Bidoup Nui-Ba National Park

Year of Declaration:  2018
Area (hectares): 70,038.75
Area and Location:

Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest of Lam Dong province; to the north by Chu Yang Sin National Park in Dak Lak province; east with the Phuoc Binh National Park, Ninh Thuan and Khanh Hoa provinces.

 

Description:

Situated in the Da Lat Plateau Endemic Bird Area, one of 221 Endemic Bird Areas (EBA) in the Earth, with 3 Important Bird Areas (IBA) identified in the areas which overlapped with park boundary. The park was identified as a priority site in the Strategy for Biodiversity Conservation of the Southern Annamite Mountains (WWF, 2003) for its rich biodiversity values including importance for conservation of gymnosperm species and home of number international and national threatened species. Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park is also the core zone of the Langbiang Biosphere Reserve recognized by UNESCO in 2015.

 

Habitat Types:

Four major natural system occurring in the area: medium montane subtropical moist evergreen rainforest, subtropical moist evergreen rainforest, medium montane subtropical dry coniferous forest and mixed bamboo forest; and two major river systems

 

Unique Flora:

In coniferous tree species, Pinus krempfii and Pinus dalatensis are two narrow endemic species that are only found in the park and surrounding areas. In Elfin forest area,  flower species of Ericaceae is Rhododendron exelsum is found. Fire-resistant trees such as Helicia niligirica, Lyonia ovalifolia, and Quercus lanata. Globally threatened species such as Cycas micholitzii (VU), Afzelia xylocarpa (EN), and also Lithocarpus truncatus, Magnolia baillonii and Anoectochilus setaceus are found in the area. Thirty-nine (39) plant species are endemic to Bidoup area, following geographical names in Dalat Plateau, including 10 species named dalatensis and 11 species named bidoupensis and one very narrow endemic species Pinus krempfii.

 

Unique Fauna:

The globally endangered Red-cheeked Gibbon Nomascus gabriellae, an endemic primate species to South Indochina, is found locally common in the park. Two species of Artiodactyla are listed as nationally and globally threatened (VAST 2007 and IUCN 2016): Gaur Bos gaurus, and Sumatran Serow Capricornis sumatraensis; the Southern Red Muntjac Muntiacus muntjak is listed as nationally vulnerable by VAST (2007).
Lesser Hairy-winged Bat Harpiocephalus harpia is listed as national threatened by VAST (2007) and the Da Lat’s Tube-nosed Bat Murina harpioloides is endemic to Da Lat plateau. Species of Muridae family, with many species are endemic to Central Highlands and even to only Da Lat plateau.
The Passeriformes is abundant among the birds. More than 20% of butterflies in the area are found only in Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park. Two butterfly species Teinopalpus aureus and Troides helena are listed in the Appendix II of CITES. 18 of the 304 bird species are listed as nationally and globally threatened (VAST 2007 and IUCN 2016) or listed as national protected species by the PM’s Decree No. 32/2006. Endemic birds include Vietnamese Greenfinch Carduelis monguilloti, Grey-crowned Crocias Crocias langbianis and Collared Laughingthrush Trochalopteron yersini.

 

Ecotourism Destination and Activities:

The establishment of an International Research Center for Tropical Forests in the park management board marked an important milestone in scientific research and international cooperation work of the park. There are various types of eco-tourism such as hiking, cycling adventure, explore nature, sailing etc.. Easy access from two major tourist centres Da Lat and Nha Trang is also an opportunity for development of ecotourism in the park. National Park currently has programmes to build a botanical garden and semi-wild zoo (safari).

 

Biological Richness: 131 species of mammal representing at least 42.25% of the known mammal in Vietnam. There are 304 (36.19%) species of birds of the known 840 species of birds in the country. A total of 91 reptiles,78 species of amphibians , 44 species of freshwater species and 125 species of butterflies were recorded inside the park. The majority of the living organisms identified are plants with 1,952 species (815 genera and 180 vascular plant families). The number represents at least 14.17 % of the known plants in Vietnam, which is recorded at 13,766 species. There are 44 species of 7 freshwater fish families recorded for the park. Of the 7 families, the Cyprinidae family has highest number of species (18), followed by Balitoridae with 16 species.