Vuc Mau Proposed Cultural and Historical Site
| Alternative site name(s) Bac Nghe An [northern Nghe An province] Province(s) Nghe An Area 24,842 ha Coordinates 19°21'N, 105°36'E Agro-ecological zone North Central Coast Decreed by government No Management board established No |
Investment plan prepared Yes VCF eligibility criteria met None Social screening criteria met None Conservation needs assessment prepared No Operational management plan prepared No Tracking tool completed No Yes |
Management history
In 1995, the former Ministry of Forestry approved the establishment of Vuc Mau Watershed Protection Forest, with a total area of 24,842 ha (Dao Hai Au, Nghe An Provincial FPD verbally 2000). In 1997, Vuc Mau was included on a proposed list of Special-use Forests prepared for discussion at the Cuc Phuong conference on protected areas (MARD 1997).
In 1998, the status of the site was changed to cultural and historical site, and the name was changed to Bac Nghe An (northern Nghe An province), following Decision No. 4304/QD-UB-NN of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee, dated 17 November 1998 (Dao Hai Au, Nghe An Provincial FPD verbally 2000).
On this basis, the site was included on a list of Special-use Forests to be established by the year 2010, prepared by the FPD of MARD, as a 24,842 ha cultural and historical site, under the name Vuc Mau (FPD 2003); this list has not yet been approved by the government.
However, following Decision No. 1805/QD-UB of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee, dated 16 May 2003, the land within the former Bac Nghe An Special-use Forest was redesignated for other uses: 7,137 ha were redesignated as protection forest, 6,547 ha were redesignated as production forest, and the remaining areas were redesignated as agricultural land and other uses, under the management of Nghia Dan and Quynh Luu districts (Nghe An Provincial FPD in litt. 2003). Consequently, the site is no longer managed as a Special-use Forest.
Topography and hydrology
Vuc Mau proposed cultural and historical site is located in Quynh Luu and Nghia Dan districts, in northern Nghe An province. The topography of the proposed cultural and historical site is characterised by mountains and low hills, with some small areas of limestone karst. Vuc Mau proposed cultural and historical site lies in the catchment of the Vuc Mau reservoir.
Biodiversity values
Vuc Mau supports 4,211 ha of natural forest and a further 732 ha of plantation forest (Dao Hai Au, Nghe An Provincial FPD verbally 2000). The natural forest at the site is lowland evergreen forest.
To date, 147 plant species, 33 mammal species, 72 bird species, 27 reptile species and 12 amphibian species have been recorded at Vuc Mau. These include several globally threatened tree species, such as Erythrophleum fordii and Burretiodendron tonkinense (Dao Hai Au, Nghe An Provincial FPD verbally 2000).
Conservation issues
In the past, the main causes of forest loss at Vuc Mau were fuelwood collection and clearance of forest for agriculture. Reportedly, however, these activities have now ceased, and the remaining forest is well protected (Dao Hai Au, Nghe An Provincial FPD verbally 2000).
Other documented values
Forest at the site protects the catchment of Vuc Mau reservoir, which provides irrigation water for Quynh Luu, Dien Chau and Yen Thanh districts, Nghe An province. In addition to catchment protection, the site has recreational and amenity values for the residents of northern Nghe An province (Dao Hai Au, Nghe An Provincial FPD verbally 2000).
Related projects
Close to Vuc Mau, there lies North Quynh Luu New Industrial Zone, which includes a new cement factory built with Japanese investment. Also in the buffer zone, there is Ben Nghe Agricultural Enterprise (Dao Hai Au, Nghe An Provincial FPD verbally 2000).
Conservation needs assessment
A conservation needs assessment has not been conducted for the site.
Operational management plan
An operational management plan has not been prepared for the site.
Eligibility against VCF criteria
The site is ineligible for VCF support because it does not meet the criteria for supporting forest biodiversity of international importance. In addition, the site is a cultural and historical site, and it is not under appropriate conservation management.
| Criterion |
Eligibility |
| AI |
|
| AII |
|
| BI |
Proposed Special-use Forest |
| BII |
|
| BIII |
Under provincial management |
| CI |
|
| CII |
Social screening requirements
A social screening report has not been prepared for the site.
| Criterion |
Eligibility |
| A |
|
| B |
|
| C |
|
| D |
Literature sources
None.
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