UPDATING ENDANGERED SPECIES DISTRIBUTION & CONSERVATION IN THE MEKONG DELTA PROVINCES

In the present study 2016, with information from PRA as well as secondary data shown that total number of endangered species is higher than that were recorded in 2012 table 3.1.. Map of

FINAL REPORT UPDATING ENDANGERED SPECIES DISTRIBUTION & CONSERVATION IN THE MEKONG DELTA PROVINCES

(Project code: VN097601 –VZ6109)

Prepared by

Nguyen Van Cong Duong Tri Dung Tran Sy Nam Huynh Cong Khanh Huynh Van Thao Tran Van Hung

December 2016

1 INTRODUCTION 2

2 METHODOLOGY 2

3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 3

3.1 Endangered species in Ben Tre province 3

3.2 Endangered species in Dong Thap province 4

3.3 Endangered species in Tra Vinh province 6

3.4 Endangered species in An Giang province 7

3.5 Endangered species in Hau Giang province 9

3.6 Endangered species in Kien Giang province 10

3.7 Endangered species in Tien Giang province 12

3.8 Endangered species in Ca Mau province 13

3.9 Endangered species in Bac Lieu province 15

3.10 Endangered species in Soc Trang province 16

3.11 Endangered species in Long An province 18

3.12 Endangered species in Can Tho city 19

3.13 Endangered species in Vinh Long province 21

3.14 Mapping endangered distribution in the Mekong delta 22

4 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 22

1 INTRODUCTION

In the year 2012, the report on “Endangered species distribution and

conservation in the Mekong Delta provinces” was provided Information from

this report had been used as good available endangered species in the Mekong River Delta for BEIA report to apply for ASC certification in aquaculture farming During the past years to the present, aquaculture and social economics in the Mekong delta always continue to grow up (www.gso.gov.vn) and create much pressure to degrade biodiversity as well

as endangered species On the other hand, provincial authorities have paid much attention to investigate and protect biodiversity in the Mekong delta provinces Present status of biodiversity in general and endangered species distribution and conservation in the Mekong delta provinces were not summarized and updated This study aims to update endangered species distribution and conservation in the Mekong Delta provinces It is hoped that the result from the study will be better supporting for pangasius producers in compliance with the requirements of ASC standard

2 METHODOLOGY

In order to fulfill the objective of this study, first of all, list of endanger species which were identified by IUCN and Vietnamese national authorities were reviewed and then sorted following mammals, avian, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, invertebrates and plants The list is an important reference for updating endangered species distribution and conservation in the Mekong Delta provinces Particularly, it was used for carrying out participatory rapid appraisal (PRA) with local people

Contact to local authorities, including the department of Natural resources and Environment, department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Section of Forest management) and others related organizations such as national parks,

nature reserves etc for collecting list of known endangered species and their

distribution in the target provinces or collecting report on biodiversity investigation in the province The sorted list of endangered species in the first step of methodology will be used as reference during communicating with local authorities Potential effects to biodiversity as well as endangered species distribution were also concerned during communication in the meeting

Contact local authorities, including the people from the department of Natural resources and Environment, the department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Section of Forest management) and others related organizations such as national parks, nature reserves, and owners of aquaculture farms to make appointment for conduct PRA meeting to collect information on endangered species in each province Population size, habitat,

distribution, threats and local perception for protection were considered during the PRA

Results from investigation based on literature review and PRA were integrated for report writing The daft data were presented in the workshop which was co-organized between WWF and VASEP Comments from the participants (people from the department of Natural resources and Environment, the department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Section of Forest management, and others related organizations such as national parks, nature reserves, catfish farms) were considered for finalizing data to do GIS and revise final report

3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

3.1 Endangered species in Ben Tre province

Ben Tre province borders to Tien Giang province in the North, Tra Vinh province in the South and South-East, Vinh Long province in the West and South–West and to East Sea in the East (Figure 3.1) Total natural area of the province is 2,360.2 km2, accounts for 5,84% total area of the Mekong Delta The province has fresh water, saline water and marine water ecosystems Within the province, five sites including Vam Ho Bird Sanctuary, Thanh Phu Nature Reserve, Phu Da, An Hoa Mangrove Coastal Area, Bao Mangrove Coastal Area were considered as conservation sites

Figure 3.1 Map of Ben Tre province (http://ipabentre.gov.vn/)

In the present study (2016), with information from PRA as well as secondary data shown that total number of endangered species is higher than that were recorded in 2012 (table 3.1) It was recorded one more endangered species for plant, two more endangered species for bird, 9 more endangered species for reptile and 7 more endangered for mammal Detailed scientific name of these endangered species can be seen in the appendix 1 However, it is still unclear information for invertebrates (Table 3.1)

According to the Vietnamese red book, six species are catalyzed in CR, 20 species are EN, 34 species are VU, and one species is EW However, based on the IUCN red book, 6 species are catalyzed in CR; 4 species are EN; 21 species are VU; 8 species are NT; 16 species are LC; 4 species are LR; and 2 species are DD (appendix 1)

Table 3.1: Endangered species in Ben Tre province

Group VN red book IUCN red book Accumulative number

2012 2016 2012 2016 VN IUCN VN & IUCN

Invertebrates U U U U U U U Amphibians 1 U 0 U 1 U 1 Reptiles 13 20 6 17 20 17 22 Fish 10 10 3 5 10 5 10 Bird 14 14 10 15 14 16 16 Mammal 6 13 4 13 13 13 13

Note: U=Unclear

The accumulated information (including data from the study in 2012) shown that up to now in the entire Ben Tre province have 8 endangered species of plants, 1 endangered species of amphibians, 22 endangered species of reptiles, 10 endangered species of fish, 16 endangered species

of bird and 13 endangered species of mammal as accordance to Vietnamese and IUCN red books (Table 3.1)

3.2 Endangered species in Dong Thap province

Dong Thap province has total natural land area of 3,374.08 km2, accounts for 8.17% area of the Mekong Delta The province borders to neighboring country (Cambodia) in the North, Vinh Long and Can Tho provinces in the South, An Giang province in the West and Long An and Tien Giang provinces in the East (Figure 3.2) There is one national park namely Tram Chim in the province

Figure 3.2 Map of Dong Thap province (http://dongthaptrade.com.vn) The results shown that total number of endangered species at the present study are higher than that were recorded in 2012 (table 3.2) It was recorded six more endangered species for avian, two more endangered species for mammal, as well as for reptile and fish Detailed scientific name of these endangered species can be seen in the appendix

2 However, It is still unclear information for invertebrates No new endangered species is recorded for plant and amphibians (Table 3.2)

Table 3.2: Endangered species in Dong Thap province

Group VN red book IUCN red book Accumulative number

2012 2016 2012 2016 VN IUCN VN & IUCN

Invertebrates U U U U U U U Amphibians 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 Reptiles 10 12 6 8 12 8 12

Bird 12 17 7 18 17 18 18 Mammal 2 4 2 4 4 4 4 Note: U=Unclear

According to Vietnamese red book, four species are catalyzed in CR, 12 species are EN, 21 species are VU, one species is LR and 3 species are

K According to IUCN, 3 species are catalyzed in CR, 4 species are EN, 12

species are VU, 6 species are NT and 12 species are LC (Appendix 2)

The accumulated information up to now shown that one endangered species of plants, 01 endangered species of amphibians, 12 endangered species of reptiles, 06 endangered species of fish, 18 endangered species

of bird and 04 endangered species of mammal were recognized in the whole province (Table 3.2)

3.3 Endangered species in Tra Vinh province

Tra Vinh province has total natural land area of 229,510.07 ha The province locates between Hau and Co Chien (one of branches of Tien River) Rivers The province borders to three provinces, including Vinh Long, Soc Trang and Ben Tre It also borders to East Sea (Figure 3.3) The province has fresh water, saline water and marine water ecosystems

Figure 3.3 Map of Tra Vinh province (http://investinvietnam.vn/)

Result from the present study shown that no new endangered species at the present study in comparing to the results that were recorded in 2012

(appendix 3.3, table 3.3)

Table 3.3: Endangered species in Tra Vinh province

Group VN red book IUCN red book Accumulative number

2012 2016 2012 2016 VN IUCN VN & IUCN

The accumulative data up to now shown that 02 endangered species of plants, 01 endangered species of amphibians, 08 endangered species of reptiles, 03 endangered species of fish, 06 endangered species of bird and

02 endangered species of mammal were recorded in the whole province (Table 3.3)

3.4 Endangered species in An Giang province

An Giang province has total natural land area of 3536.7 km2 The province borders to Dong Thap, Kien Giang provinces and Can Tho City In addition, it has long borderline with Cambodia (Figure 3.4) The province was yearly affected by flooded water Within the province, large areas were protected flooded water by constructing semi and closed-dike systems One site, namely Tra Su melaleuca forest was considered

as biodiversity conservation area

Figure 3.4 Map of An Giang province (http://tronganh.freevnn.com/) Result from the present study (2016) shown that total number of endangered species at the present study are greatly higher than that were recorded in 2012 (table 3.4) It was recorded 30 more endangered species for plant, 8 more endangered species for bird, 5 more endangered species for fish, 11 more endangered species for reptile and

8 more endangered species for mammal Detailed scientific name of these endangered species can be seen in the appendix 4

According to Vietnamese red book, 7 species are catalyzed in CR, 23 species are EN, 32 species are VU, 3 species are T, one species is R and

3 species are LR According to IUCN, 8 species are catalyzed in CR, 13 species are EN, 15 species are VU, 4 species are NT, 18 species are LC, and one species is DD (appendix 4)

The accumulated information up to now shown that 31 endangered species of plants, 01 endangered species of amphibians, 17 endangered species of reptiles, 07 endangered species of fish, 14 endangered species

of bird and 09 endangered species of mammal were noted in An Giang province (Table 3.4)

Table 3.4: Endangered species in An Giang province

Group VN red book IUCN red book Accumulative number

2012 2016 2012 2016 VN IUCN VN & IUCN

3.5 Endangered species in Hau Giang province

Hau Giang has total area of 1602.5 km2 The province borders to Kien Giang in the West, to Can Tho City and Vinh Long province in the North, to Bac Lieu province in the South and to Soc Trang province in the East (Figure 3.5) Lung Ngoc Hoang Nature Reserve is considered

as biodiversity conservation site in the province

TP VỊ THANH

Figure 3.5 Map of Hau Giang province (http://www.haugiang.gov.vn/) Biodiversity investigation study has just be carried out in Hau Giang province in 2015 Results from this investigation shown that total number of endangered species are higher than that were recorded in

2012 (table 3.5) It was recorded one more endangered species for plant, two more endangered species for avian, one more endangered species for mammal as well as for fish, and four 11 more endangered species for reptile Detailed scientific name of these endangered species can be seen in the appendix 5 It is still unclear information for invertebrates

Table 3.5: Endangered species in Hau Giang province

Group VN red book IUCN red book Accumulative number

2012 2016 2012 2016 VN IUCN VN & IUCN

Invertebrates U U U U U U U Amphibians 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 Reptiles 9 13 3 8 13 8 13

Bird 10 12 6 12 12 12 12 Mammal 5 6 3 6 6 6 6

3.6 Endangered species in Kien Giang province

Kien Giang province borders to An Giang, Bac Lieu provinces and Can Tho City In addition, it has long coastline to East-sea and short borderline with Cambodia (Figure 3.6) The province has total natural land area of 6.346 km2 U Minh Thuong Melaleuca forest was considered as national park

Figure 3.6 Map of Kien Giang province (http://www.kitra.com.vn/) Total number of endangered species are found higher than that were recorded in 2012 (table 3.6) It was recorded one more endangered species for plant as well as for amphibians, seven more endangered species for bird, two more endangered species for mammal, and five more endangered species for reptile Detailed scientific name of these endangered species can be seen in the appendix 6

Table 3.6: Endangered species in Kien Giang province

Group VN red book IUCN red book Accumulative number

2012 2016 2012 2016 VN IUCN VN & IUCN

Invertebrates 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 Amphibians U 1 U 1 1 1 1 Reptiles 10 14 6 11 14 11 15

Bird 7 12 7 13 12 14 14 Mammal 8 9 6 10 9 10 10 Note: U=Unclear

According to Vietnamese red book, 3 species are catalyzed in CR, 13 species are EN, 18 species are VU, one species is T, 2 species are LR, one