Conservation priorities for threatened mammals of Vietnam: Implementation of the IUCN´s One Plan Approach

By

Hoeffner, Hanna
Son, Nguyen
Dang, Phuong
Motokawa, Masaharu
Oshida, Tatsuo
Rödder, Dennis
Nguyen, Quang Truong
Le, Minh Duc, 1973-
Bui, Hai Tuan
Ziegler, Thomas

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2024

Original Publication

Nature conservation

Volume

56

Pages

161--180

Subjects

conservation breeding , diversity analysis , endemic species , mammal conservation , protected area coverage , richness analysis , threat assessment

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers 2012-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/natureconservation.56.128129

 

Abstract

Vietnam belongs to one of the most well-known global biodiversity hotspots. However, its biodiversity is being threatened by multiple factors such as rapid growth of the human population, habitat destruction, overexploitation, and climate change. To better prioritize conservation measures for Vietnam’s mammal fauna, this study attempts to identify the threat status, level of endemism, and protected area coverage for approximately 329 recognized taxa. In addition, ex situ conservation measures are investigated by analyzing zoo databases. Our results show that as many as 112 mammal species (~34%) in Vietnam are officially listed as threatened, 36 (~11%) are country endemics, and nine (~3%) are micro-endemic. Nearly all threatened species are currently covered by protected areas, except for two species of high conservation importance, i.e., the micro-endemic Murina harpioloides (Chiroptera) and the threatened Lepus sinensis (Lagomorpha). Our results also suggest that such areas as Hoang Lien Range, northeastern Vietnam, and the central and southern Annamite Mountains require more conservation attention, as they harbor a high number of endemic species. Analyses of the Zoological Information Management System reveal that roughly 60% (67 species) of threatened species are currently kept in zoos (ex situ) across the world, while none of the species listed as “Data Deficient” are currently represented in any ex situ program. Up to 66% of 89 species kept in zoos show a good number of breeding successes in the past 12 months. It is recommended that future conservation efforts focus on unprotected threatened mammals and on evaluating the threat status for “Data Deficient” species. Additionally, the existing protected area system's effectiveness should be improved by creating corridors to provide connectivity for highly mobile and widely distributed mammal species.