Bac Lieu (12011)
Vietnam, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: Bac Lieu
Central coordinates: Latitude: 9.2500, Longitude: 105.7167
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 2
Area of KBA (km2): 5.84008
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Bac Lieu is a Bird Sanctuary and part of a Nature Reserve. It is located in the plain of the Mekong Delta. The site is a remnant of an elevated mangrove forest, which is waterlogged during the rainy season. The site is surrounded by paddy fields. In terms of area, Bac lieu bird sanctuary is the largest of all bird colonies in the Mekong Delta.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. The site has been reviewed and re-confirmed as a KBA in the process of compiling the revised 2011 CEPF Ecosystem Profile for the Indo-Burma Hotspot.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The vegetation at the site comprises small areas of mangrove forest dominated by Lumnitzera racemosa and the palm Phoenix paludosa; plantations of Thespesia populnea and Acacia auriculiformis scattered with the shrub Wedelia biflora; and small patches of seasonally inundated grasslands.
Land use: nature conservation and research
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 10 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 40 | |
| Forest | 50 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The overall level of impact of local people on the nature reserve is considarable. The population density in surrounding communes is high. Driven by governmental economic development policies in the past, settlements have expanded up to the canals that form the boundary of the nature reserve. The major threats to biodiversity at the site therefore, are hunting and over-exploitation of natural resources. The total number of birds recorded at this site declined by ca. 90% during the years between 1980 and 1992. Illegal hunting and poisoning of birds, together with the collection of eggs and fishing still occur on a huge scale.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Agro-industry farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Marine & freshwater aquaculture | Industrial aquaculture | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Birdlife International and the Forest Inventory and Planning Institute (2001) Sourcebook of existing and proposed protected areas in Vietnam. Hanoi, Vietnam: BirdLife International Vietnam Programme and the Forest Inventory and Planning Institute.Buckton, S. T., Ngyuyen Cu, Nguyen Duc Tu and Ha Quy Quynh (1999) The conservation of key wetland sites in the Mekong delta. Hanoi: Birdlife International Vietnam programme.