Dong Phuc Proposed Nature Reserve
| Alternative site name(s) None Province(s) Bac Kan Area Undetermined Coordinates 22°19' - 22°25'N, 105°41' - 105°47'E Agro-ecological zone North-eastern Decreed by government No Management board established No |
Investment plan prepared No VCF eligibility criteria met A, B Social screening criteria met None Conservation needs assessment prepared No Operational management plan prepared No Tracking tool completed No Yes |
Management history
Dong Phuc is not included on any government decision or official set of proposals regarding the national Special-use Forests system (MARD 1997, FPD 2003). However, in 2001, a survey of Dong Phuc commune, Ba Be district, was conducted as part of the Creating Protected Areas for Resource Conservation Using Landscape Ecology (PARC) Project. The objectives of this survey were to evaluate the biodiversity values of the site and to assess the suitability of the site for Special-use Forest status, either as an extension to the core zone of Ba Be National Park or as a separate protected area. The survey revealed that the biodiversity values of the site are complementary to those of Ba Be National Park, and recommended that appropriate conservation measures be introduced (Le Trong Trai et al. 2001). Consequently, Bac Kan Provincial FPD proposed designating the site as species/habitat conservation area (a sub-category of nature reserve). To date, however, an investment plan has not been prepared and a management board has not been established.
Topography and hydrology
Dong Phuc is centred on a mountain ridge, which runs from north-west to south east to the east, within the buffer zone of Ba Be National Park. The site lies in the catchment of the Nang river, and is drained by a number of streams, some of which are permanent.
Biodiversity values
One of the key findings of the 2001 survey was that Dong Phuc supports a population of Vietnamese Salamander Paramesotriton deloustali (Le Trong Trai et al. 2001). This globally threatened species is endemic to northern Vietnam, although it has recently been found at an increasing number of sites (e.g. Le Manh Hung et al. 2002, Tordoff et al. 2002).
Conservation issues
Timber and non-timber forest product extraction are widespread at the site, and hunting has already reduced the populations of many wildlife species. Another major conservation issue at the site is habitat loss. Forest has already been cleared from lower slopes within the site for swidden agriculture, as well as from less steep areas on upper slopes. Urgent action is needed to control forest loss, particularly from along the clear-water streams that are the habitat of Vietnamese Salamander.
Other documented values
No information.
Related projects
A number of activities are currently being implemented at Dong Phuc under the PARC Project, a full-sized Global Environment Facility project at Na Hang proposed nature reserve and Yok Don and Ba Be National Parks. The PARC Project is employing a landscape ecology approach to conservation, and the activities at Dong Phuc are focussed on assessing the conservation importance of the site, and introducing appropriate conservation management, based on catchment protection.
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
Dong Phuc is currently ineligible for VCF support because it is not under appropriate conservation management.
| Criterion |
Eligibility |
| AI |
NH2 - Northern Highlands Limestone |
| AII |
|
| BI |
Proposed Special-use Forest |
| BII |
Nature Reserve |
| 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
Le Manh Hung, Tran Thieu Du and Vu Huu Trac (2002) A rapid field survey of Xin Man and Yen Minh districts, Ha Giang province, Vietnam. Unpublished report to the BirdLife International Vietnam Programme and the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources.
Le Trong Trai, Eames, J. C., Kuznetsov, A. N, Nguyen Van Sang, Bui Xuan Phuong and Monastyrskii, A. L. (2001) A biodiversity survey and assessment of the Dong Phuc, Ban Thi-Xuan Lac and Sinh Long areas, Tuyen Quang and Bac Kan provinces, Vietnam. Unpublished report to Scott Wilson Asia-Pacific Ltd., the Environment and Development Group and FRR Ltd.
Tordoff, A. W., Le Manh Hung, Nguyen Quang Truong and Swan, S. R. (2002) A rapid field survey of Van Ban district, Lao Cai province, Vietnam. Unpublished report to the BirdLife International Vietnam Programme and the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources.
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