Gymnosperm species propagation.

The Northwest of Vietnam is recognized as a priority area for conservation. It is considered as one of the main regions of plant diversity in Vietnam. There are four species have been recently evaluated as globally threatened (IUCN, 2009). They are: Amentotaxus yunnanensis (EN, A1c), Cephalotaxus mannii (VU, A1d), Calocedrus macrolepis (VU, B1+2b), Pinus fenzeliana (NT). Threatened species of gymnosperms are in urgent need of conservation action. However, information on their ecology is incomplete because only a small proportion have been assessed in terms of extinction risk. Therefore, there is a need and urgency to gather gymnosperm information on the threats to the species, their ecological requirements, where they live, and information on conservation actions that can be used to reduce threats and prevent extinction. The project addresses the need to assess the conservation status of threatened gymnosperm species in Vietnam. Comprehensive assessments of gymnosperm species will be conducted at select national park and nature reserves in Vietnam.

This information will help formulate guidelines for assessing the status of species at the national and global levels. The project will gather new information on the conservation status and distribution of threatened gymnosperms in Vietnam. This will allow us to establish a sound gymnosperm conservation policy and action. The project will also serve as a model for conservation efforts in other protected areas in Vietnam.

Project aims:

The project will prepare conservation profiles that include mapping the distribution and abundance of threatened Gymnosperm species through field surveys in Cuc Phuong National Park, Pu Luong and Pa Co – Hang Kia Nature Reserves. Parameters will identify habitat location, habitat size, population numbers, and size class distributions.

The project will then provide distribution maps, that will include information on species identity, habitat, location, population size. This will inform site- and national-level action plans for plant conservation. Long-lasting conservation at the site level (at three parks and reserves listed above) will be carried out in situ through participatory conservation activities involving local people and park staff. The project will also undertake further ex-situ conservation studies of threatened gymnosperms in cooperation with protected area managers and local communities at Cuc Phuong National Park (the project will upgrade the ex-situ Gymnosperm Conservation Area previously established at Cuc Phuong National Park through an RSG project grant).

The project will update a living gene bank of gymnosperm species through the gemination of seeds and propagation experiments in Cuc Phuong nursery, and to transfer them to the ex-situ Gymnosperm Conservation Area, and will also involve local people, students and volunteers as participants in the project.