Sustainable protection ofNomascus siki inVietnam:strenghthening capacityandcollaboration for actions

This project is kindly funded by ARCUS Foundation. The measurable goal is to contribute to the sustainable protection of the critically endangered Southern White-cheeked Gibbon (Nomascus siki) population in Vietnam via strengthening capacity and collaboration for actions.

The project site is in Quang Ninh district, Quang Binh province from May 2022 to December 2023.

Expected outcomes of this project include: Strengthened management capacity of Quang Ninh protection forest; Sustainable livelihoods development models for forest-dependent communities in the buffer zone of Quang Ninh protection forest promoted and piloted; Strengthened collaboration among Quang Ninh protection forest, buffer zone communities and local forest law enforcement agencies for sustainable protection and use of forest resources.

White-cheeked Giboon (Nomascus siki)/ Photo: EPRC

From January 2014, Viet Nature Conservation Centre implemented the project “Protect biodiversity and enhance ecological services of the forest Dong Chau – Khe Nuoc Trong nature reserve, Le Thuy district, Quang Binh province”. This area belongs to the core zone of the Truong Son key biodiversity area identified by BirdLife International in 2002. Accordingly, in 2016 Viet Nature Conservation Centre has surveyed total area of 84.87 km2 in Khe Nuoc Trong, Quang Binh province and recorded 103 groups of Nomascus siki. It is estimated that there are 119 groups in the area of 103 km2.

From 2017 to 2018 Viet Nature Conservation Centre also carried out the project “Assessment of the statement of Nomascus siki in Truong Son key biodiversity area on the distribution of this species from Bac Huong Hoa nature reserve, Quang Tri province to Truong Son which covers 145.000 ha, accounted for 50% area of distribution of this species in Việt Nam.

From 2020 to 2021 Viet Nature Conservation Centre continuously carried out the survey to identify Nomascus siki population in the area of around 170.000 ha forest in Phong Nha – Ke Bang nation park, protection forest management units in Tuyen Hoa and Minh Hoa districts, Quang Binh province.

Viet Nature Conservation Centre with 9 years of combined track records on biodiversity surveys and inventories, protected area planning and sustainable natural resource management, special in Southern and Quang Binh provinces. Its niche is conservation interventions on the ground, at species, site, habitat and landscape levels, and community-based sustainable natural resources management. The project’s outcomes have contributed and recognized by donors and international organizations.