Cao Muon Cultural and Historical Site
| Alternative site name(s) Ba Dien, Ba To Province(s) Quang Ngai Area 6,770 ha Coordinates 14°45' - 14°51'N, 108°37' - 108°44'E Agro-ecological zone South Central Coast Decreed by government Yes Management board established No |
Investment plan prepared No 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
Cao Muon was included on Decision No. 194/CT of the Chairman of the Council Ministers, dated 9 August 1986, as a 500 ha cultural and historical site called Ba To (MARD 1997). Subsequently, on 27 August 1996, the establishment of a 6,770 ha cultural and historical site was approved by Quang Ngai Provincial People's Committee, following Decision No. 2356/QD-UB. To date, however, an investment plan for Cao Muon has not been prepared, and a management board has not been established (Quang Ngai Provincial FPD in litt. 2000).
Cao Muon is is included on a list of Special-use Forests to be established by the year 2010, prepared by the FPD of MARD, as a 6,770 ha cultural and historical site (FPD 2003); this list has not yet been approved by the government.
Topography and hydrology
Cao Muon Cultural and Historical Site is located in Ba Vinh, Ba Dinh, Ba Dien, Ba Chua and Ba Cung communes, Ba To district. The site is centred on Mount Cao Muon, an 829 m high mountain, situated immediately north-west of Ba To town. Streams originating in the east of the site flow into the Ve river, streams originating in the north flow into the Ne river, streams originating in the west flow into the Lo river and streams originating in the south flow into the Tra No river. The latter three rivers feed the Ve river, which flows north through Quang Ngai province to meet the East Sea south of Quang Ngai town.
Biodiversity values
Remote sensing data indicate that the site supports a significant amount of lowland evergreen forest. According to Quang Ngai Provincial FPD (in litt. 2000), a survey in 1986 recorded the occurrence of Sambar Cervus concolor, pig Sus sp., muntjac Muntiacus sp., bear Ursus sp. and pangolin Manis sp. at Cao Muon. However, there is little recent information on the biodiversity of the site.
Nadler (1997) reported that a Grey-shanked Douc Pygathrix cinerea held at the Endangered Primate Rescue Centre at Cuc Phuong National Park was collected in Ba To district in 1996 or 1997, indicating that this recently described taxon may occur at Cao Muon Cultural and Historical Site. Further survey work is, however, required to confirm this.
Conservation issues
A total of 9,891 people inhabit the buffer zone of Cao Muon Cultural and Historical Site. These people belong mainly to the H're ethnic group and practice both wet rice and shifting cultivation. The households in the buffer zone experience, on average, six months of hunger per year (Quang Ngai Provincial FPD in litt. 2000). Quang Ngai Provincial FPD (in litt. 2000) identify clearance of forest land for shifting cultivation as the biggest threat to biodiversity in the buffer zone.
Other documented values
Cao Muon protects part of the watershed of the Ve river, one of the major rivers in Quang Ngai province.
Related projects
No information.
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 |
Decision No. 194/CT, dated 09/08/86 |
| 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
Nadler, T. (1997) A new subspecies of Douc Langur, Pygathrix nemaeus cinereus ssp. nov. Zool. Garten N. F. 67(4): 165-167.
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