Nam Cat Tien (12056)
Vietnam, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: B2
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: Nam Cat Tien
Central coordinates: Latitude: 11.4500, Longitude: 107.3333
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 100 to 372
Area of KBA (km2): 460.34655
Protected area coverage (%): 83.33
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This IBA comprises the Nam Cat Tien sector of Cat Tien National Park, situated in the lowlands of southern Vietnam, at the foot of the Central Highlands. The topograpy of Nam Cat Tien is characterised by low, gentle hills. The lowlands in the north of the site are poorly drained, and support an area of swamps and lakes, which expands and contracts seasonally. The major vegetation types at the site are lowland semi-deciduous forest, lowland evergreen forest and bamboo. Nam Cat Tien is nationally significant for large mammal conservation, supporting populations of Asian Elephant Elephas maximus, Gaur Bos gaurus, Black-shanked Douc Langur Pygathrix nigripes and Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon Nomascus gabrielle. There are two villages inside the boundary of Cat Tien. The major threats to biodiversity at Cat Tien are conversion of forest land for agriculture, timber extraction, exploitation of non-timber forest products and hunting.
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.
Additional biodiversity: Nam Cat Tien is situated in the South Vietnamese Lowlands Endemic Bird Area (EBA), and supports populations of all three bird species that occur in this EBA: Orange-necked Partridge Arborophila davidi, Germain's Peacock Pheasant Polyplectron germaini and Grey-faced Tit Babbler Macronous kelleyi. Nam Cat Tien is also an important site for the conservation of waterbirds. Among the globally threatened waterbird species that have been recorded at the site are White-shouldered Ibis Pseudibis davisoni, White-winged Duck Cairina scutulata and Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus. Non-bird biodiversity: Nam Cat Tien supports populations of the following globally threatened primate species: Pygmy Loris Nycticebus pygmaeus, Stump-tailed Macaque Macaca arctoides, Pig-tailed Macaque Macaca nemestrina, Long-tailed Macaque Macaca fascicularis, Black-shanked Douc Langur Pygathrix nigripes and Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon Nomascus gabrielle. Confiscated Rhesus Macaques Macaca mulatta have also been released at the site, but this species would not be expected to occur naturally (Ling 2000). There have also been records of Silvered Langur Trachypithecus cristatus by visitors to the park (Murphy 2001).Nam Cat Tien supports populations of Asian Elephant Elephas maximus and Gaur Bos gaurus (Ling 2000). There are also provisional records of Banteng Bos javanicus but it is unlikely that the site supports a viable population (Murphy 2001).
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Nam Cat Tien supports a variety of habitat types, including primary and secondary lowland evergreen forest, primary and secondary lowland semi-deciduous forest, freshwater wetlands with open lakes and seasonally inundated grasslands, flooded forest and a range of secondary habitat types, including grassland and areas dominated by bamboo. There are several villages situated in Cat Loc, populated by people belonging to the Kinh, Tay, Chau Ma and Stieng ethnic groups. A much larger population inhabits the national park buffer zone, including people belonging to the Kinh, Tay, Nung, Dao and Hmong ethnic groups. Each of these groups have different land-use strategies and different impacts on the natural resources of the national park.
Land use: nature conservation and research (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 5 | |
| Forest | 64 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Forest land along the northern boundary of Nam Cat Tien is being converted into agricultural land, reducing the area of habitat for globally threatened species. This is of particular concern for the important wetlands and grasslands which lie close to the northern boundary. Illegal exploitation of timber, rattan, mammals, birds and fish is still taking place within Nam Cat Tien.Land within Nam Cat Tien designated as agricultural land is not under the management of the national park management board, which only controls land designated as forest land. Poor coordination among different local government agencies is resulting in an emphasis on agricultural development instead of biodiversity conservation in the agricultural land within the site.
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.Atkins, R. A. and Tentij, M. (1998) The Orange-necked Partridge Arborophila davidi and five other galliforms in two protected areas in southern Vietnam. Amsterdam: Institute of Systematics and Population Biology, University of Amsterdam.Nguyen Tran Vy, Nguyen Hoang Hao, Le Van Tinh and Tran Dinh Hung (2000a) [Distribution of seven pheasant species in Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam]. Cat Tien: Cat Tien National Park Management Board.Ling, S. (2000) A survey of wild cattle and other mammals, Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam. Cat Tien: WWF Cat Tien National Park Conservation Project.Eames, J. C., Robson, C. R., Nguyen Cu and Truong Van La (1992) Forest bird surveys in Vietnam 1991. Unpublished report to the International Council for Bird Preservation.Robson, C. R., Eames, J. C., Newman, M., Nguyen Cu and Truong Van La (1990) Forest bird surveys in Vietnam 1989/90. Unpublished report to the International Council for Bird Preservation.Dymond, J. N. (1998) Birds in Vietnam in December 1993 and December 1994. Forktail 13: 7-12.Farnes, R., Smith, T., Beste, H. and Beste, J. (1996) Bird list of Nam Bai Cat Tien National Park. Unpublished list of birds.Polet, G., Tran Van Mui, Nguyen Xuan Dang, Bui Huu Manh and Baltzer, M. (1999) The Javan Rhinos, Rhinoceros sondiacus annamiticus, of Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam: current status and management implications. Pachyderm 27: 34-48.Nguyen Tran Vy, Tran Van Mui and Polet, G. (1999) The 1999 survey on water-related birds in Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam. Cat Tien: WWF Cat Tien National Park Conservation Project.Nguyen Tran Vy, Le Hoang Hao. Le Van Tinh and Tran Dinh Hung (2000b) The year 2000 survey of waterfowl in Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam. Cat Tien: WWF Cat Tien National Park Conservation Project.Polet, G., Ling, S. and Pham Huu Khanh (2001) Cat Tien National Park. Oriental Bird Club Bulletin 33: 7-14.Nguyen Tran Vy, Nguyen Hoang Hao, Le Van Tinh, Tran Dinh Hung and Nguyen Viet Su (2001a) Pheasant survey in Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam, 2001. Cat Tien: Cat Tien National Park Conservation ProjectNguyen Tran Vy, Nguyen Hoang Hao, Le Van Tinh, Tran Dinh Hung and Nguyen Viet Su (2001b) Water-related birds survey in Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam, 2001. Cat Tien: Cat Tien National Park Conservation ProjectMurphy, D. (2001) Mammal observations in Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam. Cat Tien: WWF Cat Tien National Park Conservation Project.Hornbuckle, J. (1998) Vietnam Trip Report 24 March to 14 April 1998. Unpublished Report on WorldTwitch Internet Website.Chia,A., Lee, K., Owyong, A. & Leng, S. (1999) South Vietnam Bird List - Trip Report. Nature Society Singapore. Unpublished list on Internet.Polet, G. Phan Kuu Khanh (1999) Birds of Cat Tien National Park. Ho Chi Minh City: Ho Chi Minh City Publishing House.