People Resources and Conservation Foundation (PRCF)

Ba Be National Park

Established in 1992, Ba Be National Park (BBNP) is home to Vietnam’s largest natural lake, which covers an area of 10,048 hectares. A network of rivers and streams connects the lake to the surrounding lowland tropical forests that cover adjacent ranges of limestone Karst Mountains. This gives the park a spectacular landscape. The protected area holds over 410 named plants, 300 wildlife species, and a significant butterfly biodiversity of 355 species.

BBNP is under considerable pressure due to the unsustainable use of land, water, and forest resources that is incompatible with biodiversity conservation. The PRCF currently implements four programs at the national park, seeking to harmonize the sustainability of the environment and of livelihoods.

Conservation Awareness Support Program

The program has facilitated the preparation of environmental education modules designed to promote behavioral change among residents, tourist guides, boat operators, schools, park rangers and local people living and conducting business within Ba Be National Park.

Species Conservation Program

The Species Conservation Program has recently commenced and currently involves activities focusing on primates and conifers, nest protection for the White-eared Night Heron, and development of Conservation Action Plans relating to conservation priority species present in the reserve. These include the Tonkin Snub-nosed Monkey, Loris, and Francois’ langur.

Kim Hy Karst Complex

Limestone karst ecosystems have major significance for biodiversity conservation, as they are characterized by high concentrations of locally endemic flora and fauna. Surveys in Kim Hy Nature Reserve indicate that the limestone complex therein supports roughly half of Vietnam’s bat species diversity, including numerous red-listed and rarely recorded species.

Cao Vit Gibbon Conservation Area

A block of forest straddling the international border between Vietnam and China inhabits the only known population of Eastern Black Crested Gibbon (also known as the Cao Vit Gibbon), considered to be one of the rarest primates in the world. In 2002, Fauna & Flora International (FFI) implemented a community-based primate conservation project and has since been working with local government forestry agencies and local communities to reduce threats to the gibbon population.

In 2007, the PRCF joined FFI in their long-term conservation efforts and currently implements two programs at this field site, including:

Buffer Zone Threat Abatement Program

Working in close collaboration with FFI, project activities seek to reduce the impact of local communities on the gibbon population, particularly through reduced fuel wood collection, controlled livestock grazing, and alternative livelihoods development.

Cao Vit Gibbon Habitat Restoration Program

Program activities initiated in 2010 aim to restore and expand the critical habitat of the Eastern Black Crested Gibbon principally in Vietnam. These activities will incorporate a trans-boundary collaborative approach with protected area managers in China.

Na Hang Nature Reserve

This 41,930 hectare reserve, established in 2004, is divided into a number of management zones including two strict protection area sectors. These include Tat Ke, in the north, and Ban Bung, in the south. The reserve is best known for its populations of the Globally Critically Endangered Tonkin Snub-nosed Monkey, Endangered Francois’ langur, and related community-based conservation activities.

Local communities are strongly dependent on resources within the reserve for their livelihoods. As a result, major threats to biodiversity include forest clearance for upland agriculture, illegal burning, collection of timber and non-timber forest products, hunting, and the wild animal trade.

The PRCF coordinates two programs at this field site:

Collaborative Community Natural Resource Management Program

Program activities promote the involvement of local communities in reserve governance and conservation planning.  Government supported community-based conservation teams from four buffer zone villages patrol inside the reserve and monitor illegal activities.

Species Conservation Program

The Species Conservation Program has recently started and currently focuses on Tonkin Snub-nosed Monkeys, Francois’ langur, nest protection for the White-eared Night Heron, and development of Community Conservation Action Plans relating to these species of high conservation priority.