Summary of theses so far completed by masters students supported by the Darwin Initiative Project on Endemic Annamite Ungulates 17-008.

NB: For theses completed at a UK university, the abstract from the thesis is included. Theses completed at Vietnamese universities do not typically include an abstract and a summary is provided by the Darwin Project Officer.

Nguyen Trong Dong (2011) Use of forest in the Pu Huong Nature Reserve. Master’s Thesis in Zoology, Vinh University, Nghe An Province, Vietnam. (In Vietnamese).

Thesis summary by NMW This thesis aims to describe the composition of the forest community in the nature reserve, to enumerate different wild products and methods of hunting of wild mammals, assess the impact of communities on wildlife resources in the nature reserve and evaluate the status of proposed management measures.

The work is based on fieldwork from January to June of 2010 in all 5 districts around the nature reserve (Quỳ Châu , Quế Phong, Tương Dương, Con Cuông & Quỳ Hợp). In each district surveys were conducted in one village (2 in Quy Hop) and in the district town. Field surveys, including spotlighting, are also conducted. The thesis lists the mammal species occurring in the reserve, based on literature review, and describes which species are used by local people, and for what, on the basis of interviews conducted by the author. Use is confirmed for 48% of the species known from the reserve, however it should be noted that this is certain to be an underestimate because use of many specific species, especially bats, rodents and ‘insectivores’ cannot be confirmed through interviews.

The information on wildlife trade is probably the most significant for conservation, including a summary of the numbers of wildlife restaurants in the district towns and the extent of their daily consumption, measured in total weight and number of individuals for each species. Mention is also made of similar statistics for restaurants in Vinh city, the provincial capital.

The thesis also lists trophies found in each district and discusses other impacts from local people on forest mammals, including logging, encroachment and NTFP collection.

The list of species for the reserve is based mostly on literature review but also includes data from field survey, including spotlighting. Noteworthy sightings claimed for field surveys include the mustelids Lutra lutra, Mustela strigidorsa and Arctonyx collaris.

Unfortunately, this thesis does not give too much detail on the specifics of the methods used. It should be noted that the author worked as a team with Pham Thi Huyen, whose thesis gives more detail on some of the methods (e.g. locations of transects) which are probably also valid for this work.

Luong Van Duc (2011) Research on distribution, model development and recommendations for patrols for 3 species: , Large-antlered and Truong Son muntjac in the Saola Nature Reserves of South Thua Thien Hue and North Quang Nam. Master’s thesis in Environmental Science, Hue University of Science, Hue, Vietnam. (In Vietnamese)

Thesis summary by NMW This thesis aims to provide recommendations for priority patrol areas to protect Saola, and also to assess the value of such a prioritization for other endemic ungulate species present in the area. It is based on community mapping data, using the ‘beaning’ method (see community mapping manual) with groups of peole knowledgeable about the forest from each village. Data were collected from 26 villages of Katu people in the communes of Thuong Long, Thuong Quang, Thuong Nhat, Huong Huu, Nam Dong district, Thua Thien Hue. Because some of these communes, especially Thuong Long and Huong Huu, use a wide area of forest, information is provided, through this method, to the whole Hue-Quang Nam Saola conservation landscape, not just Nam Dong. The community mapping bean data are digitized and data on each species are combined across the different villages. Beaning data on the forest areas used by each village are also collected and compiled as an indicator of how well each village knows each area. Quality of information maps are compiled based on the number of villages reporting on each area. A systematic conservation software package (Zonation, Moilanen et al 2005) is used to perform the prioritization and sensitivity analyses are used to explore the effects of selectively removing the most uncertain data and of varying assumptions about Saola range size and vulnerability to hunting. The study notes that local people consistently report that Saola are much declined and now rare. The prioritization of forest compartments for Saola conservation leads to the conclusions that:

1) High priority of the Thua Thien Hue Saola NR overall, relative to the other two PAs, 2) Within this TTH Saola NR, compartment 352 in the southwest and also 347, in the northwest are prioritized. 3) In Quang Nam, areas in BHallee (compartments 12&13) are prioritized, rather than the area in north A Vuong, prioritized by some other assessments. 4) In the Bach Ma extension, compartments 430 & 429 are prioritized over compartment 410.

The sensitivity analysis shows these conclusions to be robust except that (re point 3 above) north A Vuong is prioritized when Saola are considered wide-ranging and vulnerable to threat because of the importance of maintaining larger contiguous areas under these conditions (North A Vuong links priority areas in the TTH Saola NR and the Bach Ma extension) The ‘truong son muntjac’ appears to be commoner and more widespread than Saola. No conclusive data could be gathered on the Large-antlered muntjac. Interestingly, a type of muntjac recognised by people from Huong Huu seems to match the description of the hog , presumed regionally extinct, but no specimens were available.

NB: The author collected data on all ungulate species but only analysed data on endemic ungulates. Ta Dinh Thanh (see below) collected comparable data on all species from other, contiguous areas and Luong Van Duc and Nicholas Wilkinson have written a draft report combining these two datasets, but without the Zonation analysis with its consideration of sensitivity and uncertainty.

Nguyen Thi Thu Hieu (2011) Research on patterns of forest product use of people of the Katu ethnic group in Nam Dong district, Thua Thien Hue. Master’s thesis in Environmental Science, Hue University of Science, Hue, Vietnam. (In Vietnamese)

Thesis summary by NMW This thesis aims to give a spatial overview of the use of forest products by local communities in Nam Dong, using data from villages in Thuong Long, Thuong Quang, Thuong Nhat, Huong Huu communes. The thesis also discussed the importance of forest resources to local livelihoods and the use of indigenous knowledge in management of forest resources The main method is community mapping, using the beaning method (see manual), of places where the most important and valuable forest products are collected. Community mapping groups were a stratified pseudo-random sample of 12 people, men and women from poorer and wealthier households in each village. In addition, the following methods are used: 1) “Freelisting” of forest products 2) “Pilesorts” to rank forest products in order of importance 3) Tree diagrams for markets of forest products 4) Seasonal calendars 5) Further, individual, semi-structured interviews.

The forest products considered are rattan, wild meat, timber, honey, la non, fish and vegetables. The study deliberately does not attempt to distinguish between different sub-categories of these products and no distinction is made between high-value and low-value timber.

Subsequent GIS analysis aims to:  Identify focal areas of forest product exploitation by local people in the district  Examine spatial patterns of diversity (Shannon index) in forest product harvesting.  Explain patterns in intensity of exploitation in terms of slope, altitude and distance from the residential area in the centre of the district.

The results show that, in general, forest products are collected in the most accessible areas possible: closest to the villages, least slope and lowest elevation. Diversity of forest products harvested is also highest in these areas. However the exceptions are wild meat, rattan and honey. For each of these products, the harvesting levels appear to peak at some distance from the village. Correlation analyses demonstrate and the results clearly presented in maps based on linear combination of weights.

Of the forest compartments within protected areas in Nam Dong, it is those in the Bach Ma extension, particularly 430, 429 and 427 (Ba Con, Ma Rai and Cha Mang) which appear to be used most by people from Nam Dong. However it should be noted that the thesis does not consider use by Nam Dong people of protected areas outside their own district and data presented show heavy use of protected areas in A Luoi and Tay Giang.

The study also provides useful information on local people’s perceptions on the trends in forest product since 1990. All are considered to have declined except honey with timber, wild meat and fish, in particular now hard to find. Information on increases in prices is also given.

The thesis also presents a table of the percentage of households using each forest product, and a seasonal calendar for the main forest products.

NB: The author and Luong Van Duc worked as a team in the field. Further, comparable data on spatial distribution of forest products from other villages around the landscape was later collected by Nguyen Tien Hoang, a lecturer from the Hue University of Science, contracted by the Darwin project.

Pham Thi Huyen (2011) Biodiversity of even-toed ungulates (Artiodactyla) in the Pu Huong Nature Reserve, Nghe An Province. Master’s Thesis in Zoology, Vinh University, Nghe An Province, Vietnam. (In Vietnamese).

Thesis summary by NMW The work is based on fieldwork from January to June of 2010 in all 5 districts around the nature reserve (Quỳ Châu , Quế Phong, Tương Dương, Con Cuông & Quỳ Hợp). In each district surveys were conducted in one village (2 in Quy Hop) and in the district town.

The survey protocol in each village began with group interviews of 5-10 people who go to the forest often. Interviews began with ‘freelisting’ of species present, ‘images and documents’ were used to identify the species. A semi-structured group interview was used to ask about  the species, their local names and habits  annual hunting activity, hunting areas and motivation for hunting  revenue from hunting and expenditure of time in hunting.  Seasonal and spatial patterns of hunting for each species  Abundance and status of each species  Kinds of use of each species

These interviews were followed by community mapping, with symbols drawn on the map to indicate areas where each species was believed to be present.

The group interviews were followed by interviews with 7 to 10 individuals in each village. Four field surveys within the nature reserve were also conducted and their routes are mapped. These followed paths of least resistance along paths, streams, ridgetops, etc, and made use of information from local people to find areas where ungulates were deemed likely to be more abundant.

A total of 92 specimens of parts of ungulates are collected, from hunters houses, restaurants and traders, and listed with accession numbers. 3 Saola specimens and 15 additional capture records from interviews are listed. Morphological characters used to identify specimens are described

Maps are presented of records of each ungulate species in the reserve, but combining information from community mapping , sign from field survey and literature review.

The status of ungulates, based on interview data is discussed for each species. Some key points of note are that:  Sambar, Saola and Gaur are both considered to be very rare and locally extinct, although some local people claim the continued presence of each species or, in the case of gaur, the recent presence (until 2007 at least).  In contrast to similar surveys from other areas, is also considered to be very rare and it is noteworthy that the field surveys detected no tracks assigned to this species.  are reported to be fairly common though herd size has reportedly decreased, and red muntjac are believed to be the commonest ungulate.  Data from interviews are not sufficient to assess status of other muntjac species, or of mousedeer because, as the author notes, they are hard to identify unambiguously.

The thesis also discusses the likely effects of local people’s activities on ungulates in Pu Huong, discussing hunting and other threats in turn, and provides an in-depth and useful discussion of the prices of ungulate products sold in the nearby district towns. There is also a discussion of staffing and capacity of the reserve.

Nguyen Anh Quoc (2011) The factors influencing hunting practices in the two villages: Arec and Bhohoong, Quangnam province, Vietnam.MSc Thesis in Conservation Biology. Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent, UK (in English)

Abstract: Although hunting is considered illegal in Vietnam, it still occurs in many areas, taking many forms by many different people and threatens many endangered species with extinction. Although significant efforts have been made by different agencies to reduce illegal hunting, it is still widespread because it represents a significant source of food and income to people living around the forest. This study explored factors underlying hunting practices in two communities living in the buffer zone of protected areas: Arec and Bhohoong villages, Quangnam province, Vietnam. Data collection consisted of semi-structured interviews with hunters in both villages, as well as some informal and unstructured interviews with local forest rangers, forest officers, headmen of villages and some people who no longer hunted. Focus groups of hunters were also used for gathering general information on hunting.

The study revealed hunting practices were widespread in the study villages and contributed a significant part of household income for those villagers who hunted in the deep forest. Hunting was primarily for economic purposes and hunters preferred it to other jobs and were proud of hunting as a traditional livelihood. Hunters’ awareness about wildlife protection law was low and endangered species were killed indiscriminately in snaring systems designed to catch all . Purposeful hunting of high value endangered species such as pangolin also took place. The boundary of protected areas was not clear to hunters and it appears that some hunters primarily hunted inside protected areas where animals are more common.

Improved transport and other means of communication, together with the current high demand for wild animals, suggests hunting activities for commercial gain might intensify in the future and new approaches will be required to protect biodiversity in protected areas. One approach would be to create buffer zones around the protected areas, managed by the community in cooperation with the authorities where hunting can be managed and outsiders responsible for illegal logging and hunting excluded. Measures to protect endangered species could also be introduced including more frequent checking of traps and rescuing of endangered animals. In return hunters would be allowed to legally hunt around cultivated fields. Awareness-raising campaigns about wildlife conservation and the penalties for killing endangered species increased, together with training on identification of endangered animals should also be provided.

Ta Dinh Thanh (2011) Research on distribution and proposed coverage of protected zones for rare ungulates in the Saola Nature Reserve Quang Nam. Master’s thesis in Environmental Science, Hue University of Science, Hue, Vietnam. (In Vietnamese)

This thesis aims to research diversity and distribution of ungulates in the area and provide recommendations for conservation.

The methodology closely follows that used by Luong Van Duc (see above) for interviews in Nam Dong district and includes the use of the software Zonation for prioritization of areas for Saola, and assessment of the potential for this prioritization to deliver benefits for the Annamite muntjac. However, combined maps are produced for all ungulate species and discussed in turn, without the Zonation analysis.

Community maps were built and ‘beaning’ interviews conducted in 16 villages in Quang Nam. Additional interviews with hunters about the status of each species were conducted following an interview guide which is presented as an appendix.

Sambar was reported to be locally extirpated by hunters in ten out of 16 villages – though it is not clear which ones. Mousedeer () are reported only in Dong Giang (in the east) not Tay Giang (in the west) [NB: this broadly matches the pattern from data across the provincial border in Thua Thien Hue]. Six interview records of Saola are reported from north A Vuong and Ta Lang mountain (on the A Vuong – A Tep boundary) but the most recent is from 2002. Saola are perceived by all interviewees to have declined greatly since 1990

The Zonation analysis robustly prioritizes the area of north A Vuong for Saola, though the north- easternmost compartment (21) received a lower priorty [note that data mapped, but not discussed in Nguyen Thi Thu Hieu’s thesis, above, shows this compartment is used relatively heavily by people from Nam Dong district, Thua Thien Hue]

The prioritization for Truong Son muntjac consistently prioritizes the Ta Lang mountain area.

NB: The author worked as a team with Nguyen Tien Hoang, a lecturer from the same university, collecting data on forest product use. Data were also collected by this team from A Luoi district in Thua Thien Hue but are not analysed here. The data have been combined with Luong Van Duc’s data for a preliminary analysis.

Nguyen Xuan Truong (2011) GIS application in snare patrolling in Hue saola nature reserve. MSc Thesis in Conservation Biology. Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent, UK (in English)

Abstract The Saola is one of the most critically endangered large mammals. It was discovered in 1992, firstly in Vu Quang National Park, Vietnam, then later found in other Protected Areas in the Central Viet Nam and Laos. However, knowledge about the population and its exact distribution zones is still limited. Threats to saola are a big challenge in their habitat and make the population decreasing daily. Snare hunting has been identified as the biggest threat to wildlife population in Thua Thien Hue Province. Recently, a new protected area, specially focused on Saola conservation has been established in Thua Thien Hue Province, together other connective Protected Areas become a complex Protected Area system to bring a last chance to save the Saola.

Since the establishment of this Saola protected area, a joint management board has also been established and ranger patrols are regularly sent into the forest in order to reduce hunting activities and to remove snares. However, the current effectiveness of these patrols is still quite low due to many different reasons, in which the lack of community participation, of a good informant network and of geographical information are crucial. This study surveys the density of traps in the Hue Saola NR, using GIS applications, in order to assess the factors affecting the density of traps. Data collection used two different data sources: 1) community mapping; 2) MIST data.

The results of this research showed that when the MIST data were used, the distance to the nearest road had the greatest effect on the density of traps in Hue saola NR. Meanwhile, the relationship between the density of traps and the distance to nearest the villages and percentage of primary forest cover are low effected in MIST data. Meanwhile, when community mapping data were used, the correlation between the trap density and chosen factors are not statistically significant.

Pham Doan Vong (2011) Survey of the status and distribution and proposed conservation solution for the Saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis) and some other ungulate species in the extension to Bach Ma National Park in Thua Thien Hue Province. Master’s thesis in Agricultural Science, Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry, Hue, Vietnam. (In Vietnamese)

Objectives:  Identify threats and anthropogenic factors affecting the existence of Saola and other ungulates in the TTH BME.  Develop distribution maps and data on food sources of Saola,  To propose a number of conservation measures and directions for conservation research.

This work is concentrated in the Thua Thien Hue part of the Bach Ma national park extension. It therefore does not include the section of Bach Ma in Song Kon commune, Quang Nam, or the original park area.

Quadrat method: The main data collection involved surveys of twenty-four 200 × 200m quadrats, of which 12 were randomly distributed and 12 were selected on the basis of proximity of recent Saola sightings based on the interview data (see below). The method, developed during this work, is described in detail in a manual produced by the project.

Community mapping: Community mapping, using the ‘beaning’ method was conducted with groups of 10 forest ‘experts’ in each of the following villages in Nam Dong district: Villages 1 and 4, Thượng Lộ commune, villages 1&2 Thượng Nhật commune, Villages 5&6, Hương Hữu commune, villages 1 and 4, Thượng Long commune. Note that the villages in Thượng Lộ were not covered by Luong Van Duc’s earlier survey. Further questions were asked about Saola sightings made since 2005.

Relative snare densities: Perhaps the most important information is the relative densities of snares reported on quadrats (1.45/ha) versus trails used to reach the quadrats (29.51/ha). The result is not surprising, given that snares are usually set close to the streams, ridges and paths that hunters and, perhaps, animals use. However this figure provides potential baseline for future work, to check whether declines in snare detection by patrols might reflect a movement of snares to areas where they are less easily detected.

Maps of ungulate distributions, though these are not based on direct digitization of the beaning data, but on a general impression of the spatial patterns revealed by that work.

Information on Saola. Reports a recent capture of 2 Saola in the La Van area (compartment 410). 2 other records were also reported. Interview results suggest that Saola are rare and, if still present, are present in the most remote areas of the park, near the Quang Nam border. The author notes that quadrat surveys show high levels of snaring and logging in these areas. The map of Saola distribution appears to be based on this assumption, however the text notes that compartments 429, 430 and 410 are considered the most likely locations. The author considers that extensive habitat remains for Saola, based on the extent of coverage by presumed favoured foodplants (notably Schismattoglottis sp) and on opinions about the species’altitudinal range expressed in the literature

The thesis also summarises data on snarelines, camps and habitat variables recorded and also presents enforcement data from Bach Ma on removal and confiscations of traps, camps, hunted animals and timber.