James Hardcastle

Conservation of Black Crested Gibbons

James Hardcastle with local people in the Vietnamese jungle.

Town/RegionCountryCategoriesDate
Che Tao ForestViet NamAsia, Forests, Mammals, Primates14 Aug 2001

The situation of primates in Vietnam is critical. There are at least six primate species that are likely to go extinct within a few years unless urgent action is taken. Among these is the Black Crested Gibbon, one of the most threatened and poorly understood species in the world. Che Tao and Nam Xe forests harbour the last viable populations of Black Crested Gibbons and are both important watershed forests, protecting downstream areas from erosion and flooding.

The overall aim of the project is to secure the long term prospects for the survival of these populations. Specifically the project seeks to achieve protected area status for Che Tao and Nam Xe, which would harness and protect local community land rights, sustainable management of local resources and local participation in primate protection. Concentrating on a programme of conservation education and awareness, the team will build local knowledge of the species, working closely with local institutions such as schools, the Women's Union, Commune People's Committee and Village elders. The Protected Area gazettement process will then be carried out with full representation of the local community, to result in community decisions and priorities being incorporated into the Protected Area boundaries and management plan.

Project Update: January 2002

Since December 2000 the team has been developing conservation activities in partnership with the Forest Protection Department of Mu Cang Chai district, and the people of Che Tao forests.Although Che Tao is small in area, it is sufficiently large to allow gibbons to flourish should the current activities of habitat reduction and hunting be halted.It is estimated that the proposed Species and Habitat Conservation Area, which covers about 15,000ha, would support about 600 individuals, should the population be allowed to recover. Surveys indicate that a viable population currently exists in the area.

Discussions with local communities revealed "pride value" as the key to success in protecting the gibbons and forest of Che Tao. The primary aim of the Special Use Forest is to protect the last viable population of western black crested gibbons in Vietnam. The second aim is to provide suitable conditions for communities to benefit from the forest in terms of forest resource extraction, on which they are dependent.

The feasibility study and investment plan have been submitted to the Government, and it is hoped that official sanction for the protected area will be obtained by the end of 2002. Meanwhile, conservation work in Che Tao is ongoing, seeking to mitigate theimpact of road construction through the forest, and equipping rangers so that they can operate effectively. A great deal of information is being exchanged with other areas in the regions, where conservation education activities are also underway.


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