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Central Annamites (Viet Nam, Lao PDR)

Central Annamites

Country: Viet Nam and Laos

Provinces/Districts: Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Kon Tum, Quang Ngai, and Gia Lai (Viet Nam); Salavan and Xekong (Laos)

Most of this biodiversity conservation landscape is within the Southern Annamites Montane Rain Forests ecoregion, but the eastern boundary fringes along the Southern Viet Nam Lowland Dry Forests ecoregion. The important protected areas in the landscape includes Bach Ma, Kon Cha Rang, Ngoc Linh, Kon Ka Kinh, Ba Na-Nui Chua, Nui Thanh in Viet Nam and Xe Xap and Dong Ampham in Laos.

Much of the Northern Annamite fauna is thought to occur in the Central Annamites although the region is biologically under-explored. Among the species of conservation significance are the Grey-shanked Douc langur, gibbon, and several other Annamite endemic species.

Key Conservation Issues and Threats to Biodiversity
Although the mountains, especially in Viet Nam, were inhabited by ethnic minority groups such as Gia Rai, Bana, and Sedang, there has been an increased immigration of the majority Kinh. As a result, there has been extensive habitat fragmentation from conversion to agriculture.

Relatively little is known of the biodiversity of the area. Thus surveys are needed in the remaining forest fragments and potential habitat linkages before a conservation landscape and its component core areas and habitat linkages are defined. At present, the conservation emphasis should be the wet evergreen montane forests that are likely to harbor characteristic Annamite fauna.

Impact of the GMSEC
The northern part of the biodiversity conservation landscape lies within the east-west GMS Economic Corridor (GMSEC), and the extreme southern tip is within the Southern GMSEC. Three major east-west transnational roads cut through the landscape, while another runs about 25 km to the south of the landscape.

Five dams have been proposed within the landscape, while two more are within 10 km of its boundary. All these will likely affect the watershed and the flows of the Mekong River.