Conservation of the Critically Endangered Delacour’s Langur (Trachypithecus Delacouri) associated with promotion of community-based ecotourism in Van Long Nature Reserve, Ninh Binh
Van Long Nature Reserve (NR) which situates in Gia Vien district, Ninh Binh province (20˚21’-20˚25’N, 105˚49’-105˚55’E) is among the most interesting original wetland reserve of the Red River delta in Vietnam. Van Long NR covers unique landscape and typical forest on limestone habitat with the topography of a series of limestone karst outcrops that rise abruptly out of surrounding alluvial plains and run in Northwest to Southeast direction.
Van Long NR is the most important site for the Critically Endangered Delacour’s Langur (Trachypithecus Delacouri) and believed to form a staging post and breeding site for seldom documented migratory birds and certain raptors in Vietnam. The reserve is also an important wetland that supports significant numbers of migratory & waterbirds in the Red River delta.
However, besides its unique beauty and biodiversity significance, Van Long is subject to several pressures from surrounding communities because of being surrounded by areas of intensive agriculture on all sides. For instance, plenty of threats from development and agriculture extension including the use of pesticides, herbicides, chemical fertilizers for agricultural activities; pressure from limestone mining for construction material and cement and smoke, dust, and waste disposal from nearby industrial zones. Its biodiversity also threatened by alien invasive species, poaching and small-scale illegal fishing. Therefore, ecotourism seems to be a new and rapidly expanded livelihood option for local community as more than 600 households directly or indirectly involved in tourism services.
Besides, Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) prioritized its support for the protection of critically endangered Delacour’s langur in Van Long and extended landscape include Kim Bang and Huong Son forests. CCD’s activities then will not solely focus on protecting the langur’s population and habitats but also improving local community’s livelihood through promoting community-based ecotourism, raising conservation awareness, engaging local community in monitoring langur and its habitat to mitigate threats.
As a result, Van Long gains some successful stories on conservation of the critically endangered langur and community-based ecotourism. Currently, Van Long is among the pioneer reserves in Vietnam that effectively engaged local community in supporting endangered species and engaged them in the tourism activity that directly benefits their livelihood. Being aware of the benefits from the reserve, local people now actively participate in protection efforts to maintain the reserve landscape and amenity to attract tourists. The nature reserve is now benefiting both wildlife and people.
