CeREC and IEBR worked for Saola conservation

The discovery of Saola in the Annamite Mountains along the Laos/ Vietnam border in 1992 was considered as one of the most spectacular zoological finds of the 20th century. The Saola was first discovered in 1992, in Vietnam's Vu Quang Nature Reserve (now, Vu Quang National Park), near the country's border with Laos. Believed to be a relic species of the last Ice Age, the saola was probably squeezed into a narrow strip of evergreen forests along the mountains and foothills of the Annamites. So far, the animal has been recorded in Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue and Quang Nam provinces in Vietnam and Bolikhamxay, Khammouane, Savannakhet, Xe Khong and Xieng Khouang provinces in Laos.

Picture 1.Young saola captured by local residents in 1994 near Vu Quang National Park  (Photo by David Hulse/WWF)

The Saola is listed as Critically Endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and probably no more than a few hundred exist. Saola conservation is in the centre of CeREC biodiversity conservation effort during recent years. The CeREC's effort includes field surveys for Saola population and its habitat assessment, development of relevant conservation strategies, organizing national saola conservation workshop and joining IUCN/Saola Working Group for global collaboration on saola conservation.

Recommendation of establishment of Western Quang Binh - Quang Tri Saola Conservation Landscape

Based on long-term field surveys (2009 - 2013) in Western Quang Binh and Quang Tri Provinces (Central Vietnam), the scientists from Centre for Resources, Environment and Climate Change (CeREC) and Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (IEBR) has recommended to establish a Western Quang Binh - Quang Tri Saola Conservation Landscape. The proposed landscape is situated in Western part of Quang Binh and Quang Tri Provinces, along Vietnam - Lao PDR border. The landscape is about 60,000 ha and consists by complicated hilly terrain with vast primary and little-affected lowland and limestone tropical evergreen forests. In this landscape, Saola is found to inhabit in areas of stream heads close to Vietnam - Lao PDR border. In spite of living in remote and difficultly accessible mountain areas, this Saola population is threatened by various activities of local residents including wildlife hunting, timber logging and non-timber forest product harvesting. Officially establishment of this area as a Saola conservation landscape will significantly strengthen conservation effort for the Saola population in the landscape. The proposed Saola conservation landscape is about 60,000 ha and can be connected Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park to the North, Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve to the South and proposed Laving – Lavum Nature Reserve (Lao PDR) to the West to formulate a large forest complex which contains very high biodiversity of global conservation significance.

Picture 2. Map of Proposed Western Quang Binh - Quang Tri Saola Conservation Landscape

Organizing National saola conservation workshop

The Workshop "Saola conservation in Vietnam: Experience sharing & Planning for 2013-2015 period" was convened in May 24, in Dong Hoi City, Quang Binh Province, Vietnam. The worshop was co-chaired by CeREC Deputy Director, Associate Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Dang and Deputy Director of Quang Binh Forest Protection Department, Mr. Dang Minh Hung. Attended the workshop are 23 participants from research institutes & universities, Resource management agencies, Saola-range protected areas and forest management board, and NGOs. The workshop objectives are:
To share information and experience on Saola conservation activities during last 5 years
To agree on Vietnam Saola conservation activities for period 2013-2014
To promote establishment of Vietnam Saola Working Sub-Group

Picture 3. The National "Saola conservation in Vietnam: Experience sharing & Planning for 2013-2015 period" workshop, May 24, Dong HoiCity, QuangBinh Province, Vietnam.

During the workshop, twelve (12) presentations were made by workshop participants, active discussions were followed by each presentations and at plenary section and following key results has been achieved:

1. Saola records and conservation activities during last 5 years

During recent 5 years, records of Saola presence continue to obtain from 8 key Saola areas in Vietnam. However, most of the records come from local villager interviews, only few field signs of Saola (footprints, eating) were recorded by BirdLife, IEBR and CRES
Camera-trapping surveys conducted by WWF (in Thua Thien Hue and Quang Nam Provinces), BirdLife (in Bac Huong Hoa NR) and GIZ/Quang Binh Project (in Phong Nha – Ke Bang NP) failed to record Saola existence.
WWF/CARBI Project and Darwin Initiative/Vinh University Project bring significant contributions to Saola protection (snare removal) and Mentoring Saola conservation manpower.
IEBR’s Research Project provides important ecological data of Saola and status of Saola population in Western Quang Binh – Quang Tri area. Concept of development of Quang Binh-Quang Tri Saola Conservation landscape is significant progress of Saola conservation in this area

During recent 5 years, key conservation actions are: forest patrolling, snare removal and awareness education. These actions are not sufficient to protect Saola from killing. At least, 3 Saola were killed during 5 recent years (2 in Western Quang Binh and 1 in Pu Mat NP)
Hunting/snaring and Forest degradation continue to be key threats to Saola survival.

2. Priority actions for 2013-2015 period

Strengthening and expanding forest protection patrolling for wildlife hunting prevention, trap/snare removal in all key Saola areas
Training for enhancing conservation capacity of management boards of Saola-range forest management units (protected areas, watershed protection forests, forest enterprises), providing them with necessary patrolling equipment
Increasing Saola conservation education for all stakeholders including local communities, local authorities, forest guards, forestry workers, frontier army, est.
Organizing province-level workshop in Quang Binh Province to raise awareness of provincial officials about importance of Saola population in Western Quang Binh and proposed Quang Binh – Quang Tri Saola Conservation Landscape for their support
Increasing researches on assessment of Saola population, Saola ecology and habitat in key Saola areas
Increasing collaboration with Lao counterparts for assessment of Saola population status in frontier area and strengthening transborder wildlife hunting and wildlife trade.
Increasing international collaboration, especially collaboration with Saola Working Group for expertise/technical and financial support for Saola conservation in Vietnam.
Need of establishment of Vietnam’s Saola Working Group (V-SWG) for strengthening information/experience sharing and conservation collaboration
Establishment of Promotion group to promote establishment of Vietnam Saola Working Group by the end of 2013

The workshop was funded by Nowak-Sprague Southeast Asia Biodiversity Initiative and CEPF /FFI - Quang Binh Project.

Joining IUCN Saola Working Group for global collaboration on saola conservation

The Saola Working Group (SWG) was established in 2006 by the IUCN Species Survival Commission’s Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group, in recognition of the critical status of Saola. The SWG is comprised of more than 20 conservation professionals with broad expertise and deep connections in Laos and Vietnam. The SWG’s Coordinator, William Robichaud, has worked on wildlife conservation in Laos and Vietnam for twenty years (www.savethesaola.org). CeREC Deputy Director - Associate Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Dang has joined the SWG from its establishment day and actively involved in various activities of the SWG .

Picture 4. CeREC Deputy Director, Associate Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Dang is making presentation on Saola conservation in Vietnam at the 3rd SWG meeting in Vientiane, Lao PDR, 3-7 June 2013.