The Babbler 10

The Babbler June, 2004 Number 10 Welcome *Jonathan C. Eames Feature *Veterinary drug responsible for Asia vulture decline

BirdLife International in Indochina Welcome to the Babbler 10 and our second issue for 2004.

In this issue we present some exciting news on recent developments in Myanmar. During April BirdLife, BANCA and the Department of Forests Kawthaung District staff identified the Ngawun Reserve Forest in southern Tanintharyi Division as an Important Bird Area, worthy of designation as a protected area because of the internationally important Regional News *Record vulture count in Cambodia population of Gurney’s Pitta that it supports. Although we have not yet determined the size of the Gurney’s Pitta population, our survey results includes Asia's rarest indicate it could be many hundreds of pairs. Ngawun Reserve Forest *World's largest tiger reserve consists of 467 sq km adjacent to the proposed Lenya National Park and is declared in Myanmar the largest remaining patch of level lowland forest in Myanmar. By *Largest population of Gurney's conserving Ngawun Reserve Forest the Government of Myanmar will take Pitta found outside Myanmar's a major step towards fulfilling its policy goal to expand the national protected areas system, at the same time fulfilling obligations under the proposed National Park Convention on Biological Diversity. BirdLife International is able to provide immediate financial and technical support to assist the Rarest of the rare Government of Myanmar meet these targets by expanding Lenya National *Storm's Stork Park.

Project updates

*Lo Go Xa Mat *MacArthur project * Darwin Initiaitve project *Opportunities for the Conservation of Sundaic Lowland Forest in Tanintharyi Division Recently Published From the Archives

Another significant development in Myanmar this passed quarter was the legal registration of the Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association. We had all been anxiously awaiting this news for many months and extend our congratulations to the chairman U Uga and all board members on achieving this important milestone. The slight modification to their original name will doubtless prove an asset in the future.

The flavor of much of the rest of this issue concerns news of globally threatened species. The record count of 28 Slender-billed Vultures Gyps tenuirostris at a “vulture restaurant” training run by BirdLife and WCS indicates Cambodia still supports a population of this species. I hope in a later issue to be able to report to you that together with our colleagues we will shortly embark on a vulture conservation action plan for Cambodia.

Our annual biodiversity surveys at Yok Don National Park again located Giant Ibis Pseudibis gigantea, and a Sarus Crane Grus antigone, possibly on breeding territory. Our surveys in Myanmar turned-up many interesting species including Storm’s Stork Ciconia stormi which was new for Myanmar (see Rarest of the Rare).

BirdLife International in Indochina #4, Lane 209, Doi Can Hanoi, Vietnam Tel: + 84 4 722 3864 Little by way of staff news recently other to welcome Sophearith Ny Fax: + 84 4 722 3835 (Rith) who as joined our Cambodia Programme as Finance and E-mail: birdlife@birdlife.netnam.vn Administration Officer. www.birdlifeindochina.com

If you have any contribution or suggestion for the next issue, please contact Hphuong@birdlife.netnam.vnH by 15 September.

2 BirdLife International in Indochina

Features Veterinary drug responsible for Asia vulture decline In previous issue of The Babbler, an exciting development in tracking down the cause of vulture deaths in South Asia was revealed. A recent paper in Nature has provided compelling evidence that diclofenac is indeed causing the problem. One of the lead authors of this breakthrough paper, Martin Gilbert, of The Peregrine Fund, takes up the story...

Research published online in the scientific journal Nature (Oaks et al. 2004) has confirmed that veterinary use of the drug diclofenac is responsible for the recent devastating declines in south Asian vulture populations.

Vulture numbers across India and Nepal have fallen by over 95% since the early 1990s. In just the past three years colonies of over 2,100 breeding pairs studied in Pakistan have dropped to only 189, a decline caused by high rates of vulture mortality measured at the sites.

The discovery that a drug is responsible for the declines offers some hope for the vultures and serves as a wider warning of the risks that pharmaceuticals can pose to wildlife populations.

These findings are the result of a threeyear study

by The Peregrine Fund and the Ornithological Society of Pakistan (BirdLife in Pakistan) investigating

vulture mortalities in the Pakistan Punjab. The study found that 85% of 259 vultures examined had died of visceral gout, a condition caused by renal failure. Exhaustive testing failed to find evidence of viral or bacterial infectious disease, pesticides, poisons, heavy metals, or nutritional deficiency sufficient to explain the renal failure observed in dead vultures.

Having eliminated the classic causes of renal failure, research turned to new and less conventional explanations. We guessed that vultures might be encountering a novel toxin while feeding on livestock carcasses (their main food source).

Surveys of veterinarians and pharmacists identified diclofenac as a recently introduced and widely used non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) that is known to be nephrotoxic in mammals.

Residue testing found diclofenac in all 25 birds analysed that had died with visceral gout, while vultures dying of other causes (including trauma, gunshot and lead poisoning) were negative.

Further investigation showed that vultures were highly sensitive to the drug which proved fatal even at low doses (10% of recommended mammal dose) and tissue residues in livestock treated at the labelled dose rate were sufficient to cause gout and death in vultures.

These findings, coupled with the high incidence of visceral gout in wild vultures found dead in Pakistan, India and Nepal confirm that diclofenac is indeed the primary cause of the Asian vulture decline.

"unless the drug is with drawn ... vultures will soon become extinct"

The Babbler, June 2004

3 BirdLife International in Indochina Diclofenac is widely used in human medicine globally, but was introduced to the veterinary market on the Indian subcontinent during the early 1990s. The drug is cheap (less than US$1 for a course) and is widely used in the treatment of inflammation, pain and fever in livestock. In Pakistan 92% of 84 veterinary stockists surveyed sold the drug on a daily basis. Identifying the cause of the Asian vulture decline gives hope to conservationists working to save these critically endangered species. The Peregrine Fund and Bird Conservation Nepal (BirdLife in Nepal) are cohosting a meeting in Kathmandu to present scientific evidence on the role of diclofenac and offer potential solutions to mitigate the effects of the drug. This meeting will

conclude with a forum for regional government and NGO representatives to develop a strategy to control veterinary use of diclofenac and initiate species restoration. It is clear that veterinary use of diclofenac is incompatible with vulture survival, and unless the drug is withdrawn for use in livestock, vultures will soon become extinct.

Vulture populations are already at critically low levels and legislation to remove diclofenac is unlikely to occur before

remaining vultures are lost. There is an urgent need to establish a captive restoration programme incorporating each of the three species affected.

Captive management is an expensive endeavour requiring a long-term investment. Efforts are underway to obtain governmental support and identify organisations and individuals with the commitment to making these critical plans a reality.

Martin Gilbert, The Peregrine Fund

How you can help There is an urgent need for up-to-date information on the location of existing vulture colonies in South Asia of the three affected species. If you have relevant information, please contact the Asian Vulture Population Project at: vulturestudy@peregrinefund.org Submitted information can be accessed at www.peregrinefund.org/vulture/

Response to the crisis Although the cause of vulture deaths has now been identified, there is still much work to be done to prevent the extinction of the three species of vulture most heavily affected. BirdLife, through its relevant partner organisations, and others working on the crisis have a agreed a Manifesto of what urgent conservation action is needed.

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Manifesto Agreed by Bird Conservation Nepal, BirdLife International, Bombay Natural History Society, Ornithological Society of Pakistan, the RSPB, The Peregrine Fund, Zoological Society of London.

Three species of Gyps vultures (White-rumped G. bengalensis, Slender-billed G. tenuirostris, Indian G. indicus) have declined at an alarming rate across India, Pakistan and Nepal in the last decade. In survey areas numbers have declined by more than 95% of former levels. Declines are well documented from survey data published in the peer-reviewed literature. In 2000, G. bengalensis and G. indicus (recently split into G. indicus and G. tenuirostris) were listed by IUCN as Critically Endangered, which is their highest category of endangerment and indicates that there is a high risk that they will become extinct in the near future. Current evidence suggests that populations of these species continue to fall very rapidly.

Recent scientific evidence indicates that diclofenac (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) is a major cause of the observed vulture declines.

Exposure of vultures to diclofenac arises through its veterinary use to treat domestic livestock.

Experiments show that vultures are highly susceptible to diclofenac and are killed by feeding on the carcass of an animal soon after it has been treated with the normal veterinary dose. •

Modelling shows that only a very small proportion of livestock carcasses need to contain a level of diclofenac lethal to vultures to result in vulture population declines at the observed rates.

•

Whilst other factors may influence Gyps populations, there is currently no conclusive evidence that any other cause is involved.We believe that recovery from the declines will be possible only if exposure of wild vultures to diclofenac is prevented.

Evidence suggests that extinction of the three Gyps vulture species is imminent. Current captive populations are not viable, so immediate action is needed to obtain, hold, and possibly breed, these species in captivity, until sources of diclofenac exposure have been effectively removed from the vultures’ environment. It is possible that wild stocks of some of the threatened vulture species will be insufficient for the establishment of a viable captive population if this recommendation is not acted upon in 2004.

Vultures are keystone species and their declines are having adverse effects upon other wildlife, domestic animals and humans. In particular, there is a risk of increases in diseases that threaten human life and welfare.

Halting and reversing the vulture declines is one of the most urgent conservation priorities worldwide. Resolution of this problem requires considerable commitment by governments and the pharmaceutical industry. We call upon governments of all Gyps vulture range states in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East, and manufacturers of diclofenac, to ban the use of this drug for veterinary medicine, throughout the range or former range of Gyps vultures.The need for this action is especially urgent in the main range states of the three currently threatened species, namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan.

Very small relict and declining populations of G. bengalensis and G. indicus exist in South-East Asia, particularly Cambodia, and are thought not to be exposed to diclofenac. High priority should be given to improving the status of these populations.

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Three species have been severely affected by diclofenac poisoning and now face imminent extinction. Left: once thought to be the commonest large raptor in the world, the Whiterumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis. This is a subadult bird, but in all plumages this species tends to have the darkest plumage of the trio. Centre: Until recently, the Indian Vulture G. indicus and Slender-billed Vulture G. tenuirostris (right, rear bird) were believed to be subspecies of one another, but taxonomically they are very different. Both birds here are adults, which can be told apart in the field by the colour of their neck and bill patterning.

There are very few published photographs of Slender-billed Vulture,. (left: Guy Shorrock/RSPB images; centre: Tim Loseby; right: Asad Rahmani)

Regional News RECORD VULTURE COUNT IN CAMBODIA INCLUDES ASIA'S RAREST

On 11 June 2004, at least 28 Slender-billed Vultures Gyps tenuirostris have been sighted in Siem Pang District, north-east Cambodia, at least four times as many as the previous largest single count in Indochina.

Altogether more than 120 vultures were seen, including numbers of two Critically Endangered species—Slender-billed and White-rumped G. bengalensis Vultures.

This is the largest single gathering recorded in Indochina during the past 15 years.

The recent discovery was made during a "vulture restaurant" training course held in Siem Pang District, Stung Treng Province,

by BirdLife International and the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Populations of both species, together with the Indian Vulture G. indicus, have declined dramatically in South Asia over the past decade, most severely in India, where numbers have dropped by 97 percent since 1993, and numbers are dropping by 30–40% annually in Pakistan. Research has revealed that these declines are caused by veterinary use of the drug diclofenac; vultures feeding on carcases of cattle treated with diclofenac are poisoned and die within a short time.

BirdLife considers all three species to be in imminent danger of extinction, and has classified them as Critically Endangered.

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Slender-billed Vulture Gyps teniurostris atop a dead cow, together with Red-headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus and White-rumped Vultures Gyps bengalensis.

Photo: Allan Michaud

"Fortunately, diclofenac appears to be rarely used for veterinary purposes in Cambodia�, said Dr Sean Austin, Country Manager for BirdLife International’s Cambodia Programme, "So presently there are relatively few barriers to successful conservation of vultures in this country.

Their greatest threats appear to be a lack of available food, by direct persecution through hunting, through capture for the pet trade and for their perceived medicinal value."

In South Africa vulture feeding stations, known as vulture restaurants, have become tourist attractions, and this management strategy might be successfully implemented in Cambodia's protected areas and forests.

Given the catastrophic situation of vultures elsewhere in Asia, Cambodia could provide an important stronghold. "If South Asia's Griffon vultures go extinct, only two disparate wild populations of two species

(White-rumped and Slender-billed) will exist, one in north-eastern Cambodia and southern Lao PDR, and one in Myanmar," Dr Austin warns.

A working group has been formed from representatives of BirdLifeInternational, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and the ministries of Environment and Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries of the Royal Government of Cambodia. Its goal is to co-ordinate conservation activities for vultures and to develop a specific action and management strategy aimed at protecting vultures across northern Cambodia. The group was formed during a meeting of the Dry Forest Coalition (representatives from relevant NGOs and government institutions in Cambodia), whose goal is to bring an organised, cohesive conservation approach to the dry forests of central Indochina.

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WORLD'S LARGEST TIGER RESERVE DECLARED IN MYANMAR "VALLEY OF DEATH" BECOMES VALLEY OF LIFE FOR BIG CATS The Bronx Zoo based Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) announced in 31 March, 2004 that the government of Myanmar has formally declared a sprawling 8,400-square-mile reserve for tigers, making it the largest protected area for these endangered big cats on earth.

Called the Hukawng Valley Tiger Reserve, the Vermont-sized protected area culminates more than five years of collaborative work between WCS and the Myanmar Forest Department that catalogued not only the region’s wildlife, but also identified threats from outside forces such as gold mining and commercial hunting. Wildlife surveys revealed the reserve also contains rich populations of elephants, rare clouded leopards, and endangered gaur, a massive species of wild cattle weighing up to a ton. In addition to its rich wildlife diversity, Hukawng is historically significant, known as the “Valley of Death” during WWII , due to the costly Stillwell (or Ledo) Road supply route constructed by the Allies through its interior.

“The Valley of Death is now the ‘Valley of Life’ for tigers,” said Dr. Alan Rabinowitz, WCS Director of Science and Exploration. “If the Hukawng Valley is properly protected and managed, this area could contain the largest contiguous population of tigers in the world, and help seed other potential tiger habitat that has already lost this magnificent animal.”

According to Rabinowitz, the reserve’s current population of approximately 80-100 tigers can grow to perhaps ten times as many, if protection and management plans are carried out properly.

The Hukawng Valley contains many ox-bow lakes that support populations of globally threatened species, perhaps even the Pink-headed Duck Rhodonessa caryophyllacea.

Photo: J.C.Eames

Rabinowitz conducted much of the Reserve’s initial wildlife surveys and helped the Myanmar Forest Department draw up management plans, which will include training and education, park infrastructure, and local community development initiatives. A chronicle of Rabinowitz’s onthe-ground work to protect Hukawng Valley is featured in the April issue of National Geographic Magazine.

“The objective of WCS and the Myanmar Forest Department is to make the Hukawng Valley Tiger Reserve a model of large-scale, landscape conservation, where both tigers and humans can benefit from careful protection and management of natural resources,” Rabinowitz said.

The Hukawng Valley Tiger Reserve is now part of Myanmar’s Northern Forest Complex, a network of four contiguous protected areas explored and surveyed by WCS and the Myanmar Forest Department between 1996 and 2002. This 12,000 square-mile block now stands as one of the largest forested protected areas in Asia.

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THE SOURCEBOOK AND SLIPPER ORCHID BOOK LAUNCH The authors pose with BirdLife staff on the occasion of the launch of the Slipper Orchids of Vietnam on 27 April, 2004

ENVIRONMENTAL RECEPTION AT THE BRITISH EMBASSY H.E. Robert Gordon, British Ambassador to Vietnam, and Mrs P. Gordon, recently invited NGOs to display results of their work at the Embassy on the occasion of the birthday of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II, on 6 June 2004.

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Rarest of the rare Storm's Stork Ciconia stormis forest duckThis forest duck qualifies as This stork qualifies as Endangered because it has a very small, very rapidly declining population, owning to destruction of lowland forest through logging, dam construction and conversion to plantations.

Identification 75-91 cm. Secretive, black-and-white stork with red bill, orange facial skin and golden-yellow area around eye. Black lower foreneck. Juvenile has dark plumage parts somewhat browner than adult, dark-tipped bill and duller bare parts. Similar spp. Woolly-necked Stork C. episcopus has white lower foreneck, dark bill and brone coloration on inner wing-coverts.

Population estimate 1,017,000 km2

Population

Altitude

Range estimate

Country endemic?

250-999

Lowland

Forest, Wetland

Habitat loss and degradation

Range & population Ciconia stormi is know from extreme southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Surmatra (Indonesia), and the island of Borneo, where it occurs in Sabah and Sarawak (Malaysia), Brunei, and Kalimantan (Indonesia). It is probably extinct in Thailand, and has been reduced to one tiny population and scattered individuals in Peninsular Malaysia. The core of the remaining population, perhaps numbering as few as 300 birds and less than 1,000, is in Sumatra, Kalimantan and Brunei, where it still appears to be widespread, but rare. Recently discovered in Myanmar.

Ecology It occurs at low densities in large, undisturbed blocks of level lowland forest , particularly freshwater and peat-swamp forests, on the floodplains of large rivers. It also frequents disturbed, recently burned and logged areas, and occasionally areas subject to tidal movements, although these may constitute suboptimal habitats. It is generally solitary, but is occasionally found in small groups. Two eggs are usually laid and the chicks are able to fly after c.90days.

Threats The main threats are forest loss and fragmentation as a result of logging and dam construction and conversion to oil-palm plantations, combined with associated increases in disturbance. The impact of the major fires of 1997-1998 on Sumatra and Borneo is still unclear, but they are likely to have been significant. The development of lowland rivers as major transport routes is presumably a considerable threat. Incidental hunting and trade are minor threats.

Conservation It is legally protected in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. It has been recorded in numerous protected areas, including at least five (and one proposed) in Kalimantan, at least four (and a further four proposed) on Sumatra (including Way Kambas) and four (including Taman Negara and Kwau Wildlife Reserve) in Malaysia.

TARGETS Conduct further surveys to determine its distribution, population and habitat requirements, particularly in kalimantan.

Establish further protected areas at sites supporting significant populations, including gazetting proposed reseves, particularly on Sumatra. Lobby for the cessation of logging in swamp-forests.

Improve effectiveness of protection measures in protected areas in Indonesia.

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Project updates ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION TRAINING FOR LO GO XA MAT NATIONAL PARK STAFF During March and April, BirdLife in cooperation with Education for NatureVietnam (ENV) carried out the training course for Lo Go Xa Mat (LGXM) National Park staff as a part of project entitled: "Supporting wetland conservation at LGXM NP, Tan Bien District, Tay Ninh Province" with financial support from WWF Cat Tien Conservation Project and BirdLife International. The objectives of this training was to build capacity of LGXM NP staff in community-based environmental education. Specifically: • Providing trainees with basic knowledge and understanding of School children are actively involoved in the the importance of environmental environmental lesson organised by LGXM staff. education in support of nature conservation and protection.

• Providing important training in administration and communication skills through classroom and field practice.

• Developing a framework and specific activities for the park’s education programme.

• Practical hands-on training through village meetings and schools programme.

A ten day training course for selected NP staff in environmental awareness for local communities was implemented by ENV and BirdLife. After the training, with support from BirdLife staff, trainees organised 12 awareness raising meetings with local peoples and school children in each commune in Tan Bien District.

The park was very supportive during the training programme. The park also helped with providing services such as getting permission, liaison with local authorities, and buying training materials. Throughout the course trainees worked very hard and were actively involved in all the programme activities. During the 5 week practical hands-on training, the park staff will organise village meetings, give presentations, discuss with local people and find the most suitable solutions in order to manage LGXM sustainably.

However, most of the trainees have little knowledge about the ecology, environment, and associated conservation issues in the park. The lack of knowledge and understanding on these issues affected the quality of the training programme and also slowed down the training process.

The training programme provided trainees with basic knowledge and important skills in environmental education such as: environmental education theory and methods, communication and facilitation skills, programme development and field practice.

During the training programme, trainers and trainees also developed an actual programme and carried it out in 3 communes bordering the park. The trainees gained a lot of practical lessons from this series of village programme meetings.

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BIODIVERSITY SURVEY CARRIED OUT IN YOK DON NATIONAL PARK From 20 March to 9 April 2004, as part of the Creating Protected Areas for Resource Conservation using Landscape Ecology (PARC) Project at Yok Don National Park, scientists from BirdLife International in Indochina conducted their fourth biodiversity survey at four sites within Yok Don National Park. The survey focused on a study of larger mammals and birds.

Anecdotal mammal records were collated. A point-count was undertaken for Green Peafowl Pavo muticus in addition to undertaking a bird survey designed to reveal diversity and relative Sarus Crane in Yok Don National Park. abundance of bird species at different Photo: Nguyen Duc Tu/BirdLife locations. The aim of this report is to present the results of this survey, and the conservation values of the four survey sites. Threats to the sites were also identified and mitigating measures proposed. Conservation management recommendations are made, together with recommendations for future research.

A total of 44 mammal species were recorded during the survey. Notable records during the survey included sight records of Banteng Bos banteng and Dhole Cuon alpinus. Fresh tracks of Gaur Bos gaurus and Asian Elephant Elephas maximus were found near the Dak Ken and Dak Dam Rivers, and Yok Da hill. Tracks were also found of Fishing Cat Prionailurus viverrinus, Leopard Panthera pardus, and Golden Cat Catopuma temminckii.

A total of 133 bird species were recorded at the four sites within Yok Don National Park during the survey. Six bird species assigned an IUCN category of threat were recorded during the survey. These comprised; Green Peafowl Pavo muticus (EN), Lesser Adjutant Leptotilos javanicus (VU), White-winged Duck Cairina sculata (EN), Sarus Crane Grus antigone (VU), White-rumped Vulture Gyps benganlensis (CR) and Giant Ibis Pseudibis gigantea (CR). In addition two Near-threatened species were recorded. Notable was the first confirmed records of White-rumped Vulture (CR) and Sarus Crane (VU) for Yok Don National Park (and also for the entire Central Highlands) since 1997. During the survey a total of 68 bird lists were made from four locations, and a total of 91 bird species were recorded on one or more list. The two most commonly recorded bird species during this survey were Lineated Barbet Megalaima lineata, and Chinese Francolin Francolinus pintadeanus.

A standardized point count methodology was used to record Green Peafowl. A total of 81 independent point counts were made in Yok Don National Park. Green Peafowl were recorded at 21 point counts. A total of 37 Green Peafowl contacts were made representing a minimum total of 32 birds. Mean number of contacts per point was 0.46 representing a mean minimum number of birds per point of 0.4. The results of the 2004 survey are consistent with the previous surveys in 1998 and 2003, in so far as a significant relationship between presence of Green Peafowl and presence of water within 2 km was found. Relatively small variation in other sampled variables (such as forest type and distance to human settlement etc.) prevented a robust assessment of other relationships. Considering the effect of water availability and the presence of Green Peafowl, the estimated population number of Green Peafowl in Yok Don National Park was calculated to be 720 (but could be as low as 400). This highlights clearly the importance of Yok Don for the conservation of this globally endangered species; both at a national and international levels.

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MACARTHUR PROJECT IN CENTRAL VIETNAM Under the project entitled "Conservation of Important Bird Areas in Indochina: Strengthening site support groups to conserve critical biodiversity" funded by the MacArthur Foundation, project activities are focussed on selected IBAs in the central Vietnamese lowlands.

The period between March 2003 and February 2004 was essentially a project formulation and design phase during which a number of research activities were undertaken and the following Darkong SSG members in their new forest uniform. reports were produced: (1) Photo: Vu Minh Phuong/BirdLife Socio-economic and Threats Net (Quang Binh) IBAs. A very positive Assessment Report; and (2) Biodiversity sign was that all participants of the Assessment Report. workshops understood the goal of the overall project and the purpose of These reports were used to develop a series establishing Site Support Groups (SSGs). of project activities which formed the basis They were happy to work for the project and for the project design and plan for initial they recognized the importance of being activities. These activities, which began on members of the Site Support Group. A schedule in October 2003, related to number of activities were conducted at these communications and meetings with local selected IBAs as follows: authorities to generate support for the • Assessed the knowledge, behavior initiation of the project. and operational skills of SSG members.

Several trips to the field were paid by the • Conducted an assessment of the project coordinator and project officers at materials needed for SSGs at each the beginning of the project to discuss with site. local authorities and project partners about • Trained the awareness raising skills project partners, project goal, objectives and of SSG members. the signing of the Memorandum of • Trained the ecological monitoring Understanding (MoU) between Birdlife and technique skills of SSG members. project partners. After discussion with • Developed the plan for communityprovincial authorities of the provinces with based conservation activities. selected sites, the Provincial Forest Protection Department (FPD) was assigned Other SSGs will be established in July 2004 by the Provincial People’s Committee to be for Huong Hoa IBA after introducing the direct partners of the project. In March project to relevant stakeholders in Huong 2004, two MoUs were signed for Quang Hoa district, Quang Tri Province. The fourth Binh and Quang Tri provinces for project site to be selected is Truong Son IBA, implementation in which the roles, Quang Ninh district, Quang Binh Province. responsibilities, and rights were clarified in It is hoped that the project activities will the MoU. begin there in August 2004.

Up to date, two SSGs have been established at Dakrong (Quang Tri Province) and Khe

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LARGEST POPULATION OF GURNEY'S PITTA FOUND OUTSIDE MYANMAR'S PROPOSED NATIONAL PARK The world’s largest population of the Critically Endangered Gurney’s Pitta has been found in forest adjacent to the proposed Lenya National Park in Southern Myanmar.

Surveys found Ngawun Reserve Forest was home to a further seven bird species in danger of global extinction, with evidence of threatened mammals including tiger, Asian elephant and Malayan tapir.

The 50,000 ha Ngawun Reserve Forest is the largest remaining block of level lowland forest in southern Myanmar and around 150 contacts with Gurney's Pitta, a species sometimes called the 'Jewel-thrush' and one of the rarest and most beautiful birds on earth were made during the survey. Although the site doubtless holds many hundreds of pairs.

The surveys were conducted by a team of

conservationists from the Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association (BANCA), the Department of Forests Kawthaung District, Tanintharyi Division and BirdLife International. The team identified this site using remotely sensed data provided under a Government of Myanmar and Smithsonian Institution project.

Jonathan Eames, Programme Manager of BirdLife International in the region and a member of the survey team, said "Our surveys show that Ngawun Reserve Forest is of international importance for Gurney's Pitta and other threatened species. The fact that Ngawun Reserve Forest is adjacent to the proposed Lenya National Park presents the Government of Myanmar with a tremendous conservation opportunity. If these areas were combined, through a modification of the

proposed boundaries to Lenya National Park, it would conserve a representative example of the wildlife and forests that once cloaked southern Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand.”

Dr Michael Rands, Director and Chief Executive of BirdLife International commented "The Government of Myanmar has already shown tremendous foresight in designating the two million hectare Hukauwng Valley Wildlife Sanctuary earlier this year, and we hope that they can show a similar commitment towards conservation of this globally important area too. If invited, BirdLife would be delighted to join the Ministry of Forestry, other NGOs and concerned organisations to promote and secure the conservation of Ngawun Reserve Forest and the proposed Lenya National Park."

Ngawan Reserve Forest is the largest unprotected block of level lowland forest in southern Myanmar. Photos: J.C.Eames

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OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONSERVATION OF SUNDAIC LOWLAND FOREST IN TANINTHARYI DIVISION Recent work By BirdLife and the Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association (BANCA) in southern Tanintharyi Division, Myanmar has identified the Ngawun Reserve Forest as an Important Bird Area, worthy of designation as a protected area because of the internationally important population of Gurney’s Pitta that it supports.

Sundaic forests are among the most biologically diverse tropical forests on earth. The Sundaic region includes the moist tropical lowland and montane forests of the Thai-Malay Peninsula, (southern Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia) and the Greater Sunda Islands (Borneo, Java and Sumatra). This forest type is an international conservation priority because it supports very high levels of biodiversity, particularly floral diversity. Lowland Sundaic forest supports the world’s tallest trees, including many commercially valuable dipterocarp species, and a rich array of endemic and endangered flora and fauna. For example, it supports 47 threatened bird species, 38 of which breed nowhere else on Earth, including the Critically Endangered Gurney’s Pitta.

Lowland Sundaic forest is rapidly disappearing throughout the region, which suffers some of the highest rates of deforestation in the world. Due to unsustainable logging, the pulp industry and the development of plantation agriculture, particularly the dramatic expansion of the oil palm industry, Thailand has now lost 98% of its lowland Sundaic forest, and Malaysia, Borneo and Sumatra’s lowland forest, outside protected areas, are predicted to disappear within the next five to ten years.

Myanmar supports the last large, intact and viable areas of Sundaic lowland forest, not currently under formal protection, in mainland Southeast Asia. In Myanmar, Sundaic forest is located in southern Tanintharyi Division. The largest remaining patch covering the Ngawun Reserve Forest consists of 467 sq km adjacent to the proposed Lenya National Park near Myeik.

The Gurney’s Pitta is a beautiful ground-dwelling forest bird that is found in only a limited area of the level lowland Sundaic forest in Thailand and Myanmar and nowhere else on Earth. The Gurney’s Pitta is considered to be one of the world’s rarest animals and is considered a Critically Endangered species by IUCN. However, our 2003 survey found a population of Gurney’s Pitta at five sites in southern Tanintharyi. Until its rediscovery in southern Tanintharyi by BirdLife International and Wildbird Adventure Travels and Tours in 2003, only 30 birds in Thailand were known to exist in the world. The 2004 BirdLife/BENCA survey found a major population of these birds in Ngawun Forest Reserve which may number many hundreds of pairs. Globally Threatened mammals sharing this habitat with the Gurney’s Pitta include the Malaysian Tapir, Tiger and Asian Elephant. Some endemic plant and animal species that have not yet been discovered, or described by science may exist here. Yet all these species will be lost if the forest habitat disappears.

The Government of Myanmar has set a policy target to expand the national protected areas system to 10% of the land-area of the country. In order to fulfill this policy objective and Myanmar’s commitment under the Convention on Biological Diversity the protected areas system should be fully representative of the diversity of habitats and species occurring in Myanmar. By conserving Ngawun Reserve Forest the Government of Myanmar will take a major step towards fulfilling this goal. Myanmar’s best remaining patch of lowland Sundaic forest could easily be incorporated into the proposed Lenya National Park by expanding its boundaries. The proposed boundaries of Lenya National Park are adjacent to Ngawun Reserve Forest, the largest remaining patch of primary lowland rainforest in Tanintharyi Division. If these boundaries were extended, then the lowland rainforest would be protected. Myanmar would have The Babbler, June 2004

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an improved national protected areas system and it will have fulfilled a national policy target and fulfilled a responsibility under the Convention on Biological Diversty.

BirdLife International is able to provide immediate financial and technical support to assist the Government of Myanmar meet these targets by expanding Lenya National Park.

BirdLife International will work to provide a sufficient amount of funds for park establishment and management, including technical and financial support, for at least two years initially, but would expect to make a longer term commitment. This would be an immediate investment at little or no cost to the Government of the Union of Myanmar. This would also open the door to further international donor support on a much larger scale, including the possibility of GEF funds and possible nomination of the Lenya National Park as a World Heritage Site. This would also establish a foundation for possible expansion of the protected area to include a Greater Tanintharyi Forest Complex, with increased funding availability.

The returns on investment in the expansion and development of Lenya National Park include meeting Government policy targets with no-cost investment by the Government of Myanmar; Provision of guaranteed environmental services, in the form of water supply to provide for agricultural development in adjacent areas, thereby supporting and sustaining regional development; Zoning land to conservation would provide a sound model of multiple-use land use planning that maximizes economic benefit and helps promote a modern, developed nation; Increased international tourism, providing foreign currency; and The Government of Myanmar would earn international recognition for its commitment to biodiversity conservation.

Sundaic lowland forest is now rapidly being converted to oil palm plantations. Uncontrolled expansion of oil palm development in southern Tanintharyi Division is causing rapid loss and fragmentation of remaining Sundaic Lowland Forest. Forest areas surveyed in 2003 had disappeared by 2004. The results of a joint Government of Myanmar and Smithsonian Institution project show that southern Tanintharyi Division is one of only three regions in Myanmar suffering a net forest loss. The rate of loss is well above the global average as determined by FAO. Loss of Sundaic Lowlnd forest will effect local climate and rainfall patterns, disrupting seasonal water supply and could impair agricultural development and the productivity of oil palm plantations. High rates of deforestation are a lost opportunity for regional development, biodiversity conservation and for development of ecotourism. Once large patches of Sundaic lowland forest are cleared, it is impossible to restore the forest and the unique flora and fauna will be lost. The disappearance of the lowland Sundaic forest from southern Tanintharyi will be a loss to the interest of conservation of biodiversity at a global scale, and a loss to the ecotourism potential in Myanmar. Furthermore, once converted to oil palm the potential to establish sustainable forestry is also lost.

BirdLife’s current work in Myanmar is supported by the Darwin Initiative and the Global Conservation Fund of Conservation International. The Darwin Initiative is a grants programme that aims to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of resources in less developed countries. The Initiative is funded and administered by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). The 2004 survey team comprised Dr Htin Hla (BANCA), Sein Myo Aung (BANCA), Saw Moses (BANCA), U Saw Nyunt Tin (Dept. of Forests, Kawthaung District) and Jonathan C. Eames (BirdLife International in Indochina). The project team gratefully acknowledges the support of the Ministry of Travels and Tours, Lt. Col. Kyaw Phyo, Chairman of the District Peace and Development Council, Kawthaung District, the Department of Forests, Kawthaung District, and the Yuzana Company whose managers and staff extended every assistance to the team in its work. Photographs of Gurney’s Pitta are available for press and media use online at: www.birdlife.org/news/pr/index.htmlT.

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Recently published An updated second edition of the Sourcebook published (BirdLife International and Forest Protection Department, 2004) This second edition of the Sourcebook, which has been compiled by BirdLife and MARD, with financial support from the World Bank and the Royal Netherlands Government, builds on the first, providing a comprehensive and up-to-date guide to the information currently available on existing and proposed protected areas in Vietnam. In particular, the second edition is intended to provide: •

• • •

Reliable, up-to-date information on the location, status and values of Vietnam’s protected areas, as a resource for planners and decision-makers at international, national and provincial levels; Baseline data for monitoring the impacts of national and provincial policies and plans at protected areas; A resource for training, awareness and educational activities, of particular potential value at the provincial, district, site and project levels; and A tool to support the implementation of the Vietnam Conservation Fund.

This Sourcebook contains site cards for 208 existing and proposed protected areas in Vietnam.

The Sourcebook is available in both English and Vietnamese, and is also available in CD-Rom and online versions. If you have any queries, please contact us at: birdlife@birdlife.netnam.vn

Greater Mekong Subregion Atlas of the Environment (Asia Development Bank and United Nations Environment Programme, 2004) This Atlas is the first devoted entirely to the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), presenting detailed maps, photographs, remote sensing images, tables, graphs, and text to provide an overview of important environmental, social, ethnic, and economic aspects of this diverse subregion.

Given the broad range of environmental and natural resource issues, this Atlas has been necessarily selective, although there is no mention of birds in the biodiversity chapter!. As such it focuses on inland and coastal areas (the major detals) only; marine areas, for example, are not included. The Atlas also highlights the Mekong River Basin and the environmental situation in selected watersheds and wetlands.

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This Atlas would be of interest to conservationists, professional geographers, policymakers, development specialists, acedamics, and students, as well as persons with a gereral interest in the region.

Biodiversity Report on the Ba Be/Na Hang Conservation Complex (2004) Ba Be / Na Hang Conservation Complex is a region of north-eastern Vietnam based around Ba Be National Park and Na Hang Nature Reserve. The region is characterised by steep limestone hills, interspersed with non-limestone areas of more undulating topography. It supports a mosaic of land use types, including fragmented primary forest patches, patches of secondary vegetation, and area of permanent and shifting cultivation. The region supports high levels of botanical and faunal diversity including populations of two endemic primates: Tonkin Snub-nosed Monkey and Francois' Langur.

This is the final report of an assessment of the biodiversity of the Ba Be/Na Hang Conservation Complex undertaken as part of the PARC project. The report presents the results of four separate field surveys undertaken by BirdLife over three years. These surveys assessed the diversity and abundance of vegetation, butterflies, reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals (including bats).

This report is available in both English and Vietnamese from: Forest Protection Department (MARD); BirdLife International in Indochina and UN Reference library - UNDP Hanoi.

Tropical Dipterocarp Forest (by A. N. Kuznetsov, 2003) This well illustrated manual on the dipterocarps of Vietnam, by an acknowledged authority, represents the last addition to the literature on this, the most valuable tree family found in SouthEast Asian forests. Many text figures and colour photographs make this an attractive addition to any reference library. It would have benefited significantly however, from the addition of an English language summary, since the reviewer is struggling to find more to write about it!

Avaialble from the Vietnam Russia Tropcal Centre in Hanoi.

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Staff news Sophearith Ny (Rith) received his bachelor’s degree in the field of Accounting from National Institute of Management (NIM), Cambodia in 2000 and spent the following 3 years with Ernst & Young Company Limited (Certified Public Accountant) as an Auditor, he was traveling to Na Trâng, Vietnam for Audit skills seminar for 4 weeks and subsequently 6 years working with Northbridge International School Cambodia as an Accountant.

Rith has a master’s (MBA) degree from the Charles Sturt University, Australia with a major in financice, Rith joined BirdLife International in Indochina – Cambodia Programme Office as Finance/Admin Officer in April 2004.

From the Archives

This amazing trophy collection was photographed in the home of the Saw Bwa (tribal chief) of Shukhua village in central Chin State, Myanmar on 26 Janaury 2004. The collection included 58 Asiatic Black Bear Ursus thibetanus skulls, 9 Sambar Cervus unicolor, 3 Gaur Bos gaurus, 8 Banteng Bos javanicus, 42 Wild Pig Sus scrofa, 103 Muntjac Muntiacus muntjak and 63 Mythan Bos frontalis. Photo: J. C. Eames.

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