Biodiversity potential and scientific basis for conservation in the Song Hinh - Tay Hoa area, Dak Lak province, Vietnam

Abstract

The Song Hinh - Tay Hoa area harbors exceptional ecological and biodiversity values. Two characteristic forest ecosystems are represented: lowland and mid-montane evergreen tropical forests, which collectively support remarkable biodiversity, comprising 1,163 vascular plant species, 58 mammalian species, 219 bird species, 125 reptile and amphibian species, and 65 freshwater fish species. Of these, 41 plant species, 20 mammal species, 32 bird species, 14 reptile species, 6 amphibian species, and 6 freshwater fish species are listed as Near Threatened or higher on the IUCN Red List (2025), the Vietnam Red Data Book (2024), and Government Decree No. 84/2021/ND-CP. A defining feature of the area is its high level of endemism, including several narrowly distributed taxa recorded exclusively within the site. In comparison with the ecological and biological criteria stipulated in the current Law on Biodiversity and the Law on Forestry, the area exceeds the thresholds required, thereby meeting both scientific and practical conditions for designation as a provincial- or national-level nature reserve. Drawing upon these research findings and the integrated analysis of landscape and ecosystem maps, a proposal is made for the establishment of a nature reserve, comprising three functional zones: a strictly protected core (13,708 ha), an ecological restoration zone (23,037 ha), and an administrative and service area (362 ha).

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