Che Tao (12021)
Vietnam, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: Che Tao
Central coordinates: Latitude: 21.7000, Longitude: 104.0333
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 260 to 2512
Area of KBA (km2): 243.11253
Protected area coverage (%): 66.23
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Che Tao is situated in the Hoang Lien mountains in northern Vietnam. The IBA is centred on Che Tao commune and also includes adjacent areas in Yen Bai and Son La provinces. The topography of the IBA is dominated by a horseshoe of mountains which forms the boundary of Che Tao commune. There are many peaks above 2,000 m in this horseshoe while elevations in the central valley are generally below 1,500 m.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas) 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.
Additional biodiversity: The IBA is notable for its intact montane avifauna. Non-bird biodiversity: Interview data and field records presented by Tordoff et al. (2001) suggest that two groups of Phayre's Langur Trachypithecus phayrei, totalling 22 to 25, although possibly as many as 38, individuals still occur near Na Hang village, and that both groups are breeding. The T. phayrei population is seriously threatened by hunting.Che Tao supports the largest known population of Western Black Crested Gibbon in Vietnam. The population at the site is thought to number around 100 individuals. The biggest threat to the population is hunting, although this appears to have reduced in recent years.Tordoff et al. (2001) recorded two globally threatened turtle species based on reports of local people: Impressed Tortoise Manouria impressa and Big-headed Turtle Platysternon megacephalum. One additional species was recorded by Long et al. (2000) at interview: Black-breasted Leaf Turtle Geomyda spengleri.Long et al. (2000) recorded two globally threatened gymnosperms: Calocedrus macrolepis and Fokienia hodginsii. Tordoff et al. (2001) report that in places, F. hodginsii comprises over 25% of the mature trees.Long et al. (2000) recorded Southern Serow Naemorhedus sumatraensis which is the commonest ungulate species at Che Tao. Although this species is commonly hunted it is not under immediate threat at Che Tao.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The IBA supports significant areas of upper and lower montane evergreen forest. Large areas have been degraded by timber extraction but more remote areas are pristine and show no signs of human activity.
Land use: agriculture (5%) | not utilised (95%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 15 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 5 | |
| Forest | 80 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Che Tao commune is inhabited by members of the Hmong ethnic minority, and the biggest threats to biodiversity at the site include hunting, timber extraction, forest fire and forest clearance for agriculture.
Additional information
References: Tordoff, A. W., Le Trong Dat and Hardcastle, J. (2001) A rapid biodiversity survey of Che Tao commune, Mu Cang Chai district, Yen Bai province, Vietnam. Unpublished report to the BirdLife International Vietnam Programme and the Fauna & Flora International Indochina Programme.Long, B., Tallents, L. and Tran Dinh Nghia (2000) The biological diversity of Che Tao commune, Yen Bai province, Vietnam. Unpublished report to Fauna & Flora International Indochina Programme.