After starting as a nature reserve in 1986, the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park was first listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2003. The National Park boasts an area of just over 126,000 hectares, with a buffer zone of 220,000+ hectares, and is split into three zones: strictly protected, ecological restoration and service zone. It is dissected by the 400 million year old Annamite mountain range called Truong Son, and contains over 100 kilometers of protected caves, dense tropical rainforest (with primary and secondary moist forest), and vast biodiversity with high levels of endemism.
Nature & Environment
After more research was conducted, Phong Nha-Ke Bang received further recognition from UNESCO in 2015 for its natural biodiversity. The National Park has over 270 species of vascular plants, over 450 species of invertebrate including 259 butterfly species and over 800 vertebrate species including 10 primate species, 50 amphibian species, 100 reptile species, over 200 bird species and 72 fish species. Of these numbers, 133 vascular plant species and 104 vertebrate species are considered globally threatened. Some examples of these are the endangered Giant Antlered Muntjac, Saola, Sunda Pangolin, Clouded Leopard, and Brown Hornbill. It is believed that 400+ plant species and 38 animal species are endemic to the area, including the Hatinh Langur, the White-cheeked Gibbon and the Red-shanked Douc Langur. Other species like the Asiatic Black Bear and Indochinese Tigers have numbers so low that there is no reliable evidence on the remaining numbers in Vietnam. It has been confirmed by some local people that they have been sighted and are still active in some areas of the National Park and other parts of the Truong Son mountain range.
Research and surveying in many areas of the National Park can be challenging due to the density of the jungle and topography of the mountain range. The area makes up one of the biggest spaces of relatively intact rainforest on limestone karst in Asia. Total coverage is thought to be around 94% with an approximation of 84% of the area being primary rainforest. Furthermore, the level of endemism is significantly high, particularly inside the cave systems.
Although there is protection, unfortunately there are still issues that affect the preservation of the National Park. Poaching of wildlife, illegal logging and harvesting of items from the National Park is having an impact on the natural life in Phong Nha-Ke Bang. It may also be threatened by tourism infrastructure and development unless this can be controlled in the right manner. The implementation of a professional E.I.A (Environmental Impact Assessment) would aid in protecting the caves systems, biodiversity and high levels of endemism, as well as the continuation to support sustainable tourism. Maintaining and encouraging sustainable tourism will mean that the local people aren’t forced into financial situations where they have to take part in illegal poaching and logging in the National Park.
