Lang Bian (12041)
Vietnam, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2002
National site name: Lang Bian
Central coordinates: Latitude: 12.0500, Longitude: 108.4333
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1400 to 2167
0KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This IBA is centred on Mount Lang Bian (also known as Nui Ba) in the west of Bi Dup-Nui Ba Nature Reserve on the Da Lat plateau. The main forest types occurring at Lang Bian are coniferous forest and evergreen forest. The area is known for its high levels of plant diversity and endemism. The fauna of the area is also very species rich, and exhibits high levels of endemism.
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)
Additional biodiversity: Lang Bian lies within the Da Lat Plateau Endemic Bird Area (EBA). Three of the eight restricted-range species that occur in this EBA have been recorded at the site, including the globally endangered species Collared Laughingthrush Garrulax yersini.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Most of the habitat of the site consists of secondary scrub and coniferous forest. The coniferous forest is dominated by Pinus kesiya with smaller amounts of P. merkusii. Coniferous forest is a seral vegetation type, formed a result of repeated burning; if the forest was not burnt, succession to broadleaf evergreen forest would occur. The abolition of burning would be a major benefit to biodiversity conservation because the evergreen forest has a much higher biodiversity value than the pine forest (Eames, 1995).
Land use: nature conservation and research (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 60 | |
| Forest | 40 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Threats to biodiversity at Lang Bian include charcoal production, clearance of forest for agriculture, hunting and over-exploitation of non-timber forest products. Charcoal production has already lead to the destruction of most of the evergreen forest on Mount Lang Bian, with the result that much of the habitat now consists of secondary scrub.
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.Eames, J. C. (1995) Endemic birds and protected area development on the Da Lat plateau, Vietnam. Bird Conservation International 5(4): 491-523.Eames, J. C. and Nguyen Cu (1994) [A management feasibility study of Thuong Da Nimh and Chu Yang Sin Nature Reserves on the Da Lat plateau, Vietnam]. Hanoi: WWF Vietnam Programme and the Forest Inventory and Planning Institute. In Vietnamese.Dymond, J. N. (1998) Birds in Vietnam in December 1993 and December 1994. Forktail 13: 7-12.