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The Babbler March, 2004 Number 9 Welcome Features *"Saving Asia's Threatened Birds" Regional News

*Vietnam's Environment in the news *BirdLife International Wolrd Conference *MoU signing with Government of Cambodia Rarest of the rare

*Blyth's Tragopan Project updates *Hanam Island SSG *Activities in Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar *Expedition to Mount Bwe Pa, Chin State Recently Published From the Archives

BirdLife International in Indochina #4, Lane 209, Doi Can Hanoi, Vietnam Tel: + 84 4 722 3864 Fax:+ 84 4 722 3835 E-mail: birdlife@birdlife.netnam.vn www.birdlifevietnam.com

BirdLife International in Indochina Welcome to the first 2004 issue of the Babbler.

I have just returned from Durban, South Africa where BirdLife International recently held its world conference and global partnership meeting. Whilst it was a tremendously uplifting experience to discuss our work and great fun to meet old friends and make some new ones, I once again had to personally confront to shocking reality of the mess we are making of life on this planet. In Durban BirdLife revealed that one in eight of the world’s birds, a staggering 1,211 species now face extinction; that 64% of Globally Threatened Birds, most of them in the tropics, are threatened by unsustainable forestry. I was also reminded that mankind’s collective responses are currently inadequate and will prove ultimately futile unless we can move on from our “band aid” mentality. Addressing symptoms by attempting to save species and sites won’t be enough to solve the problem, which is linked to deeper problems in our environment and the way we look after the world. A sustainable world won’t be achieved until we are prepared to confront fundamental social and political challenges.

BirdLife’s response in Durban was to launch three major new publications. These comprise State of the World’s Birds 2004, Working Together for Birds and People and A Strategy for Birds and People.

For further information please visit www.birdlife.org.

Closer to home this latest issue of the Babbler reports on the first field expedition in Myanmar, together with our colleagues from the Bird Enthusiasts and Nature Conservation Association, as part of our Darwin Initiative funded project. I am also delighted to announce two major new publications from BirdLife in Indochina: the Birds of Laos, the first Lao language bird field guide produced in collaboration with our friends at the WCS Lao Program, World Bank and ARCBC, and Slipper Orchids of Vietnam (in Vietnamese). We are proud and delighted to have worked with The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and the World Bank to publish this major work.

On the housekeeping front, we say goodbye to Nguyen Thi Ngoc Ha from our Hanoi office and Palla from our Phnom Penh office and welcome Le Thanh Thuy. Finally, I am pleased to announce that last month in Phnom Penh we signed MoUs with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

We look forward to working with the Royal Government of Cambodia in the coming years.

If you have any contribution or suggestion for the next issue, please contact phuong@birdlife.netnam.vn by 15 June.

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Features

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VIETNAM'S ENVIRONMENT IN THE NEWS Submitted by Education for Nature-Vietnam Thirsty for Water Kien Giang province- Over 12,000 hectares of forest in U Minh Thuong National Park are facing a big threat of fire as dozens of local farmers in Minh Thuan commune, Vinh Thuan district are digging or drilling the dyke, which protects the core zone of the park to let fresh water out to their fields. A harsh and long drought this year has forced them to search water from the inner park in an attempt to save their crops, ignoring the fact that the weather also exhausted the forests from water, and the vegetation layer is getting dry. If no action is taken, another disaster of fire like the one happened in 2002 would be unavoidable. (Youth newspaper issue 35 date 7 Feb 2004) Bugs Eating Pine Forest Nghe An province- Nearly 6,300 hectares of pine forests in the province are infected by the caterpillar (Dendrolimus puonctatus Walker), and just Nghi Loc Forestry Enterprise have seen over 2,300 hectares eaten up completely. The affected localities are Nghi Loc, Dien Chau, Do Luong and Nam Dan districts. Despite the local authorities have mobilized all forces to stop the endemic and spent over VND550 million on pesticide, a minor progress is recorded by now.

Nevertheless, according to Mr. Tran Van Vinh, Director of Protection Center for Natural Resources and Environment, Nghi Loc Forestry Farm, as well as some other affected localities, have made a big mistake as right after disease breaks, farmers have sprayed too much pesticide and chemicals in improper time in an attempt to get rid of insects quickly. This inadequate reaction has lessened the effect of drugs on the insects while other types of their natural enemies like bees, mantis or three-striped fly are killed. And though there is no test or experiment carried out by now, some scientists are concerned about the influence of overused pesticides in when a big amount of goats and cow aborted recently in the area. (Science and Life newspaper issue 14 date 16 Feb 2004) Elephant Shot Dead Daklak province- On the 11 of February, one female domestic elephant carcass was found in the border area of Ea Sup and Cu M’gar districts. Local officials said this elephant might have been shot by mistake to get the ivory as the animal belongs to a herd of four, one of which is a male elephant. (Labor newspaper issue 43 date 12 Feb 2004) Jail for loggers Gia Lai province- Six men have received sentences from six to twelve months in jail for illegal timber transportation and attacking rangers in Ia Boong commune, Gia Lai province in October 2003. The court is two months late compared to what the local authorities had promised to the mass media to settle down the case and a series of deforestation in the area recently. Those culprits, among about 10 other guys, were transporting 5.3m3 of precious timber when they were stopped by local rangers. They have fiercely protested the officials, injured two of them, destroyed their car and escaped with the two trucks of timber. (Labor newspaper issue 45 date 14 Feb 2004) Get Restaurants Involved in Wildlife Protection Ho Chi Minh City – One of biggest ever campaigns to raise awareness of wildlife protection for owners of over 2,000 restaurants and shops in the city has been kicked off by HCMC Forest Protection Department (FPD) on 17 Feb 2004. The local FPD, in association with other agencies in grass-root level, have set up five groups to deliver law documents on wildlife protection, lists of animals banned from trade or eating as well as other forms of fines and punishment. They also get the restaurants owners signed commitment not to sell or buy wild animals. According to Mr. Nguyen Dinh Cuong, Head of city FPD, most of restaurant owners have low awareness of wildlife conservation and their threats. After two days of the campaign, most of being-checked 100 restaurants have followed the city’s instructions. (VN Express website date 17 Feb 2004)

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Regional News BIRDLIFE INTERNATIONAL WORLD CONSERVATION CONFERENCE From 5 to 7 March, 2004, more than 350 delegates from over 100 countries attended Empowering People for Change, the BirdLife International World Conservation Conference. The event was a special opportunity for members of the BirdLife organisations to debate some of the most pressing issues in global bird conservation.

BirdLife holds its World Conference roughly every four years. The 2004 Conference got underway at the International Convention Centre in Durban, South Africa, on Sunday 7 March, finished on Saturday 13 March.

Asian Partners at the BirdLife's World Conference Photo: Simba Chan

During the Conference a series of important new BirdLife materials were launched. These included: •

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• • Tuan Anh at theBirdLife Indochina exhibition counter atBirdLife's World Conference

State of the World’s Birds brings together for the first time, in one accessible book, everything that is known about the status and distribution of birds, the pressures on sites, species and habitats, and an analysis of current conservation action and conservation priorities.

Threatened Birds of the World 2004 is a CDROM outlining the conservation status of all 10,000 of the world's bird species, including detailed fact sheets on all those globally threatened with extinction.

Working Together for Birds and People is a new publication outlining the diverse range of BirdLife's work around the globe.

A Zulu language field guide to common birds of South Africa.

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Their Excellencies Ambasadors: Robert Gordon of the U.K in Vietnam; Raymond Burghardt of the U.S.A in Vietnam and Richard Cozney of U.K in Indonesia enjoyed a bird watching trip at Xuan Thuy National Park together with BirdLife staff.

BirdLife recently signed cooperative agreements with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of the Royal Government of Cambodia

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Rarest of the rare Blyth's Tragopan Tragopan blythiis forest duckThis forest duck qualifies as This species qualifies as Vulnerable because its total population is believed to be small and declining, and is scattered in small subpopulations within a severely fragmented range. Widespread high levels of hunting and continuing habitat destruction will inevitably exacerbate this situation.

Identification Male 65-70 cm, female 58-59 cm. Typical tragopan with distinctive, greyish lower breast and belly.

Similar spp. Male differs from other tragopans by yellow facial skin and grey belly patch. Female can be confused with Satyr Tragopan T. satyra and Temminck’s Tragopan T.temminckii, but differs from both by yellowish eye-ring and paler, greyer belly, additionally from latter by less distinct pale spots and streaks on underparts.

Juvenile initially like female, male gradually attains orange-red on neck during first year. Voice Male territorial call is loud, moaning ohh ohhah ohaah ohaaah ohaaaaha ohaaaha ohaaaha.

Population estimate 2,500-9,999

Population trend decreasing

Range estimate 42,000 km2

Country endemic?

No

Range & population Tragopan blythii occurs from Bhutan through Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur in north-west India, north Myanmar, and south-east Tibet and north-west Yunnan, China. Recent information suggests it is locally distributed in Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, and common in the Chin and Kachin States of Myanmar, where it has apparently declined. Call counts detected 14 pairs in the 50 km2 Mountain National Park, Mizoram.

Ecology It inhabits subtropical and temperate, evergreen oak and rhododendron forests, generally preferring a dense understorey, often dominated by bamboos or ferns, in steep or rocky terrain.

Its documented altitudinal range is from 1,400 m (winter) up to 3,300 m (summer), but the majority of records come from a rather narrower band (1,800-2,400 m).

Threats In north-east India, deforestation is a significant threat, primarily as a result of shifting cultivation. Together with fuelwood-collection and commercial timber extraction, this is rapidly fragmenting suitable habitat, even within protected areas, where enforcement of regulations is often absent or impossible. Hunting for food is the other major problem, particularly in Nagaland and parts of Arunachal Pradesh, where large-scale snaring of pheasants and partridges by local people is an increasing problem. Even in Bhutan, high levels of grazing and slash-and-burn agriculture are potentially significant problems.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix I. The species is legally protected in all countries. It occurs in several protected areas, including: three small wildlife sanctuaries in Nagaland; the Blue Mountain National Park in Mizoram; Sessa Orchid Sanctuary, Mehao and Debang Valley Wildlife Sanctuaries in Arunachal Pradesh. In Myanmar it is known from Natmataung National Park and Hponkanrazi Wildlife Sanctuary.

Conservation measures proposed Conduct further extensive surveys in Myanmar, Arunachal Pradesh, Bhutan, Yunnan and south-east Tibet. Design and implement monitoring projects in Nagaland and Manipur. Review the adequacy of the current protected-areas system, with a view to establishing further protected areas in Myanmar, north-east India and south-east Tibet. Initiate a conservation awareness programme with communities in range areas, focusing on the effects of over-exploitation.

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Project updates VISIT TO KENH TRAP IBA, JANUARY 2004

BY DR. STEPHANIE J. TYLER My home is in Wales in the UK where I worked for RSPB (BirdLife in the UK) for 12 years but since 1996 I have lived and birded mainly in Botswana in southern Africa. My work there with BirdLife Botswana has included co-ordinating waterbird counts throughout the country and producing ‘The Important Bird Areas of Botswana’. I have helped monitor IBAs and am now involved in the setting up of Site Support Groups (SSGs) for IBAs through local staff. I also edit BirdLife Botswana’s journal, Babbler! Since August 2003 I have been living in Vietnam and it is my privilege now to contribute a note to another Babbler, this newsletter of BirdLife IndoChina, about meeting one of your SSGs. I had read in previous issues of this newsletter about the setting up of the SSG at Kenh Trap IBA and so was delighted when I had the opportunity to visit the SSG and the IBA in the Red River Delta on 16 to 17 January with Vu Thi Minh Phuong from the BirdLife office. I was most impressed with the enthusiasm and goodwill of the SSG members who are mainly shrimp farmers within the site. Some 23 members of the SSG turned up for the meeting on the 16th and they obviously had an excellent working relationship with Phuong. They were very pleased with the material that she had brought with her – eye-catching Black-faced Spoonbill posters and illustrated booklets about the IBA in which there were some photos depicting the SSG members carrying out fieldwork. After a pleasant meal together that evening, I was promised a conducted tour of the IBA early the following day.

We set out into the IBA at about 7 a.m. on 17th January. Two teams covered the ponds searching in particular for Black-faced Spoonbills but also doing a count of other waterbirds. For more than three hours we checked out ponds and areas of mangroves

but never saw a single spoonbill (though there had been some present the previous month). Our team leaders, two of the SSG members, were far more disappointed than me as they had wanted to show ‘their spoonbills’ to me, apparently one of the few overseas birdwatchers that have visited the IBA. The sense of ownership by the SSG members of such an important species was very evident and pleasing. I was quite happy though just to be at the coast enjoying the IBA and species such as Great Cormorant and Eastern Marsh Harriers, counting egrets and herons, listening to Greenshank and seeing spectacles such as a Peregrine Falcon tearing into its prey on a bund between two ponds. I also enjoyed seeing more common species such as Moorhen and Grey-breasted Rail along the watercourses although these were clearly less popular with SSG members who regard them as predators on shrimps, and in the fields nearby numerous Red-throated Pipits and Yellow Wagtails with Black-browed Reed Warblers in the sedges and reeds.

As we walked around the IBA we visited the homes of several local farmers for welcome cups of tea and I was impressed to see that they were already proudly displaying the new Black-faced Spoonbill posters on their walls. As Phuong and I left the site, one SSG member left to take more posters and some booklets to the local school. My visit with Phuong has shown me just how much has been achieved in a year at Kenh Trap through the crucial involvement of all the relevant stakeholders within the local community in the conservation of the area and their rapidly increasing knowledge of, and growing respect and care for, migratory and resident waterbirds at the IBA. Hopefully more funding can be acquired to consolidate the achievements at this site and to set up further SSGs at other IBAs in Vietnam.

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EXPEDITION TO MOUNT BWE PA, CHIN STATE In January and February staff from BirdLife International in Indochina, together with colleagues from the Bird Enthusiasts and Nature Conservation Association and staff from Natmataung National Park began fieldwork activities as part of our Darwin Initiative funded project entitled, “Building constituencies for site-based conservation in Myanmar.” This first venture a field was to identify Important Bird Areas in the Eastern Himalayas Endemic Bird Area (EBA). The site chosen was Mount Bwe Pa in central Chin State. Bwe Pa, previously unexplored, rises to over 3,000 m asl and the team hoped to find an avifauna fully representative of the Eastern Himalayas EBA. The month-long expedition surveyed the southern slopes of the mountain which support grassland, pine and oak-rhododendron forest and the wetter northern slopes which support evergreen forest.

A diverse selection of Restricted-range species was discovered including Blyth’s Tragopan Tragopan blythii (18 birds seen), Striped Laughingthrush Garrulax virgatus, Brown-capped Laughingthrush G. austini, Streak-throated Barwing Actinodura waldeni, and Grey Sibia Heterophasia gracilis. The White-browed Nuthatch Sitta victoriae was not located. Other Globally Threatened Species found included Mrs Hume’s Pheasant Syrmaticus humiae and White-backed Vulture Gyps bengalensis. Participants received training in survey techniques and specimen preparation. A collection of 56 bird skins was made. Hunting pressure on mammals appeared high and growing Chin villages are placing an ever increasing burden on forests to provide fuel wood and house construction materials. However the relatively good state of forests, combined with a less than completely representative avifauna will probably lead to a focus on the more easily accessible Natmataung National Park for future site support group activities.

This White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis was shot from amongst a flock of 50 seen feeding on a dead water buffalo in central Chin State. During the expedition we regularly observed flocks of up to ten White-backed Vultures.

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Recently published A guide to the Large mammals of Thailand by John W. K. Parr This concise guide will assist the amateur naturalist and professionals in the field identification of all 138 large mammals species found within Thailand. Every species has been painstakingly prepared by two of the nation’s outstanding wildlife artists, which greatly enhances identification.

The key identification features have been prepared through assistance from a large number of pre-eminent mammalogists in the region, collectively providing authoritative information on all these mammalian groups.

All species have accompanying range maps, which are as accurate as can be based upon present information.

Information also provided on behaviour, habitat and conservation status. Moreover, a section on the tracks of terrestrial mammals is particularly useful for enhancing knowledge and enjoyment of these beautiful animals

CD-ROM of Threatened Birds of published by BirdLife International

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Threatened Birds of the World 2004 is a CD-ROM outlining the conservation status of all 10,000 of the world's bird species, including detailed fact sheets on all those globally threatened with extinction.

Slipper Orchids of Vietnam A Vietnamese edition of Slipper Orchids of Vietnam is published by BirdLife International in Indochina with financial support from the World Bank.

The launch will be held on 28 April, 2004 at VDIC center, World Bank office in Hanoi. We would like to say thank you FFI, FPD, IEBR and Miss Garden for their support to this publication, and specially to Professor Phan Ke Loc and Dr. Nguyen Tien Hiep for their contributions.

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Other publications published by BirdLife International

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State of the World’s Birds brings together for the first time, in one accessible book, everything that is known about the status and distribution of birds, the pressures on sites, species and habitats, and an analysis of current conservation action and conservation priorities.

Working Together for Birds and People is a new publication outlining the diverse range of BirdLife's work around the globe.

A Field Guide to the Birds of Laos To help raise awareness of and concern for the conservation of biodiversity the World Bank biodiversity field guides program launched its latest guide, The Birds of Lao PDR, at a recent event in Vientiane. The book by BirdLife International in Indochina, in collaboration with WCS La Program and Vientiane University, with additional assistance from the EU-financed ASEAN Regional Centre for Biodiversity Conservation.

The book, available only in the Lao language, is the 50th in the World Bank-supported biodiversity field guide series, which is now in its fifth year. This program seeks to make more widely available information on the biodiversity of its client countries and ensure that these important sources of information are available in the local languages and in an affordable format so they can be enjoyed and used by people from school children to professional scientists.

"I am very pleased that the Bank has been able to work with a range of partners - local NGOs, academics, photographers, and artists - to produce so many beautiful books that will enable a generation that is too frequently disconnected from nature to get to know the natural riches of their countries,” said World Bank President James Wolfensohn.

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Educating for BirdLife The RSPB has recently produced Educating for BirdLife. This booklet is for staff and volunteers, particularly educators, who are working with BirdLife Partners. It includes case studies from nineteen BirdLife Partners. The case studies demonstrate the variety of education work that is implemented across the Partnership. There is also a section giving some guidelines for developing education work. Barrie Cooper from the RSPB wrote Educating for BirdLife and he says “Education can be a very important tool for a BirdLife Partner provided it is done effectively. Education can benefit a Partner by supporting conservation, by raising the profile and credibility of the Partner and by educating the decision-makers of today and tomorrow. I hope this booklet will help staff and volunteers to develop their education programmes for the benefit of conservation and their organisation. I think it is important to remember that if we ca sew the seeds of conservation in young people today, the future will be better for birds and BirdLife.” Copies of Educating for BirdLife can be obtained from BirdLife Secretariat, BirdLife Regional Offices or Barrie Cooper at RSPB.

From the Archives

This photograph of a Lisu hunter captioned as, “The first black barking deer” appeared in The fire ox and other years (1947) by Suydam Cutting. It was taken during the 1938 Verney-Cutting expedition to north-east Myanmar which had the stated purpose of finding a “black barking deer” which at the time was known from only three specimens taken over 1,600 km away in China.

Although the expedition members believed they had found the Black Muntjac Muntiacus crinifrons the specimen in this photograph is in fact a Tufted Deer Elaphodus cephalophus. It was only in 1997 that a joint Myanmar Forest Department and Wildlife Conservation Society expedition finally discovered the Black Muntjac in northern Myanmar.

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