The survey team observed this Grey-crowned Crocias Crocias langbianis, within 50 m of the Da Nhim construction site. Photo credit: Jonathan C. Eames

Recent fieldwork conducted by BirdLife, and colleagues from Lam Dong Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Bi Doup - Nui Ba National Park, has resulted inthe discovery of three new sites for the Grey-crowned Crocias Crocias langbianis, a globally Endangered and endemic bird species to Vietnam. 
 

The new sites were located at Da Nhim, D’Ran and Don Duong, in Lam Dong Province, in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Prior to the survey, the only modern records for Grey-crowned Crocias came from forest compartments in Lam Vien Landscape Protection Area, including Ta Nung valley, and Chu Yang Sin National Park, in Dak Lak Province.

During the field survey pairs were recorded at two locations in Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest, Lac Duong District, a site currently being logged and cleared for a hydro-electricity project. The survey team observed a pair or crocias at forest edge within 50 m of the construction site.

Three pairs were also located in D'Ran Watershed Protection Forest, Don Duong District in a mosaic of broadleaved evergreen and coniferous forest. A further seven pairs were found along a 25 km transect in forest compartments, in Don Duong Forest Enterprise, Don Duong District. These birds were found in logged broadleaved evergreen forest, which is being logged on a 35-year rotation.

"We have grave concerns for two of the newly discovered sites. The reservoir site of the hydro-electricity project in Da Nhim is located within the elevation range and habitat of the crocias and the Don Duong site is being logged", said Jonathan C Eames, Programme Manager of Birdlife International in Indochina.

Elsewhere in the Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest, and again within the habitat and altitude range of the crocias, the team observed recent forest clearance for coffee plantations and the under-planting of Japanese horseradish (wasabe) in primary evergreen forest.

“If Japanese horseradish cultivation proves profitable, its cultivation could rapidly spread through remaining forests in Lam Dong Province, as was the case with coffee, with a negative impact on ground dwelling and under storey dependent species,” added Mr Eames.

BirdLife is working together with its partners to identify forest of high conservation importance and promote its sustainable management as part of a wider project funded by the Tropical Forest Fund, an initiative of the Government of Vietnam.