
Karst landscape of northern Tuyen Quang (Photo: F. Potess/ PRCF)
Karst forest biodiversity
Most of PRCF biodiversity conservation and community development activities in northern Vietnam take place in limestone karst landscapes. These areas are rich in wildlife, and forests harbor a great variety of plants and animals. In northern Vietnam, PRCF works in two karst landscapes; the Ba Be/ Na Hang Karst Forest Complex and the Cao Vit/ Bangliang Karst Forest Complex, the later located in cross border southern China. The two landscapes hold a number of valuable species, including three globally endangered primates: the critically endangered Eastern Black-crested Gibbon and the Tonkin Snub-nosed Monkey, and the endangered Francois’ Langur. It also holds significant threatened magnolia and conifer species, including the unique and critically endangered cypress Xanthocyparis vietnamemsis, which is only known to exist at two locations int he world.

Ba Be Lake (Photo: PARC Project)
In these two conservation landscapes, PRCF works with local communities to restore critical habitat of the Eastern Black-crested Gibbon in Cao Bang province, and to establish a Community-based Francois’ Langur Conservation Area and collaborative conservation management initiatives for the Tonkin Snub-nosed Monkey in Tuyen Quang province.
Within Ba Be/ Na Hang, we have also promoted co-management of fisheries in Ba Be Lake, though the establishment of a lake management cooperative. Within the lake landscape, efforts have also included research into cave fauna, including bats, where a new species of bat was discovered.
Learn more about our Francois Langur Conservation in karst landscapes
Learn more about our bat species discoveries in karst forests[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]