Near Threatened, Endangered
The field survey only recorded this species in Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, although staff of
D'Ran Watershed Protection Forest and Don Duong Forest Company both report that they
have small populations of Fokienia hodginsii in areas which the survey team could not reach.
Significant stands were recorded in the south-west corner of the national park in forest
compartments 59 (15 to 20 trees in one stand) and 102A (a number of small stands). Along
the eastern edge of the national park in forest compartments 89, 90 and 124 very few large
trees remain; evidence suggests that during the last five years most of the large Fokienia
hodginsii have been logged from this area.
Photo 3. Route 723, Bidoup Nui Ba National Park. The loss of Fokienia hodginsii from forest
compartments 89, 90 and 124 rapidly followed the construction of this road.
Pinus krempfii Vulnerable
This species is distributed mainly in higher elevation forest; as such it was only recorded in
Bidoup Nui Ba National Park and Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest. It is particularly
common along ridges, where it forms single species stands or grows in association with other
Gymnosperms. Forest compartment 103 (Bidoup Nui Ba National Park) has a particularly
high density of the species. Owing to the low commercial value of this tree, some very large
individuals persist, notably in the south-west corner and eastern side of Bidoup Nui Ba
National Park.
47

Pinus dalatensis Data Deficient
This species was only found in Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, although staff from Don Duong
Forest Company report that there are three mature specimens in that Forest Management Unit.
It has similar habitat requirements to Pinus krempfii and was found in most of the forest
compartments where that species was found. However, it generally occurred at a much lower
density than Pinus krempfii. Records were almost all of singletons, although stands were
found in compartments 124 and 127A.
Pinus latteri Near Threatened
Data would suggest that this species is rare and localised in the project area. This species was
only recorded in adjacent forest compartments 327 and 331 of Don Duong Forest Company,
distributed in small stands.
Keteleeria evelyniana Least Concern, Vulnerable
This species is scarce in the project area. Results suggest that it is most common in D'Ran
Watershed Protection Forest: a stand of fifteen trees was found in forest compartment 314 and
a stand of five found in forest compartment 315. Additionally, six mature individuals were
found in forest compartment 128 of Bidoup Nui Ba National Park and two in forest
compartment 93 of Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest.
Taxus wallichiana Data Deficient, Vulnerable
Owing to high logging pressure, mature individuals of this species are highly localised in the
project area. The largest number of individuals was found in remnant broadleaved evergreen
forest patches in D'Ran Watershed Protection Forest. Staff of this Forest Management Unit
reported that in compartments 324A, 324B, 324C and 325A there are 60 Taxus wallichiana
(20 to 60 cm diameter at breast height). The newest report by the management board states
that there are 54 Taxus wallichiana with a diameter at breast height of at least 10 cm in
compartments 324A, 324B, 324C and 325A with known coordinates. During the survey, the
team recorded a tree with ordinal number 42, as well as quite a number of Taxus wallichiana
without numbers. We therefore presume that there may be more than 60 large trees of this
species in this Forest Management Unit. Mature trees were also found in Bidoup Nui Ba
National Park: twelve Taxus wallichiana were found in forest compartment 102A, staff from
that Forest Management Unit report that there are approximately 30 trees in that forest
compartment, and four large Taxus wallichiana were found in forest compartment 128.
Additionally, two mature trees were found in forest compartment 162 of Lam Vien Landscape
Protection Area. Small saplings were seen in an additional five forest compartments of
Bidoup Nui Ba National Park (76, 78, 89, 100 and 127).
Dacrycarpus imbricatus Least Concern
This species is found in almost all surveyed forest compartments, albeit as scattered
individuals and occasionally, small groups. It is likely to occur in all areas of suitable habitat
throughout the project area. Although it is an important timber species, large, mature trees
were found in most surveyed forest compartments. Many seedlings were also encountered,
indicating that potential recruitment is high.
Podocarpus neriifolius Least Concern
This species is widely distributed in the survey area, although it was not recorded from D'Ran
Watershed Protection Forest (perhaps owing to the lower elevation of forest surveyed at that
site). Almost all of the individuals recorded were saplings, indicating that there has been
substantial illegal selective logging of this species. A very small number of mature individuals
48

were recorded in forest compartments 103 (Bidoup Nui Ba National Park) and 326 and 327
(D'Ran Watershed Protection Forest). This species is highly valued for its timber with waterresistant
and insect-repellent properties.
Dacrydium elatum Least Concern
This species is scarce and localised in the project area. Small numbers of trees were found
scattered throughout the adjacent forest compartments 89, 90 and 124 on the eastern side of
Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, and the species was also recorded in forest compartment 102A
of that Forest Management Unit. One individual was recorded in Don Duong Forest
Company, in forest compartment 326.
Nageia wallichiana Least Concern
Mature individuals of this species are rare in the project area. Mature trees were recorded in
forest compartment 89 in Bidoup Nui Ba National Park (two trees), forest compartment 331
in Don Duong Forest Company (one tree) and forest compartment 162 of Lam Vien
Landscape Protection Area (two trees). Saplings were also recorded in forest compartment
324C and 325A of D'Ran Watershed Protection Forest and forest compartment 326 of Don
Duong Forest Company. Notably, staff of Don Duong Forest Company report that forest
compartment 333A supports a stand of mature Nageia wallichiana distributed over three
hectares.
Calocedrus macrolepis Vulnerable
This species was not recorded during the field survey. However, staff from D'Ran Watershed
Protection Forest reported that this species was present in a part of forest compartment 324
which the team were unable to survey.
Stump-tailed Macaque Macaca arctoides Vulnerable, Vulnerable
During the field survey, Stump-tailed Macaque was mainly recorded in Bidoup Nui Ba National
Park. Other than one record in forest compartment 77 in the south-east of the national park and
one record in forest compartment 127A in the south-west, all the other records were made in the
north and north-east area of the national park. Additionally, vocalisations of this species were
heard in forest compartment 62 of Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest and rangers reported its
presence in forest compartment 313 of D'Ran Watershed Protection Forest and forest
compartments 43, 44 and 89 of Bidoup Nui Ba National Park.
Northern Pig-tailed Macaque Macaca leonina Vulnerable, Vulnerable
This species was recorded only once during the field survey, a troop of at least ten individuals was
seen in forest compartment 42, Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest.
Black-shanked Douc Langur Pygathrix nigripes Endangered, Endangered
Black-shanked Douc Langur was recorded from two Forest Management Units during the field
survey. In Bidoup Nui Ba National Park it was only recorded from the centre-north and north-east
areas of the national park. One troop was seen in forest compartment 327 of Don Duong Forest
Company, confirming the existence of the species at that Forest Management Unit. The discovery
of a recently hunted Black-shanked Douc Langur exemplifies the threat to this species throughout
the project area. During the field survey, recorded group size was relatively small, other than one
troop of 14 individuals, all the other troops numbered only four to seven animals. In addition to
the animals seen during the survey, rangers also reported that Black-shanked Douc Langurs
occurred in forest compartments 43, 44 and 89 of Bidoup Nui Ba National Park and forest
compartment 313 of D'Ran Watershed Protection Forest.
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Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon Nomascus gabriellae Endangered, Endangered
This species was found to be widely distributed in broadleaved evergreen forest throughout
the project area. During the survey, most of the records came from Bidoup Nui Ba National
Park, particularly in the more remote areas. Suitable habitat in the centre-north and eastern
edge of the national park supported good numbers of Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon. Only
three groups were found in the large block of suitable habitat located on the south-west edge
of Bidoup Nui Ba National Park and the adjacent south-west corner of the north-west sector
of Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest; this area is bisected by a road with a number of
small settlements. Suitable habitat at D'Ran Watershed Protection Forest and Don Duong
Forest Company also supports populations of Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbons.
Sun Bear Helarctos malayanus Vulnerable, Endangered
This species was recorded only in north-centre and north-west of Bidoup Nui Ba National
Park (forest compartments 47, 50, 51 and 54), the most remote part of the project area. In
these areas recent scratch marks were found on trees in a number of locations, indicating that
this area, and particularly forest compartment 54 where ten scratch marks were found, still
supports a significant population of this species. If confirmed, these would probably be the
first records of Sun Bear for Bidoup Nui Ba National Park. However, the identification of
bears to species level based on scratch marks is notoriously problematic, and the possibility
that some of these marks were made by Asiatic Black Bear cannot be ruled out.
Asiatic Black Bear Ursus thibetanus Vulnerable, Endangered
This species was recorded only once, through the presence of very old scratch marks made on
a tree in forest compartment 56 in the centre of Bidoup Nui Ba National Park. Hunters met
during the survey reported that this species is now extremely rare in the national park. It
seems likely that is species is almost extinct in the project area.
Wild Pig Sus scrofa Least Concern
This species was recorded in almost all forest compartments in all Forest Management Units
in the project area. It is likely to be fairly common throughout.
Muntjac species Muntiacus species
Footprints made by a muntjac species (either Red Muntjac Muntiacus muntjac or Largeantlered
Muntjac Muntiacus vuquangensis) were recorded in all Forest Management Units
except D'Ran Watershed Protection Forest, from where the species was reported by rangers.
The species were recorded in many forest compartments, but appear to be most common in
the north and east of Bidoup Nui Ba National Park.
Sambar Cervus unicolor Vulnerable, Vulnerable
Most of the records of this species came from Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, where it was
found in a number of locations. It was recorded in the centre-north, south-east and south-west
of the national park, and is therefore likely to be scarce, but present throughout. Although
rangers reported that it was present in forest compartment 313 of D'Ran Watershed Protection
Forest, the only confirmed records made during the survey outside of Bidoup Nui Ba National
Park were from forest compartments 327 and 331 of Don Duong Forest Company.
Gaur Bos gaurus Vulnerable, Endangered
This species was only recorded twice during the field survey and can therefore be assumed to
be rare in the project area. Single footprints were found in forest compartments 47 and 48 in
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the remote centre-north of Bidoup Nui Ba National Park. Rangers reported that this species
also persisted in forest compartments 22, 25 and 45 in the north-west of that Forest
Management Unit, close to the border with Chu Yang Sin National Park.
Banteng Bos javanicus Endangered, Endangered
This species was only recorded in forest compartment 327 of Don Duong Forest Company,
where according to reports from local people it is only seasonally resident. In the rainy season
the animals move to the eastern side of Hon Lon Mountain (Hoa Son Commune, Ninh Son
District, Ninh Thuan Province) and out of the Forest Management Unit. In this forest
compartment at least one Banteng has been hunted in the last ten years, and the animals
regularly raid crops. This species is now very rare in Vietnam: a recent survey of the species
in three of its strongholds (Yok Don National Park, Cat Tien National Park and Ea So Nature
Reserve) revealed only 49 individuals in seven herds (Manh Ha Nguyen 2009). Therefore the
discovery of this population at Don Duong Forest Company is of national significance.
Southwest China Serow Capricornis milneedwardsii Near Threatened, Endangered
This species was only recorded twice, through footprints found in very steep terrain in forest
compartments 50 and 54 in the north-west of Bidoup Nui Ba National Park. Owing to its
preference for steep slopes it is likely to be rare and localized in the project area.
Collared Laughingthrush Garrulax yersini Endangered, restricted-range, Endangered
Collared Laughingthrush was commonly recorded in broadleaved evergreen forest above
1,500 m elevation wherever this habitat occurred. Suitable habitat for this species is therefore
confined to Bidoup Nui Ba National Park and south-east corner of the north-west sector of Da
Nhim Watershed Protection Forest.
Grey-crowned Crocias Crocias langbianis Endangered, restricted-range, Endangered
Prior to the survey, the only modern records for Grey-crowned Crocias came from forest
compartments 158B, 161 and 162A in Lam Vien Landscape Protection Area and Chu Yang
Sin National Park in Dak Lak Province (BirdLife International 2009). During the field survey
it was found at a further three sites. Pairs were recorded at two locations at just over 1,500 m
elevation along a dirt road in forest compartment 62, Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest.
Although there is suitable habitat in adjacent Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, it was not found
in that Forest Management Unit. Three pairs were located in forest compartments 314 and 315
of D'Ran Watershed Protection Forest in a mosaic of broadleaved evergreen and coniferous
forest. A further seven pairs were found along a 25 km transect in forest compartments 326
and 331, Don Duong Forest Company. These birds were in logged broadleaved evergreen
forest. Forest at this site is being logged on a 35 year rotation.
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Photo 4. Grey-crowned Crocias, Don Duong Forest Company. This site is likely to hold a
globally significant population of this species.
3.3.2 Species accounts for other species of conservation concern
The following paragraphs summarise the status of other species of conservation concern in the
project area. The species name is given first, followed by the IUCN Red List category (IUCN
2009), followed by the Vietnamese Red List Category (Anon 2007) (if relevant). If the
species is a restricted-range bird (Stattersfield et al. 1998) then this is indicated after the
IUCN threat category.
Mole species Euroscaptor species
Tunnels just below the surface of the ground which almost certainly were made by a mole
Euroscaptor species were found in forest compartment 48 of Bidoup Nui Ba National Park. It
is possible that these were made by Small-toothed Mole Euroscaptor parvidens (Data
Deficient).
Pangolin species Manis species
Burrows thought to have been dug by a pangolin species were recorded in forest
compartments 48, 50 and 51 of Bidoup Nui Ba National Park.
Asian Golden Cat Pardofelis temminickii Near Threatened, Endangered
Tracks thought to have been made by this species were found in forest compartment 47,
Bidoup Nui Ba National Park.
Binturong Arctictis binturong Vulnerable, Endangered
One individual was seen in forest compartment 50 of Bidoup Nui Ba National Park.
Hog Badger Arctonyx collaris Near Threatened
One Hog Badger was recorded in forest compartment 56 of Bidoup Nui Ba National Park.
52

Crested Argus Rheinardia ocellata Near Threatened, restricted-range, Vulnerable
This species is a scarce and local resident of the project area. Crested Argus were recorded
through their vocalisations in forest compartment 47 (three birds), 56 and 89 of Bidoup Nui
Ba National Park.
Short-tailed Scimitar-babbler Jabouilleia danjoui Near Threatened restricted-range
This species is locally fairly common in the project area. It was regularly encountered in
Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, particularly in the south-west corner, and in the south-east
corner of the north-west sector of Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest.
Black-hooded Laughingthrush Garrulax milleti Near Threatened restricted-range
This species was recorded in forest compartment 59 of Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, forest
compartments 314 and 315 of D'Ran Watershed Protection Forest and forest compartments
326 and 331 of Don Duong Forest Company. This species is probably more common in the
project area than these records suggest, it is likely that this species was breeding and therefore
not vocalising at the time of the field survey.
White-cheeked Laughingthrush Garrulax vassali restricted-range
This species was found in edge habitat at suitable elevations throughout the project area, it is
fairly common in the project area.
Orange-breasted Laughingthrush Garrulax annamensis restricted-range
This species is uncommon in the project area. It was recorded in forest compartment 59 of
Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, forest compartments 61 and 62 of Da Nhim Watershed
Protection Forest and forest compartments 326 and 331 of Don Duong Forest Company.
Vietnamese Cutia Cutia legalleni Near Threatened restricted-range
This species is scarce and localised in the project area. It was only recorded in forest
compartments 61 and 75 of Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest.
Black-headed Parrotbill Paradoxornis margaritae Near Threatened
This species is uncommon in the project area. It was recorded in forest compartment 75 of Da
Nhim Watershed Protection Forest, forest compartments 102 and 124 of Bidoup Nui Ba National
Park and forest compartments 326 and 327 of Don Duong Forest Company.
Yellow-billed Nuthatch Sitta solangiae Near Threatened restricted-range
This species is locally common in the project area. It was recorded in forest compartments 77,
90, 91, 102, 103 and 124 of Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, forest compartments 61, 62 and 75
of Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest, forest compartment 314 of D'Ran Watershed
Protection Forest and forest compartment 326 of Don Duong Forest Company.
Vietnam Greenfinch Carduelis monguilloti Near Threatened restricted-range
This species was recorded in forest compartments 59 and 103 of Bidoup Nui Ba National
Park, and forest compartment 61 of Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest. At the latter site
nearly 100 birds were recorded perched in a broadleaved tree in an otherwise cleared field;
this is perhaps the largest flock of this species ever documented.
Impressed Tortoise Manouria impressa Vulnerable, Vulnerable
One individual was recorded in forest compartment 56 of Bidoup Nui Ba National Park.
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4. Multiple-use forest management plans
The results of the field surveys validated the results of the desk analysis. They confirmed that
the criteria used to remotely identify forest of high value for biodiversity were accurate, and
that these criteria could be used to identify and zone forest of high value for biodiversity
within the Forest Management Units. Even in forest compartments which contain forest of
high value for biodiversity according to the desk analysis and were surveyed and no indicator
species found, these are zoned as forest of high value for biodiversity. These forest
compartments are likely to contain indicator species, and other species of conservation value.
Moreover, because they contain suitable habitat for such species, with proper management
and enforcement they could support populations of threatened species.
Using the results of the desk analysis and field survey, a zoning plan was produced for each
Forest Management Unit in the project area, following the criteria for identifying forest of
high conservation value developed by the provincial working group with support of BirdLife
technical staff (Appendix I). These zoning plans are in Appendix IV. Here, those zoning plans
are discussed. Functional zones are discussed separately for each Forest Management Unit,
since management interventions are conducted at a Forest Management Unit level.
In the zoning plans, zoning was conducted at the level of the forest compartment, since this is
the unit at which management interventions are conducted in each Forest Management Unit.
For the sake of visual clarity, each of the criteria is displayed on separate map for each Forest
Management Unit, owing to the large number of sub-criteria and therefore functional zones.
However, for each Forest Management Unit, the separate zoning plans which relate to the
different criteria should be considered simultaneously, so that areas where zones overlap can
be fully appreciated.
4.1 Zoning plan for Bidoup Nui Ba National Park
The following characterize the zoning plan for Bidoup Nui Ba National Park:
• Large areas of forest of high value for biodiversity;
• High potential for identifying areas of high landscape value;
• Large areas of forest which protect a watershed;
• High potential for obtaining payment for environmental services;
• Limited potential for exploitation of non-timber forest products.
Forest of high value for biodiversity: Map 15
Unsurprisingly, Bidoup Nui Ba National Park contains large areas of forest of high value for
biodiversity. Broadleaved evergreen forest, which supports populations of Gymnosperms of
high conservation value, is mainly located in the eastern side of the national park, and in the
south-west. Even in these areas, high value timber trees such as Fokienia hodginsii are subject
to illegal logging and few mature specimens exist.
The distribution of forest of high value for mammals and birds is slightly different. Although
these species occur in the forest of high value for Gymnosperms, they also occur in areas of
mixed broadleaved evergreen and coniferous forest. These are distributed in the centre and
north of the national park. These forests are particularly important for mammals. Ungulates
54

often utilize a matrix of forest patches: broadleaved forest for shelter and coniferous forest for
grazing. The field survey indicated that forest in the north-east and centre-north of Bidoup
Nui Ba National Park is of particularly high value for threatened mammals. Although these
areas are identical in habitat to parts of the national park in the south and east, they are much
more remote and therefore hunting pressure is less. These remote areas are where the species
with the highest trade value were found; they are the only locations where Guar was found,
and are the locations which support the largest populations of primates and Sun Bear.
The zoning plans indicate that there are large areas of suitable habitat for Collared
Laughingthrush in Bidoup Nui Ba National Park. Together with Chu Yang Sin National Park,
Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, is likely to support the majority of the world population of this
species, and preservation of these broadleaved evergreen forests is therefore essential as part
of a global bird conservation strategy. The other avian indicator species, Grey-crowned
Crocias, was not found in Bidoup Nui Ba National Park during the field survey. However,
suitable habitat for this species exists, and it was found just over the border in Da Nhim
Watershed Protection Forest.
Forest of high landscape value
Because there are no landscape features of natural beauty certified at a national level in
Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, and existing and planned tourist sites within the national park
have not been specifically identified, no forest met the criteria for forest of high landscape
value and no zoning plan could be produced. However, the landscape features present in
Bidoup Nui Ba National Park are those that subjectively humans often value for their beauty,
there is therefore potential for developing some of these as tourist sites. These include
waterfalls, high mountains and grandiose forested vistas. There is therefore high potential for
identifying sites of high landscape value in Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, and these should be
developed in a sensitive way that is consistent with the zoning plan in this report.
Forest of high protection value: Map 16
Although most of Bidoup Nui Ba National Park is designated as Special Use Forest, it
contains a large area of forest which fulfils the criteria for forest of high protection value.
Owing to the steep terrain which characterizes the national park, much forest located close to
streams is forest of high protection value, particularly in the north-east of the national park (an
area of Special Use Forest). Protection of these forest strips is of particular importance, since
they stabilize the soil that forms the banks of many of the rivers and streams that ultimately
feed water to Da Lat city. This functional zone overlaps broadly with that of forest of high
biodiversity value.
Forest of high direct use value: Map 17
Following the relevant government decisions and the opinions of the management of Bidoup
Nui Ba National Park, areas with high direct use value were identified. These areas are
primarily located in the southern part of the national park, closer to areas of human habitation.
Much of the area zoned for provision of environmental services is close to the Da Nhim
hydropower station, in the south-west of the national park. In the south, south-west and to a
limited extent in the south-east there is considerable overlap between the distribution of forest
which could provide environmental services following Decision 380/QD-TTg dated 10 April
2008 and forest of high biodiversity value. The environmental services which forest can
provide under this Decision, namely, stabilising soil, reducing the risk of floods, regulating
the flow of water into the Dong Nai river basin and maintaining the water recharge for the Da
55

Nhim hydropower station, require forest protection as a key management strategy, and there is
therefore no conflict with the function of the national park.
Forest compartment 77, 78, 85, 102, 103, 128, 27, 51 which the park management staff have
identified as being of high potential for development of non-timber forest product exploitation
are located in the south-west part of the national park, with a few isolated forest
compartments identified elsewhere. In these areas they correspond to the distribution of
broadleaved evergreen forest, and consequently there is considerable overlap with the
distribution of forest of high value for biodiversity. These areas need to be managed
sensitively, and not all forest compartments with potential for non-timber forest product
exploitation ought to be used for this purpose.
Forest of high value for communities
Since Bidoup Nui Ba National Park is a Special Use Forest, the value of forest for local
communities (Criteria 5, see Appendix I) was not assessed during the zoning process.
Note: See Map 18 is showing the zonation plan for Bidoup Nui Ba National Park
4.2 Zoning plan for Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest
The following characterize the zoning plan of Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest:
• Significant areas of high value for biodiversity;
• Forest of high landscape value
• Large areas of forest with high protection value;
• High potential for obtaining payment for environmental services;
• Potential for exploitation of non-timber forest products;
• Areas of broadleaved evergreen forest which protect water sources for local
communities.
Forest of high value for biodiversity: Map 19
Of the three unconnected sectors of Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest, only the northwestern
one contains significant areas of forest of high value for biodiversity. In this sector,
forest compartments 40, 42, 61, 62, 63, 75 and 103, which are situated adjacent to Bidoup Nui
Ba National Park, form a large contiguous block of broadleaved evergreen forest. Small areas
of forest of high value for biodiversity are found along the northern edge of the largest section
of Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest, along the southern border with Bidoup Nui Ba
National Park, and a small finger of forest of high value for biodiversity in forest
compartment 138 joins the southern edge of compartment 127 of the national park.
Although these forests are suitable for Gymnosperms, very few were found during the field
survey. Ease of accessibility and more lax law enforcement compared with adjacent parts of
Bidoup Nui Ba National Park may be influencing the current distribution of these trees.
Similarly, few primates and ungulates of conservation concern were found in Da Nhim
Watershed Protection Forest, even in large areas of suitable habitat. In contrast, the
broadleaved evergreen forest of the north-west sector of Da Nhim Watershed Protection
Forest is of global importance owing to the population of Grey-crowned Crocias which it
supports.
Forest of high landscape value: Map 20
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Da Nhim Watershed protection Forest contains two forest compartments which contain forest
surrounding features of national beauty certified at national level, namely forest
compartments 111A, 110, 227A, 112A in the north-west sector of the Forest Management
Unit and 145B and 99 in the south-east sector. Forest compartment 111A is located in
protection forest. There is no conflict of land-use between managing this forest compartment
for its protection value and managing it for its landscape value.
Forest of high protection value: Map 21
Unsurprisingly, Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest contains a large area of forest which
fulfils the criteria for forest of high protection value. Much of this is forest which protects
dams, reservoirs and other facilities of national importance, located in the south-west and
south-east sectors of the Forest Management Unit. These dams are namely Da Nhim, Suoi
Vang, Da Khai, Yann Tann Sien and upper Da Nhim II. This land encompasses both
protection forest and production forest.
There is relatively little forest of high protection value in the parts of the Forest Management
Unit which support forest of high biodiversity value. No part of the north-west sector of Da
Nhim Watershed Protection Forest is classified as forest which protects dams, reservoirs and
other facilities of national importance, and owing to the relatively gentle topography, there is
relatively little forest along rivers and streams which meets the criteria for forest of high
protection value (sub-criterion 3b, Appendix I).
Forest of high direct use value: Map 22
Almost all of the forest compartments of Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest met the
criteria for forest of high direct use value, under various sub-criteria. Most of the south-east
section and the southern part of the north-west section met the sub-criterion for forest which
could provide environmental services following Decision 380/QD-TTg dated 10 April 2008.
In the south-east section this means that there is substantial overlap between this zone and that
for forest which protects dams, reservoirs and other facilities of national importance. This is
unsurprising, since these two zones have a similar function.
A small number of forest compartments have been designated as forest which forms part of a
research programme; these compartments are located along the northern edge of the southeast
sector and in forest compartments 42 and 138. In all three of these areas there is some
overlap with forest of high value for biodiversity.
Three areas have been designated as forest compartments with high potential for non-timber
forest product exploitation. These are the northern and north-eastern part of the north-western
sector, the northern part of the south-east section and forest compartment 110 in the southwest
section. These areas need to be managed sensitively, since most of them either contains
forest of high value for biodiversity or is adjacent to parts of Chu Yang Sin National Park or
parts of Bidoup Nui Ba National Park with high value for biodiversity. Not all forest
compartments with potential for non-timber forest production ought to be used for this
purpose, and those whose use might increase the risk of illegal exploitation in the national
parks should not be developed for non-timber forest production.
Forests of high value to local communities: Map 23
Forest compartment 63, 75 145B, 96A, 97, 123, 93, 98 và 99 have been designated by the
management of Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest as forest of high value to local
communities because it protects a critical water source. These forest compartments are all
57

close to areas of human habitation. Of these forest compartments, 63 and 75 also contain large
areas of forest of high value for biodiversity.
Note: Map 24 is showing the zoning plan for Da Nhim Watershed protection Forest
4.3 Zoning plan for D’Ran Watershed Protection Forest
The following characterize the zoning of D’Ran Watershed Protection Forest:
• Small, but significant areas of high value for biodiversity;
• Large areas of forest with high protection value;
• Areas of high landscape value
• High potential for obtaining payment for environmental services;
• Potential for exploitation of non-timber forest products
• Large areas of forest with importance to local communities
• High levels of overlap between zones with little conflict of interests.
Forest of high value for biodiversity: Map 25
Most of the Forest Management Unit is covered by coniferous forest dominated by Pinus
kesiya. The largest block of forest of high value for biodiversity is located in the centre-west
of D’Ran Watershed Protection Forest, adjacent to the border with Ninh Thuan Province,
almost exclusively within forest compartment 314 and 315. However, the small fragments of
forest of high value for biodiversity located elsewhere in this Forest Management Unit also
support species of conservation concern, both tree species such as Taxus wallaciania, birds
such as Grey-crowned Crocias and mammals such as Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon.
Forest of high landscape value: Map 26
The forest surrounding D’Ran Lake is designated as forest which protects existing and
proposed tourist sites. Although most of this forest is not zoned as forest of high value for
biodiversity, this zone does overlap with some fragments of forest of high value for
biodiversity.
Forest of high protection value: Map 27
D’Ran Watershed Protection Forest contains two large reservoirs, namely D’Ran Lake and
Don Duong Lake. It is therefore unsurprising that all forest compartments (with the exception
of 325B) are designated as forest which protects dams, reservoirs and other facilities of
national importance, and that these areas overlap with all other zones. There is relatively little
forest along rivers and streams which meets the criteria for forest of high protection value,
owing to the more gentle topography of this Forest Management Unit (compared with, for
instance, Bidoup Nui Ba National Park). However, there is a notable correlation between
remnant patches of forest with high value for biodiversity and the steep terrain that produces
streams which meet the criteria for forest of high protection value.
Forest of high direct use value: Map 28
Except for forest compartment 325B, all of the forest compartments of D’Ran Watershed
Protection Forest met the criteria for forest of high direct use value, under various sub-criteria.
Much of the forest surrounding the two lakes met the sub-criterion for forest which could
provide environmental services following Decision 380/QD-TTg dated 10 April 2008. There
is therefore overlap between this zone and areas zoned as forest of high value for biodiversity.
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Forest compartments in the south-east of this Forest Management Unit have been designated
as forest which forms part of a research programme; these compartments are located close to
D’Ran Lake. A small number of forest compartments in the south-east have also been
designated as forest compartments with high potential for non-timber forest product
exploitation. Many of these forest compartments are also those designated for provision of
environmental services and for part of a research programme.
Forests of high value to local communities: Map 29
A number of forest compartments in the south and south-east of D’Ran Watershed Protection
Forest have been identified as containing forest which protects essential sources of water for
local communities. Since this zone overlaps with a number of other similar zones, for
example forest compartments designated for provision of environmental services and forest
that protects dams, reservoirs and other facilities of national importance, there are unlikely to
be conflicting management issues.
Note: Map 30 is showing the zoning plan for D’Ran Watershed Protection Forest
4.4 Zoning plan for Don Duong Forest Company
The following characterize the zoning plan of Don Duong Forest Company:
• Large area of forest of high value for biodiversity;
• Large areas of forest with high protection value;
• Areas of high landscape value
• Potential for obtaining payment for environmental services;
• Potential for exploitation of non-timber forest products;
• Large areas of forest with importance to local communities;
• High levels of overlap between zones.
Forest of high value for biodiversity: Map 31
Don Duong Forest Company contains a large area of forest of high value for biodiversity. A
broad swath of broadleaved evergreen forest runs in an arc from north-east to west across the
Forest Management Unit. Although field surveys in this Forest Management Unit were not
extensive, they did reveal a high number of species of conservation concern. Perhaps most
importantly, this forest supports a globally significant population of Grey-crowned Crocias.
All of the broadleaved evergreen forest in Don Duong Forest Company is at an altitude
suitable for this species, so there is the potential that this Forest Management Unit supports a
very large population of this species. Close to the border with Ninh Thuan Province at least
one large heard of Banteng make seasonal use of the forest in this Forest Management Unit.
Forest of high landscape value: Map 32
Forest compartment 333A, which surrounds a lake near the centre of this Forest Management
Unit, and forest compartment 316A in the north of the Forest Management Unit close to Don
Duong Lake, have been designated as forest which protects existing and proposed tourist
sites. Only in forest compartment 333A is there some limited overlap with forest of high value
for biodiversity.
Forest of high protection value: Map 33
Except for a small number of forest compartments in the south-east of the Forest Management
Unit, all of the forest compartments of Don Duong Forest Company are designated as forest
which protects dams, reservoirs and other facilities of national importance. There is therefore
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significant overlap between forest of high protection value and forest of high biodiversity
value. Unsurprisingly, there is a correlation between the distribution of forest of high value for
biodiversity and the steep terrain that produces streams which meet the criteria for forest of
high protection value.
Forest of high direct use value: Map 34
Uniquely among the Forest Management Units in the project area, Don Duong Forest
Company contains forest of high commercial value. This area is situated in the centre of the
Forest Management Unit. This zone overlaps completely with forest zoned for high
biodiversity value. Almost all of the forest compartments in the Forest Management Unit have
been designated as forest compartments with high potential for non-timber forest product
exploitation. Consequently, this zone overlaps with all other zones. The broadleaved
evergreen and mixed forests running through the centre and south of the Forest Management
Unit met the sub-criterion for forest which could provide environmental services following
Decision 380/QD-TTg dated 10 April 2008. There is therefore overlap between this zone and
forest of high value for biodiversity.
Forests of high value to local communities: Map 35
The management board of Don Duong Forest Company have assigned forest compartments to
each of the sub-criteria for forests of high value to local communities. In line with the zoning
of almost all of the forest compartments for potential non-timber forest product exploitation,
almost all of the compartments have been designated as essential for meeting the daily needs
and customs of local people. In addition, forest compartments 327, 333A and 340 are
important to local people for spiritual or religious reasons. Parts of these forest compartments
are also important for biodiversity, whilst forest compartment 333A has also been designated
as forest of high landscape value. Forest compartment 333A also protects an important water
source for local communities, a function only shared in this Forest Management Unit by
forest compartment 316B.
Note: Map 36 is showing the zoning plan for Don Duong Forest Company
4.5 Zoning plan for Lam Vien Landscape Protection Area
The following characterize the zoning of Lam Vien Landscape Protection Area:
• Small area of forest of high value for biodiversity;
• Large areas of forest of high landscape value;
• Small area of forest with high value for protecting dams and reservoirs;
• High potential for obtaining payment for environmental services;
• Potential for exploitation of non-timber forest products;
Forest of high value for biodiversity: Map 37
Lam Vien Landscape Protection Area contains a number of relatively small areas of forest of
high value for biodiversity, situated in adjacent forest compartments 161 and 162 (adjacent to
Tuyen Lam Lake), as well as small fragments in forest compartments 155 and 158B.
Although these patches are small, they support a number of threatened primate species, and
populations of both Collared Laughingthrush and Grey-crowned Crocias. The populations of
these species which they support are likely to be small compared to populations in other
Forest Management Units. The forest compartments which contain forest of high value for
biodiversity do not overlap significantly with other zones.
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Forest of high landscape value: Map 38
Extensive areas in the south and smaller areas in the north, of this forest compartment have
been designated as forest which protects existing or planned tourist sites. There is no overlap
between this functional zone and forest zoned for high value for biodiversity.
Forest of high protection value: Map 39
Only three forest compartments in this Forest Management Unit have been designated as
forest which directly protects dams, reservoirs and other facilities of national importance,
namely forest compartments 144B, 158A and 160B. There is no overlap between these forest
compartments and those that support forest of high value for biodiversity. However, forest
compartment 144B is also designated as forest which protects existing or planned tourist sites.
Many of the rivers and streams in this Forest Management Unit support forest which is
important for stabilizing soil.
Forest of high direct use value: Map 40
All of the forest compartments in Lam Vien Landscape Protection Area have been designated
as forest which could provide environmental services following Decision 380/QD-TTg dated
10 April 2008. Additionally, forest compartments 161, 169A and 170 have also been identified
as locations suitable for exploitation of non-timber forest products. With the exception of
forest compartment 161, which also contains forest of high value for biodiversity, there need
not be any potential conflicts of management associated with developing sustainable nontimber
forest product harvest in these forest compartments.
Forests of high value to local communities
There has been no assessment of the value of forests to local communities in Lam Vien
Landscape Protection Area.
Note: Map 41 is showing the zoning plan forLam Vien Landscape Protection Area
4.6 Zoning plan for Forest Seedling Joint Stock Company of Central Highland Region
The following characterize the zoning plan of Forest Seedling Joint Stock Company of
Central Highland Region:
• No significant areas forest of high value for biodiversity;
• Large areas of forest of high landscape value;
• Small area of forest with high value for protecting dams and reservoirs;
• High potential for obtaining payment for environmental services;
• High potential for exploitation of non-timber forest products;
Forest of high value for biodiversity: Map 42
There are no significant areas of forest of high value for biodiversity in Forest Seedling Joint
Stock Company of Central Highland Region.
Forest of high landscape value: Map 43
All of the forest compartments in Forest Seedling Joint Stock Company of Central Highland
Region are designated as forest surrounding existing or planned tourist sites, except for forest
compartment 267D.
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Forest of high protection value: Map 44
The three forest compartments on the eastern edge of this Forest Management Unit, namely,
153, 164 and 165B have been designated as forest which directly protects dams, reservoirs
and other facilities of national importance. Additionally, a relatively small proportion of the
rivers and streams in this Forest Management Unit support forest which is important for
stabilizing soil, particularly in forest compartment 153.
Forest of high direct use value: Map 45
All of the forest compartments in Forest Seedling Joint Stock Company of Central Highland
Region have been designated as forest which could provide environmental services following
Decision 380/QD-TTg dated 10 April 2008. All forest compartments except 153 and 165B
have also been identified as locations suitable for exploitation of non-timber forest products.
In addition, all forest compartments with the exception of forest compartments 153, 163B and
165B are designated as part of the National Nursery Forest. There is very little overlap
between zones designated for either exploitation of non-timber forest products and the
National Nursery Forest and forest of high protection value.
Forests of high value to local communities: Map 46
All forest compartments, except forest compartments 153 and 165B, are designated of high
importance to local communities because they fulfill their needs. There is therefore, complete
overlap between this zone and forest which has been identified as suitable for exploitation of
non-timber forest products.
Note: Map 47 is showing the zoning plan for Forest Seedling Joint Stock Company of
Central Highland Region
5. Management Interventions
Based on the zoning plans, a series of management interventions have been designed to
facilitate multiple-use management of forest of high conservation value in the project area.
Management interventions have to be compatible with the purpose of each Forest
Management Unit (Table 1), and they must be permissible under the laws and regulations of
Vietnam. Here, suitable management interventions are detailed for each Forest Management
Unit, and based on the zoning plans, suitable compartments for piloting these interventions
are identified. On all zoning plans, forest which in the future will no longer be under the
management of the Forest Management Unit is marked. No management activities are
recommended for these areas, since owing to uncertainties regarding the nature of their future
use, such activities could be a waste of valuable resources. The management interventions
proposed for the Forest Management Units are summarised in three groups below and in
Table 13.
All management interventions must follow Decision 186/2006/QD-TTg, dated 14 August
2006 by Prime Minister and other relevant regulations.
Lam Dong province currently has great opportunities to sustain fund for forest conservation
and development such as payment for environmental services (PES) which creates significant
fund for communities. Lam Dong province was also selected for piloting Reduction Emission
from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) funded by United Nations. Two localities of
Lam Dong selected as pilot sites are Lac Duong and Lam Ha districts. Hopefully,
implementation of will secure sustainable fund for forestry activities. This is great motivation
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for encouraging local people and other stakeholders actively participate in sustainable forest
management and in poverty reduction and hunger eradication for rural and mountainous areas.
Management measures are grouped into three groups as follows:
Group 1: management measures for protection and conservation of forests which include
forest protection, conservation, forest inventory, forest researches, fire prevention and control,
and prevention of pest and diseases
Group 2: management measures for forest development which include establishment of green
corridor, forest restoration, expansion of planted forests.
Group 3: management measures for forest utilization which include timber exploitation,
harvest of NTFP, forest lease for eco-tourism, application of PES and REDD,
Table 13. Management Interventions proposed for each of the Forest Management
Units.
# Management measures
Group 1. management measures for forest
protection and conservation
1 Strictly protect broadleaved evergreen
forest;
2 Strictly prohibit illegal timber
exploitation
3 Strictly prohibit hunting and trapping
and snaring of wildlife, especially of
globally threatened birds and
mammals
4 Protect forests of high landscape value
5 Regulate research programmes
6 Design and zone area for protection of unique
Bangten group in the project area
7 Conduct additional field survey to
extend habitat in broadleaved forest
for Grey-crowned Crocias (altitude
900-1,500 m)
Group 2. management measures for forest
development
8 Create habitat corridors through forest
restoration
9 Transform forest categories in some
compartments
Group 3. management measures for forest
utilization
10 Regulate sustainable forest
exploitation
11 Apply PES and, REDD
Bidoup Nui Ba
National Park
Da Nhim
Watershed
Protection Forest
D’Ran Watershed
Protection Forest
Don Duong
Forest Company
Lam Vien
Landscape
Protection Area
Forest Seedling
Joint Stock
Company of
Central Highland
Region
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# Management measures
12 Develop sustainable exploitation of
non-timber forest products
13 Forest lease for eco-tourism
14 Produce forest seeds and seedlings
Bidoup Nui Ba
National Park
Da Nhim
Watershed
Protection Forest
D’Ran Watershed
Protection Forest
Don Duong
Forest Company
Lam Vien
Landscape
Protection Area
Forest Seedling
Joint Stock
Company of
Central Highland
Region
For all Forest Management Units there is a need to better understand the value and forest use
patterns of local communities. Participatory rural assessments should be conducted in villages
situated close to the Forest Management Units. The results of these assessments can help
inform management strategies for the Forest Management Units, and might lead to
reassessments of the zoning of forest of high value for local communities.
Group 1. management measures for forest protection and conservation
5.1 Strictly protect all broadleaved evergreen forests
This management measure is recommended for (1) Bidoup Nui Ba National Park; (2) Da
Nhim Watershed Protection Forest; (3) D'Ran Watershed Protection Forest; (4) Don Duong
Forest Company; and (5) Lam Vien Landscape Protection Area
In the project area, only Forest Seedling Joint Stock Company of Central Highland Region
has small area of broadleaved evergreen forests. While, Bidoup Nui Ba National Park has the
largest broadleaved evergreen forests, and then the following gradually decreases from Da
Nhim Watershed Protection Forest, D'Ran Watershed Protection Forest and Duong Forest
Company. Broadleaved evergreen forests have the highest biodiversity value. Together with
biodiversity value, broadleaved evergreen forests in the project area also provide
environmental servicesunder Decision 380/QD-TTG dated 10 Apr 2008.
For Duong Forest Company, the total area of broadleaved evergreen forests is about 9,000 ha
(accounts for 50% of the total area of this FMU). Currently, main function of the FMU is to
make business with their forests. Sustainable forest exploitation in Duong Forest Company
plays an important role because forests there are suitable habitats of many wildlife population
of global importance and one of which is Grey-crowned Crocias.
Evidence suggests that this species can persist in logged forest, but it is important that the
recommended 35 year cycle of logging is closely followed to allow trees time to regenerate.
However if possible, it would be desirable to set aside an area of broadleaved evergreen forest
which will never be logged, to act as a refuge for mammal and bird species, and a seed-bank
for trees. Sustainable logging would also help ensure that the forest retains its potential to
provide environmental services following Decision 380/QD-TTg dated 10 April 2008, and
fulfil the needs of local communities.
Broadleaved evergreen forest is the most important habitat type in Bidoup Nui Ba National
Park for most of the threatened mammal, bird and Gymnosperm species. In addition, a
significant number of forest compartments which are zoned as forest of high biodiversity
value are also zoned as forest which could provide environmental services under Decision
380/QD-TTg dated 10 April 2008. Within Bidoup Nui Ba National Park a substantial amount
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of Special Use Forest also performs a watershed protection function, much of it along the
edge of rivers and streams. There is much overlap between these zones, and no conflict
between managing special use forest for biodiversity conservation, and managing key areas
for their high watershed protection value or to provide environmental services. Indeed, the
argument that forest is performing two or three important functions rather than just one only
reinforces the need to adequately protect it.
Although some of the threatened ungulates which the national park supports prefer a mosaic
of broadleaved evergreen and coniferous forest, areas of coniferous forest are not threatened
by the processes that threaten broadleaved evergreen forest, therefore resources do not need to
be used to protect them. It is the patches of broadleaved evergreen forest in such a mosaic
landscape that are under threat, primarily from burning and clearance for agriculture. Neither
of these activities is permitted under the laws and regulations for the core zones of national
parks and nature reserves.
Large areas of broadleaved evergreen forest located on the eastern side of the national park
and in the south-west are also at risk from fragmentation owing to fire and forest clearance.
As two of the largest blocks of contiguous broadleaved evergreen forest in the Da Lat Plateau,
these are of global importance owing to the population of Collared Laughingthrush which
they support. Efforts should be made to ensure they are not reduced in size. The greatest
concentration of forest of high watershed protection value in the national park is also located
in the north-east, one of the most important parts of the national park for biodiversity.
Protecting broadleaved evergreen forest from clearance and burning is the best way to ensure
it retains its watershed protection value. In addition, it also enables it to provide
environmental services. National park staff should ensure that no more broadleaved evergreen
forest is lost to burning or clearance, through ranger patrols and their presence in communities
surrounding the national park.
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Photo 5. Small areas of forest between Bidoup Nui Ba National Park and Da Nhim Watershed
Protection Forest are used for growing horseradish, used to make wasabi. If this venture is
successful, will it cause further forest clearance in the project area?
Broadleaved evergreen forest is the most important habitat type in Da Nhim Watershed
Protection Forest. Even though it currently does not support particularly high populations of
mammals or Gymnosperms of conservation concern, the population of Grey-crowned Crocias
it supports is of global importance, and the broadleaved evergreen forest block which,
together with Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, it protects, is large. The forest of high
biodiversity value on the eastern edge of the north-west sector of Da Nhim Watershed
Protection Forest is being gradually cleared for coffee plantations along Route 722, and to
make way for the construction of the Da Nhim hydropower station. This dam, which is
situated in an area with little altitudinal gradient, and the associated conduit, are likely to
destroy a large amount of forest and increase access to remaining forest, facilitating hunting
and encouraging further land clearance. Improvements to the road, which are inevitable, are
likely to increase immigration to the area and increase the pressure on the forest.
Photo 6. Route 722 through Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest is currently in a poor
condition. However, if it is improved, immigration to the area is likely to increase and
clearance of forest for coffee plantations, such as that visible in the background of the photo,
is also likely to increase.
There is relatively little overlap between parts of the Forest Management Unit which are
zoned for high value for biodiversity and those zoned for high protection value. However, two
of the three forest compartments (63 and 75) which are of high value to local communities
because they protect a water source contain large areas of broadleaved evergreen forests. In
order for them to fulfill their function to local communities, the forest in these compartments
must be effectively protected. This creates an opportunity for involving local people as
community rangers to prevent encroachment into forested land.
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5.2 Strictly prohibit illegal timber exploitation
This management measure is recommended for all FMUs in the project sites.
Currently, illegal timber exploitation focuses on some species of high commercial value for
meeting timber market demand. Protection of timber species of high conservation value like
Fokienia hodginsii, Taxus wallichiana, Pinus Kremfii and Pinus dalatensis is the first
priority. Concrete management activities are as follows:
Create maps showing distribution of gymnosperms species based on supplementary
field surveys in all FMUs (except Pinus kesiya);
Design monitoring programme in the areas of potential for illegal gymnosperm timber
exploitation
Design monitoring programme for Gymnosperms with plots and transect methods,
prioritized for Fokienia hodginsii, Taxus wallichiana , Pinus Kremfii and Pinus
dalatensis;
For Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, although large areas of broadleaved evergreen forest
suitable for Gymnosperms still exist on the eastern side of the national park and in the southwest,
many large, high-value timber trees have been logged from these areas. Many small
saplings of these species were found during the field survey, so with protection of the
broadleaved evergreen forest these large species can regenerate. Nonetheless, it is important
to protect the remaining large trees of conservation concern, particularly Fokienia hodginsii
and Taxus wallaciana. Where it has not been done already, remaining individuals should be
mapped with GPS and regularly monitored. Patrols should regularly visit those areas to create
a noticeable ranger presence in locations with stands of high value timber trees, and therefore
deter illegal loggers. Key forest compartments in which this activity should be focussed are:
59, 89, 90, 102A and 124 which support populations of mature Fokienia hodginsii and forest
compartments 102 and 128, which support populations of mature Taxus wallaciana.
5.3 Strictly prohibit hunting and trapping and snaring of wildlife, especially of globally
threatened birds and mammals
This management measure is recommended for all FMUs in the project sites.
Hunting of wildlife in all FMUs is carried out by native people and outsiders. For mitigation
of illegal hunting, following activities are recommended:
Strictly prohibit hunting and trapping and snaring of wildlife and promote laws
enforcement in all FMUs
Regularly patrolling activities and remove traps and snares in the areas of extensive
hunting activity;
In corporation with Chu Yang Sin National park in Dac Lac province, conduct joint
patrol in adjacent areas of two national parks;
Increase a number of ranger who is ethnic minority people. Priority is given for
recruitment of local professional hunters to work as ranges, particular Bidoup Nui Ba
National Park.
Survey and research on hunting and wildlife trading in the buffer zones of all FMUs are
very necessary for conservation management plan.
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Design monitoring programme for target species such as ungulate, Yellow-cheeked
Gibbon, Black-shanked Douc, Grey-crowned Crocias and Collared Laughingthrush;
Bidoup Nui Ba National Park still supports populations of a number of globally threatened
mammals. However, although suitable habitat for these species is widely distributed, field
survey results suggest that hunting pressure has reduced population densities in areas closest
to human habitation. A whole suite of activities are needed to prevent hunting in Bidoup Nui
Ba National Park. In the national park itself, an efficient programme of snare removal is
required. In buffer zone communities, a gun amnesty and the recruitment of community
rangers might reduce the hunting of primates. Particular attention also needs to be paid to
specialized bear hunters. These people have already removed almost all of the higher value
Asiatic Black Bears from the national park, and they are likely now to hunt all of the Sun Bear
also. The skills of these people could be utilized by recruiting them as community rangers,
they could also be used to monitor rather than hunt mammals in the national park. The
national park management also needs to cooperate closely with the FPD and the
environmental police to investigate and ultimately arrest and prosecute professional hunters
and wildlife traders operating in the area surrounding the national park.
There are two main priority areas for these activities in Bidoup Nui Ba National Park.
Northern and eastern areas of the national park which still support relatively high populations
of species such as Gaur, primates and Sun Bear should be the focus of intensive ranger
activity to ensure that these areas retain these healthy populations. In the south of the national
park, rangers need to work with local communities inhabiting areas close to the boundary to
reduce hunting pressure and allow mammal populations to recover.
Although the protection of biodiversity is not the primary aim of Don Duong Forest
Company, the hunting of nationally protected species takes place within this Forest
Management Unit. During the survey, a recently shot Black-shanked Douc was recorded by
the survey team. This Forest Management Unit also supports a significant population of
Banteng, a species which is highly valued by hunters. Forest Management Unit staff need to
work closely with law enforcement agencies such as FPD and the environment police to
prevent illegal hunting in Don Duong Forest Company, and in particular, protect Banteng and
primates.
5.4 Protect forests of high landscape value
This management measure is recommended for all FMUs in the project sites
Dalat Plateau has a lot of landscapes of high value which are highly attractive for eco-tourist.
The exception of Don Duong Forest Company, all five FMUs have been developing
infrastructure for ecotourism. However, according to the management regulations for special
use forests, development of infrastructure for ecotourism is forbidden if it changes the natural
landscapes of the areas.
For Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, according to the management regulations for special use
forests, development of infrastructure for ecotourism (such as home stay, hotel…) in strictly
protected zone is absolutely prohibited.
The presence of landscape features in Bidoup Nui Ba National Park with high potential value
for ecotourism is an investment opportunity. They should be identified and managed in a
sensitive way that is consistent with the zoning plan in this report. These sites can be
identified according to a combination of subjective criteria, such as their beauty and interest to
tourists, and objective criteria, such as their accessibility. In theory, since these sites derive
much of their beauty from the forest that surrounds them, identifying these sites should not
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cause conflicts of land-use with other zones, such as forest of high value for biodiversity.
Instead, identifying forest of high landscape value should reinforce the value of those forest
areas, and increase the importance of adequate forest protection.
Identifying forest of high landscape value can increase the value of forest in the national park
as part of an ecotourism development strategy. It is imperative that identifying, developing
and managing forest of high landscape value does not compromise the main function of the
national park, namely, protecting the forest and the biodiversity it supports. Careful
consideration of a number of issues is required. For instance, if a location far from the edge of
the national park is identified as an area of forest of high landscape value and developed for
ecotourism, there might be the temptation to build a road or widen a trail leading to it to
facilitate access. In Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, a road such as this is likely to bisect forest
which has been zoned for high biodiversity value. Were this to be done, the increased ease of
access to the forest is likely to lead to an increased rate of logging and hunting, which will
reduce the landscape value of the forest, compromise the primary aim of the national park (to
protect biodiversity) and cause an additional strain on the management of the national park.
For these reasons, it is likely to be better to identify and develop forests of high landscape
value on the edge of the national park, where incidental threats can be more easily managed
and forest of high value for biodiversity is less likely to be negatively affected. Areas close to
the edge of the park are also better for ecotourism because they are easier to access, and since
they are close to habitation they raise the possibility of local community involvement.
5.5 Regulate research programmes
This management measure is recommended for all FMUs in the project sites, but research
topics are different among FMUs. For example, Bidoup Nui Ba National Park should conduct
researches on distribution, population of indicator species and solution for conservation of
ungulate, primate, and ecological requirement of endemic birds of Dalat Plateau, while
researches on growth and regeneration of gymnosperms indicator species is necessary for the
other FMUs.
Each FMU should design and implement monitoring programme for forests of high
conservation value with specific indicator species of the FMU.
It is therefore important to monitor and regulate the effects of research programmes to ensure
that they have no significant negative effects. Activities with likely negative implications for
the biodiversity value of forest should not be implemented in those zones. In particular, nonnative
trees should not be planted in those forest compartments which contain forest of high
value for biodiversity.
5.6 Design protection area for Banteng
A group of Banteng presents at forest compartment 327 of Don Duong Forest Company. Its
suitable habitat is deciduous forest and semi-deciduous forests in quite flat areas. However, it
is known that part of forest compartment 327 will be transformed for other use by companies.
For protecting this species and its habitat, some activities is recommended:
Maintain suitable habitat for Bangten;
Review and reconsider forest lease plan of forest compartment 327
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Design a protection programme for Bangten and allocate budget for this plan
5.7 Conduct supplementary field survey to expand habitat in broadleaved forest for
Grey-crowned Crocias (altitude 900-1,500 m)
This management measure is recommended for (1) Bidoup Nui Ba National Park; (2) Da
Nhim Watershed Protection Forest; (3) D'Ran Watershed Protection Forest; (4) Don Duong
Forest Company;
This is endemic bird species of Dalat plateau and of globally threatened species with globally
limited distribution area. Existing data and information on distribution and population of these
species currently is quite poor. Conservation of these species is extremely important.
Following activities are recommended for this management intervention:
Conduct supplementary field survey in broad leaved evergreen forest with elevation
from 900 to 1,550 m.
For Bidoup Nui Ba, following forest compartments are recommended for
supplementary field survey: 45B, 46, 48, 49, 51, 52, 53, 54, 56, 85, 87, 89 and 90;
For Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest: all forest compartments along road 722;
For D'Ran Watershed Protection Forest: forest compartments having habitats of mixed
broadleaved evergreen forests and coniferous forests around Da Nhim lake
For Don Duong Forest Company: all forest compartment above 900 m with
broadleaved evergreen forests
Prioritize action plan for conservation of suitable habitat for Grey-crowned Crocia in
those FMUs
Photo7. Broadleaved evergreen forest in forest compartments 79A and 79B. Much of this
forest is at an elevation suitable for Grey-crowned Crocias.
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The field survey in Don Duong Forest Company was relatively short and the team was only
able to survey a small area of the Forest Management Unit. However, the zoning plan
indicates that there are large areas of suitable habitat for Grey-crowned Crocias, and these
should be surveyed to confirm its presence throughout the Forest Management Unit. Surveys
using tape playback should be conducted at the beginning of the breeding season (March-
April) in broadleaved evergreen and mixed forest at or below 1,550 m elevation.
Photo 8. Broadleaved evergreen forest in Don Duong State Forest Company. Large areas
of suitable habitat still exist in this Forest Management Unit.
Group 2: management measures for forest development
5.8 Create habitat corridors through forest restoration
This management measure is recommended for (1) Bidoup Nui Ba National Park; (2) Da
Nhim Watershed Protection Forest; (3) D'Ran Watershed Protection Forest; (4) Don Duong
Forest Company;
Restoration of broadleaved evergreen forests in the habitats of mosaic forms with patches of
broadleaved evergreen forest and surrounded by coniferous forest dominated by Pinus kesiya
in four above FMUs. Restoration of broadleaved evergreen forests is especially prioritized for
Bidoup Nui Ba National Park.
The distribution of broadleaved evergreen forest in Bidoup Nui Ba National Park is patchy. In
many areas, patches of broadleaved evergreen forest are surrounded by coniferous forest
dominated by Pinus kesiya. These areas of coniferous forest have lower biodiversity value,
sequester less carbon, and lower timber value, than broadleaved evergreen forest. They also
act as barriers to dispersal for some bird species of conservation concern. Needles shed by the
coniferous trees gradually acidify the soil, making it less productive and eventually unsuitable
for other plant species. In turn, they acidify rivers and reservoirs, making water unsuitable for
many fish species, and potentially, human consumption. In order to increase connectivity
between patches of broadleaved evergreen forest, a key management need is the creation of
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habitat corridors. These corridors will not only allow species to move between patches of
suitable habitat in the short term, but build resilience to climate change in the long term.
A number of active management measures are required to create broadleaved evergreen forest
corridors. In the absence of burning and grazing by domestic buffalo and cattle, broadleaved
evergreen trees will naturally begin to grow from the seed-bank in the soil. In denser stands of
Pinus kesiya a proportion of trees may have to be felled or ring-barked to bring enough light
to the forest floor to allow broadleaved evergreen trees to germinate. Felled timber should be
removed to decrease the risk of fire. Broadleaved evergreen forest corridor creation should be
piloted in a small number of compartments carefully selected by the management board of the
Forest Management Unit, with careful monitoring during and after implementation.
Photo 9. Isolated broadleaved evergreen forest patches imbedded in a matrix of coniferous
forest dominated by Pinus kesiya. Through the creation of broadleaved evergreen forest
corridors, these patches of forest of high conservation value could be linked, increasing
habitat connectivity and carbon value.
5.9 Change the forest-use category of selected compartments
This management measure is recommended for (1) Bidoup Nui Ba National Park; (2) Da
Nhim Watershed Protection Forest;
It may be appropriate to change the forest-use category to which forest compartments 61 and
75, and parts of 62 and 42 of Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest, which lie adjacent to
Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, are assigned since they impart relatively little protection
function, and contain forest of high value for biodiversity. Together they support all of the
bird species endemic to the Da Lat Plateau Endemic Bird Area, including Grey-crowned
Crocias, as well as a number of mammals of conservation concern, such as Yellow-cheeked
Crested Gibbon. It is important to secure a second population of Grey-crowned Crocias in a
protected area, as part of a global strategy for the conservation of the species. These forest
compartments would be more effectively managed as part of Bidoup Nui Ba National Park.
72

Photo 10. Forest adjacent to one of the locations where Grey-crowned Crocias was found in
Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest is being cleared to make way for a hydro-electric dam.
This forest would be better managed as part of Bidoup Nui Ba National Park.
Photo 11. Trucks loaded with logs taken from the site of the hydropower station in Da Nhim
Watershed Protection Forest. Although the location of the dam and inundation zone is
shallow, it does contain many large broadleaved evergreen trees.
73

Group 3: management measures for forest utilization
5.10 Regulate sustainable forest exploitation
This management measure is recommended for Don Duong Forest Company only.
Timber exploitation has been being implemented only in Don Duong Forest Company.
Sustainable forest exploitation with 35 year cycle of logging likely does not give impact on
habitat of some indicator species such as Grey-crowned Crocias. However, it surely gives
negative impact on habitats of Black-shanked Douc, Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon because
total area of broadleaved evergreen forests suitable for mammal and bird indicators species is
limited. Management activities include:
Design sustainable forest exploitation
Exploit timber
Reforest and enrich forests;
5.11 Obtain payments for environmental services
This management measure is recommended for all FMUs in the project sites
Forests of all FMUs meet criteria of providing environmental services under the Decision
380/QD-TTg, dated 10/4/2008. Management activities include:
Develop payment mechanism for environmental services with counterparts
Obtain payment for the services
UN-REDD programme is being implemented in Vietnam and Lam Dong province is uniquely
selected as the project site. The budget of the programme is of USD 4.4 Mill, funded by
Norway Government. As MARD announced that the programme will be firstly implemented
in Lam Ha and Lac Duong districts of Lam Dong province. Together with benefit sharing
mechanism, the UN-REDD programme will strengthen capacity for staff and people of the
two districts in monitoring carbon stock of forest and raise awareness for local people in
REDD.
Under this programme, Bidoup Nui Ba National park and Nhim Watershed Protection Forest
situate in the piloting sites of REDD. This will be economic instruments which contribute to
livelihood improvement for local communities and help them in reducing negative impact
from climate change.
Much of the forest in Don Duong Forest Company is designated to provide environmental
services following Decision 380/QD-TTg dated 10 April 2008. Logging practices should
ensure that the ability of forests to impart these environmental services is not compromised.
Money received in payment for environmental services should be directed towards forest
protection and implementation of the management interventions set out in this plan.
74

Photos 12 and 13. Small scale commercial cultivation, Don Duong Forest Company. Much of
the lower altitude broadleaved evergreen forest has been lost from the project area, it is vital
to protect remaining areas.
5.12 Develop sustainable exploitation of non-timber forest products
This management measure is recommended for all FMUs in the project sites
For doing this, it needs to develop guidelines on sustainable use of NTFP and the guidelines
have to be consistent with Decision 186/2006/QD-TTg, dated 14/8/2006; Additionally, all
FMUs must follow the existing regulations/instructions for sustainable use of TNFP
75

5.13 Forest lease for eco-tourism
This management measure is recommended for all FMUs in the project sites.
5.14 Produce seeds and seedlings
This management measure is recommended for Forest Seedling Joint Stock Company of
Central Highland Region only.
Forest Seedling Joint Stock Company of Central Highland Region is only one FMU which
has function of forest seed and seedlings productions. These activities must follow functional
plan of the FMU and not give negative impact on the other functions of forests like protecting
dams, lake, reservoirs watershed areas and but it should strengthen those protection functions
Forest Seedling Joint Stock Company of Central Highland Region is also to produce
gymnosperms seedlings and seeds of Taxus wallichiana, Pinus krempfii, Fokienia hodginsii,
Calocedrus macrolepis, and Cephalotaxus mannii.
6. Other recommendations
For implementation of this zoning plan, <strong>TFF</strong> project should be requested People Committee
of Lam Dong province to issue policy/decision on piloting of multi use forest management
approach in FMUs of the project area
Each FMU should be proactively to prepare an operation management plan based on
information and recommendations in this report.
76

References
Anon (2007) Sach Do Vietnam, Vietnam Red Data Book Part I Animals and II Plants
BirdLife International (2001) Threatened Birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data
Book. BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK.
BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Crocias langbianis. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 17/7/2009
Manh Ha Nguyen (2009) The status of Vulnerable gaur Bos gaurus and Endangered Banteng
Bos javanicus in Ea So Nature Reserve and Yok Don and Cat Tien National Parks,
Vietnam. Oryx 43: 129-135.
Pilgrim, J. D., Nguyen Xuan Vinh, Nguyen Xuan Dang, Polet, G., Thai Truyen, Tordoff, A.
W., Tran Huy Manh, and Peters, J. (Eds.) (2007) Biological Assessment of the Dong
Nai River Basin Conservation Landscape, Vietnam. Unpublished draft report, 19th October
2007.
Soares-Filho, B. S., Nepstad, D. C., Curran, L. M., Cerqueira, G. C., Garcia, R. A.,
Ramos, C. A., Voll, E., McDonald, A., Lefebvre, P. and Schlesinger, P.
(2006) Modelling conservation in the Amazon basin. Nature 440: 520-523.
Stattersfield, A. J., Crosby, M. J., Long, A. J. and Wege, D. C. (1998) Endemic bird
areas of the world: priorities for biodiversity conservation. BirdLife
International.
Wiens, J. (2007) The Dangers of Black and White Conservation. Conservation
Biology 21: 1371-1372.
Wilson, D. E. and Reeder, D. M. (Eds.) (2005) Mammal Species of the World. Johns
Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, USA.
77

Appendix I: Criteria for identifying forest of high conservation value, Lam
Dong Province
No. Criteria Data source Justification
1 Forest of high value for biodiversity
1a Presence of any animal species
which are classified as Critically
Endangered, Endangered or
Vulnerable by IUCN or by Vietnam
Red Data Book;
Field survey These species are at a high risk of
extinction globally
1b
1c
1d
Presence of any plant species
which are classified as Critically
Endangered, Endangered or
Vulnerable by IUCN or by Vietnam
Red Data Book, or presence of
Gymnosperms such as Pomu
(Fokienia hodginsii) or Red Pine
(Taxus wallichiana)
Forest which represents a rare and
unique ecosystem.
Forest which constitutes a smallscale
corridor between two blocks
of forest identified as forest of high
conservation value under any of the
criteria 1a, 1b or 1c above.
2 Forest of high landscape value
2a Forest surrounding features of
natural beauty certified at national
level
2b Forest surrounding existing and
planned tourist sites
3 Forest of high protection value
3a Forest that is classified as very
critical watershed protection forest
by MARD Decision 61/2005/Qð-
BNN, dated 12 October 2005
3b Forest along the banks of rivers or
streams as follows:
- In areas with a slope of 0 o to 15 o :
protect forest within 40 m of any
river or stream;
- In areas with a slope of 15 o to 30 o :
protect forest within 60 m of any
river or stream;
- In areas with a slope of greater
Field survey
Remote
sensing, GIS
Field
survey/GIS
Document
review
Document
review
Document
review,
Document
review, GIS
Critically Endangered,
Endangered or Vulnerable plants
are of very high conservation
importance and Gymnosperms
such as Pomu (Fokienia
hodginsii) and Red Pine (Taxus
wallichiana) are very threatened
in the landscape
Rare and unique ecosystems
support a species community of
high importance
Habitat corridors are of very high
importance in retaining
connectivity in the landscape and
facilitating the persistence of
species with large home ranges,
many of which are threatened
Beautiful areas are a distinctive
feature of the Da Lat Plateau
Forest surrounding tourist sites is
required to maintain natural
beauty
Very critical forest has high
importance for watershed
protection
Pursuant to the letter 1183/SNN-
LN issued by Department of
Agriculture and Rural
Development of Lam Dong
Province on 20 June 2008
stipulating protection of forest
along rivers and streams.
Forest along the bank of a river or
stream stabilizes the bank and
78

No. Criteria Data source Justification
than 30 o : protect forest within 100
improves water quality;
m of any river or stream;
3c Forest which directly protects
dams, reservoirs or other facilities
Document
review, GIS
These forests protect important
financial resources
of national importance
4 Forest of high direct use value
4a
4b
4c
4d
4e
Forest with high potential for
timber exploitation for commercial
purposes
Forest with high potential for
development of commercial NTFP
production
Forest which could provide
environmental services following
Decision 380/QD-TTg dated 10
April 2008 issued by Prime
Minister.
Forest that is part of a research
programme
Forest that forms part of the
National Nursery Forest/Garden
Field survey/
Document
review, GIS
Field survey,
document
review
Document
review, GIS
Document
review
Document
review
5 Forest of high value for communities
5a Forest which fulfills the needs of
local people in accordance with
their traditional customs and living
manners.
PRA
5b Forest with high importance for PRA
local people for spiritual and
religious purposes
5c Forest which protects a critical PRA, GIS
water source for local communities
This forest has a high timber
value
This forest has high value for
production and extraction of
NTFPs
This forest provides important
ecological services
This forest is currently being used
for scientific research
This forest has high value due to
its potential to aid forest
regeneration elsewhere
Local people rely on these forests
for their daily subsistence needs
and domestic construction
materials
These forests are essential for the
spiritual well-being of local
people
These forests ensure that local
communities have a source of
water
79

Appendix II: Field survey itinerary and staff list
Date (number of days)
Activity Compartments 26 3 10 17
Staff
Target of survey
Apr May May May
Travel to Dalat 1 Trai, Tuoc, Tue, Cham
Travel to Dalat 1 JCE, SM
Travel to Hanoi 1 JCE, SM
Travel to Hanoi 1 Trai, Tuoc, Tue, Cham
Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park
Meeting with FMU staff 1 Trai, Tuoc, Tue, Cham
Survey in north
24, 47, 48, 49, 50,
51, 54
5 7 6 Tuoc Mammals
Survey along route 723 89, 90, 124 4 Trai, Cham Mammals, birds, Gymnosperms
Travel from east to south 1 Trai, Cham Mammals, birds, Gymnosperms
Survey in north-west 43, 44 5 Trai, Cham Mammals, birds, Gymnosperms
Survey in Cong Troi 103 2 1 Trai, Cham Mammals, birds, Gymnosperms
Survey in south-west 125, 127A, 128 4 Tue Gymnosperms
Travel from east to south 1 Tue
Survey in north-west
60, 59, 76, 77, 78,
100
7 1 Tue Gymnosperms
Meeting with FMU staff 1 JCE, SM
Survey in south-west
60, 59, 76, 77, 78,
100
5 JCE, SM Mammals, birds
Meeting with FMU staff 1 Trai, JCE, SM
Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest
Travel to FMU 1 Tue
Meeting FMU staff 1 Tue
Survey in north-west 42, 61, 62, 63, 75 3 JCE, SM Mammals, birds,
Survey in north-west 31, 30 2 JCE, SM Mammals, birds,
80

Survey in north-west 42, 61, 62, 63, 75 5 1 Tue Gymnosperms
Lam Vien Landscape Protection Area
Travel to FMU 1 Tue
Meeting FMU staff 1 Tue
Survey near Tuyen Lam Lake 162A 1 Tue Gymnosperms
D'Ran Watershed Protection Forest
Travel to FMU 1 Trai, Cham
Meeting FMU staff 1 Trai, Cham
Survey in centre-east 314, 325A 4 Trai, Cham Mammals, birds, Gymnosperms
Don Duong Forest Company
Travel to FMU 1 Trai, Cham
Meeting FMU staff 1 Tuoc
Survey in south-east
331, 333A, 333B,
336
3 Trai, Cham, Tuoc Mammals, birds, Gymnosperms
Forest Seedling Joint Stock Company of Central Highland Region
None N/A
Staff
Trai: Mr. Le Trong Trai
Tuoc: Mr. Do Tuoc
Tue: Mr. Ha Van Tue
Cham: Mr. Le Van Cham
JCE: Mr. Jonathan C. Eames
SM: Mr. Simon Mahood
81

Appendix III: Data sheets used during the field survey
Birds and mammals
82

Gymnosperms
83

Appendix IV: Maps
Desk analysis
Map 1. Areas of the project landscape thought to be of high conservation value
for mammals.
84

Map 2. Areas of the project landscape thought to be of high conservation value
for birds.
85

Map 3. Areas of the project landscape thought to be of high conservation value
for amphibians.
86

Map 4. Areas of the project landscape thought to be of high conservation value
for Gymnosperms.
87

Map 5. Areas of the project landscape thought to be of high conservation value
for indicator species.
88

Survey results
Map 6. Results of the field survey for Gymnosperms designed to ground-truth
the desk analysis: Bidoup Nui Ba National Park
89

Map 7. Results of the field survey for mammals and birds designed to groundtruth
the desk analysis: Bidoup Nui Ba National Park
90

Map 8. Results of the field survey for Gymnosperms designed to ground-truth
the desk analysis: Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest
91

Map 9. Results of the field survey for mammals and birds to ground-truth the
desk analysis: Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest
92

Map 10. Results of the field survey for Gymnosperms designed to ground-truth
the desk analysis: D’Ran Watershed Protection Forest
93

Map 11. Results of the field survey for mammals and birds to ground-truth the
desk analysis: D’Ran Watershed Protection Forest
94

Map 12. Results of the field survey for Gymnosperms designed to ground-truth the desk analysis: Don Duong Forest Company
95

Map 13. Results of the field survey for mammals and birds designed to ground-truth the desk analysis: Don Duong Forest Company
96

Map 14. Results of the field survey for Gymnosperms to ground-truth the desk analysis: Lam Vien Landscape Protection Forest
97

Zoning plans
Note: In all plans of forest of high value for biodiversity green indicates forest of high value for Gymnosperms, mammals and birds; blue
indicates forest of high value for only mammals and birds.
Map 15. Zoning plan for Bidoup Nui Ba National Park: forest of high value for biodiversity.
98

Map 16. Zoning plan for Bidoup Nui Ba National Park: forest of high protection value.
99

Map 17. Zoning plan for Bidoup Nui Ba National Park: forest of high direct use value.
100

Map 18. Zoning plan for Bidoup Nui Ba National Park: all functional zones.
101

Map 19. Zoning plan for Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest: forest of high value for biodiversity.
102

Map 20. Zoning plan for Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest: forest of high landscape value.
103

Map 21. Zoning plan for Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest: forest of high protection value.
104

Map 22. Zoning plan for Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest: forest of high direct use value.
105

Map 23. Zoning plan for Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest: forest of high value for local communities.
106

Map 24. Zoning plan for Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest: all functional zones.
107

Map 25. Zoning plan for D’Ran Watershed Protection Forest: forest of high value for biodiversity.
108

Map 26. Zoning plan for D’Ran Watershed Protection Forest: forest of high landscape value
109

Map 27. Zoning plan for D’Ran Watershed Protection Forest: forest of high protection value.
110

Map 28. Zoning plan for D’Ran Watershed Protection Forest: forest of high direct use value.
111

Map 29. Zoning plan for D’Ran Watershed Protection Forest: forest of high value for local communities.
112

Map 30: Zoning plan for D’Ran Watershed Protection Forest: all functional zones.
113

Map 31. Zoning plan for Don Duong Forest Company: forest of high value for biodiversity.
114

Map 32. Zoning plan for Don Duong Forest Company: forest of high landscape value
115

Map 33. Zoning plan for Don Duong Forest Company: forest of high protection value.
116

Map 34. Zoning plan for Don Duong Forest Company: forest of high direct use value.
117

Map 35. Zoning plan for Don Duong Forest Company: forest of high value for local communities.
118

Map 36: Zoning plan for Don Duong Forest Company: all functional zones.
119

Map 37. Zoning plan for Lam Vien Landscape Protection Area: forest of high value for biodiversity.
120

Map 38. Zoning plan for Lam Vien Landscape Protection Area: forest of high landscape value
121

Map 39. Zoning plan for Lam Vien Landscape Protection Area: forest of high protection value.
122

Map 40. Zoning plan for Lam Vien Landscape Protection Area: forest of high direct use value.
123

Map 41: Zoning plan for Lam Vien Landscape Protection Area: all functional zones.
124

Map 42. Zoning plan for Forest Seedling Company of Central Highland Region: forest of high value for biodiversity.
125

Map 43. Zoning plan for Forest Seedling Company of Central Highland Region: forest of high landscape value.
126

Map 44. Zoning plan for Forest Seedling Company of Central Highland Region: forest of high protection value.
127

Map 45. Zoning plan for Forest Seedling Company of Central Highland Region: forest of high direct use value.
128

Map 46. Zoning plan for Forest Seedling Company of Central Highland Region: forest of high value for local communities.
129

Map 47: Zoning plan for Forest Seedling Company of Central Highland Region: all functional zones.
130