Building a database and proposing management solutions for endemic, endangered, precious and rare animal and plant species at Phuoc Binh National Park

Vietnam is one of the ten countries with the highest biodiversity in the world, with unique ecosystems, many endemic species and varieties of high scientific and economic value, and many rare genetic resources. However, for many reasons, in recent years biodiversity in our country has declined sharply. The main causes are forest fires, conversion of land use purposes leading to the shrinking of habitats, overexploitation and overfishing, illegal trading of precious and rare animals and plants, and environmental pollution. A total of more than 800 endangered, precious and rare animal and plant species were listed in the Vietnam Red Data Book in 2007.

With the aim of conserving the nation’s important biological resources, the Government of Vietnam has established a system of special-use forests nationwide. In August 2024, the Prime Minister signed Decision 895/QD-TTg approving the National Forestry Planning for the period 2021–2030, with a vision to 2050. Accordingly, by 2030, the country will have 225 special-use forests, including 41 national parks, 48 nature reserves, 75 landscape protection areas, 29 species/habitat conservation areas and 32 scientific research experimental forests, with a total area of 2.649 million hectares.

Phuoc Binh National Park covers an area of 25,000.59 hectares, in Ninh Thuan province (now Khanh Hoa province). It holds great value in terms of natural landscape and biodiversity, with many rare animal and plant gene sources representing the transitional coastal–Central Highlands ecosystem. However, wildlife species in the park have been and are facing many pressures from human activities. Endemic, endangered, precious and rare species are the priority subjects in the management work of the Phuoc Binh National Park Management Board. At present, however, the Management Board has very little data on these species and is therefore unable to accurately assess their distribution and conservation status; this causes difficulties for management work, especially in activities of protection and resource development.

In order to conserve, manage and promote biodiversity values, serving the long-term sustainable development of Phuoc Binh National Park, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology approved the project: “Building a database and proposing management solutions for endemic, endangered, precious and rare animal and plant species at Phuoc Binh National Park, Ninh Thuan province”, code: UDNDP.01/2022-2023, chaired by Dr. Nguyen Le Xuan Bach – Institute of Applied Materials Science (now the Institute of Advanced Technology). The general objective is to provide scientific information contributing to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development at Phuoc Binh National Park. At the acceptance meeting on 13 December 2024, the project was accepted by the Academy-level Scientific Council and rated Excellent.

In terms of science, the project compiled a list and database of 442 plant species and 103 animal species that are endemic, endangered, precious and rare in Phuoc Binh National Park. Two point-distribution maps were created to show the current status, and 19 maps showing potential distribution areas of these species in the park. The current status was assessed and management solutions proposed. Two new species for science were discovered and published: Peliosanthes thachii and Rhinogobius phuocbinhensis.

In terms of application, the database was built in the form of a Vietnamese-language website, with information fields following international standards (DarwinCore). In addition to its great scientific value, the database also has application value in supporting the quick and easy retrieval of biodiversity information on rare species in Phuoc Binh National Park. It provides a basis for the Phuoc Binh National Park Management Board and Ninh Thuan province to propose the implementation of related research directions and to supply reliable information for conservation work. This is a valuable and reliable dataset, forming the basis for ecosystem restoration and species conservation.

In addition, information on endemic, precious and rare species will provide baseline data for Ninh Thuan province in planning the sustainable use of natural resources, assessing the impacts of climate change on ecosystems and biodiversity, managing multi-purpose forests, paying for environmental services, and sharing responsibilities with enterprises wishing to hire environmental services for tourism or other activities.

The results of the project will contribute additional information on endangered and rare species for assessments of conservation status in Vietnam and worldwide. This is a data source for scientific research, teaching and state management. The results have been transferred and applied at the Phuoc Binh National Park Management Board, serving conservation and sustainable development in Ninh Thuan province. These outcomes create a solid foundation for building a reliable and comprehensive digital biodiversity database of the province in the future. The results can also be shared with other units related to management, conservation, research and implementation of biodiversity in the province.

Some images of the project:

Database interface

Point-distribution map of species recorded in the database

Peliosanthes thachii, a new species for science published from the project

Rhinogobius phuocbinhensis, a new species for science published from the project

Phuoc Binh National Park, with much potential for eco-tourism development

Translated by Phuong Huyen
Link to Vietnamese version