Vinh Cuu Proposed Nature Reserve

Alternative site name(s) None Province(s) Dong Nai Area 53,822 ha Coordinates 11°03' - 11°30'N, 106°54' - 107°13'E Agro-ecological zone South-eastern Decreed by government No Management board established Yes

Investment plan prepared Yes VCF eligibility criteria met A, B, C Social screening criteria met None Conservation needs assessment prepared No Operational management plan prepared No Tracking tool completed No Map available Yes

Management history

Vinh Cuu is not included on any government decision or official set of proposals regarding the national Special-use Forests system (MARD 1997, FPD 2003). However, Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee approved the establishment of a 53,822 ha nature reserve at the site on 3 December 2003 (G. Miller in litt. 2004). A nature reserve investment plan has been prepared for the site (Anon. 2003), and a management board has been established, although senior positions are still to be filled (G. Miller in litt. 2004).

Topography and hydrology

Vinh Cuu proposed nature reserve is situated in an extensive area of lowlands in Vinh Cuu district, Dong Nai province. The proposed nature reserve is contiguous with Cat Tien National Park to the east, and is situated in the catchment of Tri An reservoir.

Biodiversity values

The natural vegetation of Vinh Cuu proposed nature reserve is similar to that of the Nam Cat Tien sector of Cat Tien National Park, with which it is contiguous. The dominant vegetation types are lowland evergreen forest and lowland semi-evergreen forest.

The results of a series of biodiversity surveys of Vinh Cuu have revealed that, together with the adjacent Cat Tien National Park, the site is an important area for the conservation of a number of globally threatened mammal species, including Asian Elephant Elephas maximus.

Conservation issues

The establishment of a nature reserve at Vinh Cuu addresses a number of conservation issues, including: (i) the recovery of over-exploited Dipterocarpus forest; (ii) the establishment of protected habitat for wildlife populations at the site, and of increased habitat for wildlife populations in Cat Tien National Park; (iii) the protection of evergreen forest, semi-evergreen forest and mixed bamboo and timber forest; and (iv) increased protection of the catchment of Tri An reservoir (G. Miller in litt. 2004).

The newly established nature reserve incorporates part of Vinh An Forest Enterprise, which has now been redemarcated and reduced in size. A key forest product of the forest enterprise is bamboo, exploited for chopstick production; other non-timber forest products are also exploited. There are plans to gradually reduce the exploitation of bamboo from the natural forest in the forest enterprise, which is located directly between the new nature reserve and Cat Tien National Park. This development would go a long way towards addressing the conservation issues identified above (G. Miller in litt. 2004).

Other documented values

No information.

Related projects

WWF and MARD are currently implementing the Cat Tien National Park Conservation Project (CTNPCP), with funding from the governments of the Netherlands and Vietnam. This project began implementation in May 1998 and will continue until June 2004. One of the result areas of CTNPCP has been assistance with the development of a nature reserve investment plan for Vinh Cuu.

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

Vinh Cuu is eligible for VCF support because it meets criteria A, B and C.

Criterion	Eligibility
AI	SA5 - Lowland Dong Nai Watershed
AII
BI	Proposed Special-use Forest
BII	Nature Reserve
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

Anon. (2003) [Investment plan for Vinh Cuu Nature Reserve, Dong Nai province.] Ho Chi Minh City: Ho Chi Minh City Sub-FIPI.