Nui Ba Den Cultural and Historical Site
| Alternative site name(s) Nui Ba Province(s) Tay Ninh Area 2,000 ha Coordinates 11°21' - 11°24'N, 106°09' - 106°11'E Agro-ecological zone South-eastern Decreed by government Yes Management board established Yes |
Investment plan prepared Yes VCF eligibility criteria met C Social screening criteria met None Conservation needs assessment prepared No Operational management plan prepared No Tracking tool completed No Yes |
Management history
Nui Ba Den was included on Decision 194/CT of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, dated 9 August 1986, as a 2,000 ha cultural and historical site (MARD 1997). In 1997, Ho Chi Minh City Forest Inventory and Planning Sub-institute prepared an investment plan for the cultural and historical site. This investment plan was approved by MARD, following Official Letter No. 842NN/PTLN/CV21, dated March 1997, and by Tay Ninh Provincial People’s Committee, following Decision No. 261D/QD dated 16 July 1997.
On 27 July 1999, a Special-use Forest management board was established by Decision No. 78/QD-CT (Chau Van Van in litt. 2003). This management board has responsibility for two sites: Nui Ba Den Cultural and Historical Site, which covers 1,638 ha in Ninh Son commune, Tay Ninh town; and Duong Minh Chau Cultural and Historical Site, which covers 217 ha in Phuong Ninh commune, Duong Minh Chau district (see Duong Minh Chau site card). The management board has 16 members of staff, based at two guard stations, and is under the management of Tay Ninh Provincial DARD (Chau Van Van in litt. 2003).
Nui Ba Den is included on a list of Special-use Forests to be established by the year 2010, prepared by the FPD of MARD, as a 2,000 ha cultural and historical site (FPD 2003); this list has not yet been approved by the government.
Topography and hydrology
Nui Ba Den is a montane isolate in the lowlands of south-eastern Vietnam. The mountain has three summits, the highest of which, Mount Ba Den, is 986 m above sea level. The lowest point in the cultural and historical site is 50 m, at the foot of the mountain. A few streams originate on the mountain and flow into the eastern branch of the Vam Co river.
Biodiversity values
The vegetation cover at Nui Ba Den is dominated by secondary vegetation, including scrub, scattered trees and secondary forest. Data on the flora and fauna of the site are scarce, except for data on reptiles and amphibians. Between May 1998 and September 1999, the herpetofauna of Nui Ba Den was studied by Pham Van Hoa et al. (2000). The authors recorded a total of 59 species of reptile and 12 species of amphibian, including 14 species listed in the Red Data Book of Vietnam.
Conservation issues
During the Second Indochina War, Nui Ba Den was sprayed with defoliants and heavily bombed by US forces (Storey and Robinson 1995). Today, the remaining natural forest at Nui Ba Den is being converted into agricultural land, particularly fruit gardens (Vu Van Dung verbally 2000). Tay Ninh Provincial FPD (in litt. 2000) identify cutting of trees for timber and fuelwood, and hunting of mammals as the biggest threats to biodiversity at Nui Ba Den. The populations of some animal species are being reduced as a result of over-exploitation by local people for domestic consumption or for sale to restaurants that specialise in wild animal meat.
In addition, unsustainable tourism development represents potential additional threat to biodiversity at the cultural and historical site. A tourism resort has already been developed on the mountain, including a cable car to the summit.
Other documented values
Over the centuries, Nui Ba Den, which means Black Lady mountain, has served as a shrine for various religious sects. There are several cave-temples on the mountain. As well as cultural value, the site also has historical value as it was used as a revolutionary base by Viet Minh and Viet Cong forces during the First and Second Indochina Wars (Storey and Robinson 1995). Each year Nui Ba Den Cultural and Historical Site receives a large number of domestic tourists, especially during religious festivals.
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
Nui Ba Den is ineligible for VCF support because it does not meet the criteria for supporting forest biodiversity of international importance. In addition, Nui Ba Den is a cultural and historical site.
| Criterion |
Eligibility |
| AI |
|
| AII |
|
| BI |
Decision No. 194/CT, dated 09/08/86 |
| BII |
|
| BIII |
Under provincial management |
| CI |
Management board established |
| CII |
Social screening requirements
A social screening report has not been prepared for the site.
| Criterion |
Eligibility |
| A |
|
| B |
|
| C |
|
| D |
Literature sources
Pham Van Hoa, Ngo Dac Chung and Hoang Xuan Quang (2000) The fauna of amphibian and reptile species living in Ba Den mountain (Tay Ninh province)]. Tap Chi Sinh Hoc [Journal of Biology] 22(15) CD: 24-29. In Vietnamese.
Storey, R. and Robinson, D. (1995) Lonely planet travel survival kit: Vietnam. Third edition. Hawthorn: Lonely Planet Publications.
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