CHARACTERISTICS OF HABITAT OF TONKIN SNUB-NOSED MONKEY IN QUAN BA WATERSHED FOREST, HA GIANG PROVINCE

Abstract

The forest habitat of the Tonkin Snub-nosed Monkey (TSM) population in Cao Ma Po, Ta Van and Tung Vai communes (Quan Ba district, Ha Giang province) was surveyed in 2019 – 2022 using line transects and sampling plot methods. The study results show that the habitat includes 4,213.16 ha of natural forest with two forest types: Montane evergreen broad-leaf forest and Limestone evergreen forest. Each forest type has 4 states (rich, medium, poor and rehabilitation) of which 2 states (rich and medium forests) can support the activity of TSM and have an area of 2,560 ha, accounting for 61.48% of the forest area in the study area. Key characteristics of forests in the study area are highlighted including plant species composition (647 species of 364 genera and 129 families), list of TSM food plant species (19 species), the density of trees of D_1.3 ≥ 5 cm (1491.3 trees/ha), D_1.3 size (mean 14.97), basal area (BA) of tree species (average 275.17 cm²/tree and total BA = 41.04 m²/ha) and dominant families and species.  In comparison with Khau Ca TSM Conservation Area, the ecological indicators of forests in the study area are lower indicating the forest in the study area was more degraded. It is necessary to have management solutions and sylvicultural interventions to improve the forest quality in the study area for the long-term conservation of Quan Ba TSM population.