[Report 1. Full report 2MB. pdf format]

Executive Summary

This report presents the results of a survey of Green Peafowl in Dak Lak Province, conducted between 2 February and 4 May 1998. The Green Peafowl has undergone a massive decline across its former range. In Vietnam Green Peafowl has gone from being widespread across the country at the turn of the century to being known only from two provinces: Dak Lak and Dong Nai.

Green Peafowl are typically found in open forest near water. They are threatened by habitat destruction and hunting by humans, for food, eggs, feathers and the wild bird trade. Dak Lak still contains large areas of forest, particularly open dry deciduous forest. The province is however targeted for massive industrial and agricultural development and has the highest immigration rate of any province in Vietnam.

This project aimed to survey Green Peafowl in Dak Lak, to determine their status and distribution, and to investigate their habitat use. A methodology based on two-hour morning and evening point counts was employed. 26 sites were visited and Green Peafowl were recorded at 13 of them. A minimum of 187 birds was found. The majority of records were from the north-west of Dak Lak, comprising the districts of Ea Sup, Ea H’Leo, Buon Don, Cu Jut, Dak Mil and Cu M’Gar.

Analysis of habitat use showed that Green Peafowl were recorded in the largest numbers in dry deciduous forest, followed by mixed and then evergreen forest. Green Peafowl numbers were positively related to the presence of permanent water within 2 km and negatively related to the presence of human settlement within 2 km.

Based on analysis of habitat-use a prediction for the distribution of Green Peafowl in the whole of Dak Lak was made. This predicted that although dry deciduous forest within 2 km of water and greater than 2 km from people only occupied around 3% of the land area, it was predicted to hold nearly 40 % of the Green Peafowl in Dak Lak.

The results conclude that large, undisturbed areas of dry deciduous forest with access to permanent water are essential for Green Peafowl. This habitat is of major importance to large mammal species, including wild cattle, as well as several endangered large waterbirds and raptors. The conservation of Green Peafowl, and by consequence the conservation of several other threatened large mammal and bird species, will involve protection of large, continuous blocks of dry deciduous forest with undisturbed access to permanent water.

The most important areas of Dak Lak for suitable Green Peafowl habitat are found in the districts of Ea Sup, Ea H’Leo, Buon Don, Cu M’Gar, Cu Jut, Dak Mil and Ea Kar. Of vital importance are the presently undisturbed permanent forest rivers and streams within these districts including the Ea H’Leo, Ea Khal, Ea Wy, Ya Lop, Dak Dam, Dak Rue, Ea Rok and the Serepok.

ii. Summary of Recommendations

Recommendations made by this survey are divided into high priority issues and medium term (lower priority) issues. The full text of the recommendations is found in the report text Sections 9 and 10.

ii.i High priority issues

ii.i.i Protected areas - Expansion of Yok Don National Park

The expansion scheme proposed by Yok Don National Park authority (1998) as well as three further expansion schemes are detailed, and it is recommended that all be immediately implemented.

Plan A, B

Northwards extension through Ea Sup to the Gia Lai provincial border, enclosing a large area of dry deciduous forest and completely enclosing large sections of the Serepok, Dak Rue, Ea H’Leo and Ya Lop rivers. This extension is predicted to increase the number of Green Peafowl protected by Yok Don National Park from 11% to 34% of the provincial total, while providing an excellent refuge for large mammal species.

Plan C

Southwards extension of Yok Don National Park through Cu Jut and Dak Mil. This extension would cover much of the dry deciduous forest in the border regions south of Yok Don while enclosing much of the catchment for rivers and streams flowing north into Yok Don National Park, including Dak Dam and Dak Klau. As well as protecting Green Peafowl this extension would benefit some other important mammal and bird species recorded here including Tiger, Leopard and White-winged Duck.

Plan D

A huge expansion is proposed to extend over much of eastern Ea Sup and western Ea H’Leo. This extension would enclose large areas of dry deciduous forest as well as large areas of mixed forest and areas currently designated as watershed protection forest. This area is predicted to hold 22% of the Green Peafowl in Dak Lak.

ii.i.ii Management Recommendations

Planning issues

Strategic plans should be made and implemented to control the spread of people and agricultural areas within Dak Lak Province. Settlement of people into areas identified as important for wildlife should be prevented. Specifically with reference to this study, this includes along the rivers Ea H’Leo, Ya Lop, Serepok, Ea Wy, Ea Hiao, Dak Rue, Dak Ken, Dak Dam and Ea Khal. This land is of exceptional value for wildlife.

Forestry management

Forestry concessions within the dry deciduous forest should be recognized for their high biodiversity. Forestry compartments should be effectively policed to prevent illegal use outside of logging periods. Notably: grazing, firewood collection, illegal logging, hunting, fishing and illegal settlement. Access should be strictly controlled.

ii.i.iii Further survey work

Surveys in eastern Cambodia for Green Peafowl (and large mammals)

All the important deciduous forest areas in Dak Lak adjoin the Cambodian border and there is likely to be a free flow of animals in both directions. Surveys should be conducted in the Cambodian provinces of Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri with a view to expanding the protected area system there.

Surveys in Gai Lai and Kon Tum for Green Peafowl (and large mammals)

To investigate the suitability of habitat and the extent of Green Peafowl in Gia Lai and Kon Tum Provinces. These provinces formerly held Green Peafowl, and areas of apparently suitable deciduous forest appear to remain. The survey should be carried out during the dry season using a methodology similar to that used in this survey.

ii.ii Medium term issues

ii.ii.i Protected area development

Reserve establishment in Ea So, Ea Kar district. The area is of importance for wild cattle as well as Green Peafowl.

Reserve development in south Gia Lai. The deciduous forest areas of south Gia Lai that form a continuous block with areas in Dak Lak should be protected.

Reserve development in Cambodia. Important areas adjoining the Vietnamese border should be included in the protected area system to form a large cross-border reserve.

ii.ii.ii Management recommendations

Management of border regions. Further restriction of access and use of the border guards in forest protection.

Conservation awareness. Increasing the awareness of the importance of deciduous forest and the unique fauna living in it.

ii.ii.iii Further survey work

Monitoring numbers. Repeat surveys of Green Peafowl to record continuing status.

Wet season surveys. To investigate the habitat requirements and distribution of Green Peafowl during the rainy season. To assess the importance of temporary water sources.

[Report 1. Full report 2MB. pdf format]