Ta Xua Nature Reserve is one of the typical forest ecosystems in north-western Vietnam. Red-listed tree species in Ta Xua Nature Reserve may be critically threatened by a number of factors. However, we know little about their status and factors which effect on their appearance and distribution in the area. This project will investigate the diversity of red-listed tree species, key ecological and human disturbance factors which influence the appearance and distribution of these tree species and recommend possible conservation measures for them.

Total 120 sampling plots will be established in three different forest zones (buffer, restoration and core zones) at the similar elevation of between 1000 and 1700 meters a.s.l, 40 plots in each forest zone. The information which will be collected in the field includes: name of tree species (identified by a botanist), tree diameter at the breast height (tape measure), soil pH (pH meter), litter thickness (metal frame and ruler), the number of footpaths and stumps (counting), canopy closure (using hemispherical photographs taken by a digital camera), elevation of plots and longitude and latitude of plots (GPS locator). Collected data will be analyzed using PC-ORD 5.0 and Statistica (version 10) programs. Key statistics which will be used are Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) and Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) for determining effects of factors on the appearance and distribution of red-listed tree species, and T-test/Mann-Whitney U-test and ANOVA/Kruskal-Wallis H test for mean comparison of biodiversity parameters among three different forest zones.

The expected results of this project will bring about insights into the diversity and composition of red-listed tree species in the study site and key ecological and human disturbance factors which affect on the appearance and distribution of red-listed tree species. Local people’s knowledge about red-listed tree species and their conservation importance will be improved by their participating in the field work activities. Moreover, the project results will also provide local forest protection units, Government’s and related organizations with valued scientific information and recommended measures for effective conservation and development of red-listed tree species in Vietnam.