JOINT CeREC & FFI BIODIVERSY SURVEY FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW TONKIN SNUB-NOSED MONKEY CONSERVATION AREA

 Quan Ba limestone evergreen forest in a northmost Vietnam Ha Giang Province harbors the second largest population of critical endangered Tonkin Snub-nosed Monkey (TSM). The population is estimated about 30-40 individuals and its distribution range covering about 5,000 ha in Quan Ba District, Ha Giang Province. Quan Ba forest where the population of TSM inhabits was designated as Watershed Protection Forest. This management status of Quan Ba (with main management purpose of watershed protection ) could not support long-term conservation of the TSM population and the species is now facing with a number of serious threats such as wildlife hunting/snaring, illegal timber logging, under- forest- canopy agriculture cultivation, especial cardamom plant. Study of CeREC and FFI during recent years indicates that in order to ensure conservation of Quan Ba TSM monkey, at least, five thousand hectares of Quan Ba forest where the TSM inhabits must be converted into Special-use Forest, i.e. establishment of Quan Ba TSM Conservation Area which will have primary management purpose of TSM conservation. Thus, CeREC and FFI are collaborating in joint biodiversity survey to provide more completed evaluation of biodiversity values of Quan Ba Forest. The results of this survey will be used for feasibility study report for establishment of Quan Ba TSM Conservation Area . This survey also provides an ideal opportunity for training commune forest guards on techniques of TSM and Biodiversity monitoring. We would like to express our sincere thank to FFI- Vietnam, Ostrava Zoo and WWF Russell E. Train Education for Nature Program for funding this survey.

Pic 1. Survey team includes experts  and commune forest guard trainees (Photo:Phan Van Truong)

Pic 2. Survey team  in the field (Photo: Nguyen Xuan Nghia)

Pic.3 A commune forest guard trainee in the field (Photo:Nguyen Xuan Nghia)