CONSERVING BIODIVERSITY AND SUSTAINING S LIVELIHOODS ALONG THE MEKONG RIVER IN LUANG PHRABANG, XAYABOURI AND VIENTIANE PROVINCES, LAOS Raphael Glemet Water and wetlands programme officer IUCN Lao PDR, Vientiane raphael.glemet@iucn.org 1
OBJECTIVES To obtain baseline biological data and to identify priorities for biodiversity conservation in the study area, through the following objectives: -To document the diversity and richness of flora and fauna along the Mekong River. -To assess the status of endemic, restricted-range and/or threatened taxa. - To identify threats to biodiversity, especially threatened taxa. -To identify biological conservation priorities and to develop recommendations for the management of biodiversity in the study area. 2
PROJECT ORGANISATION An initiative from IUCN Lao PDR with support from the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF). This project is part of a collaborative project between IUCN Lao PDR, the National University of Laos (FoS) and the Living Aquatic Resources Research Center (LARReC). 3
STUDY AREA The study area is in the Upper part of the lower Mekong, between Luang phrabang town and Vientiane capital. The study area is restricted to the Laos portion of the Mekong, and is limited to habitats within and immediately adjacent to the Mekong channel. The total length of the study area is around 450 km. 4
STUDY AREA 5
TEAM COMPOSITION - The scientific team included 19 participants from IUCN Lao PDR, the National University of Laos (NUoL) - Faculty of Science (researchers and students), the Lao Living Aquatic Resources Research Center (LARReC), the University of North Carolina, University of Chiang Mai and international consultants. 6
SCHEDULE 2 surveys for each group : wet season 2011 and dry season 2012 5 different trips between September 2011 and May 2012. Field duration from 15 to 25 days on the river. 7
METHODS Each team used a range of sampling methods : - Fishing with nets and traps; - Hand catch of reptiles and amphibians; - Bird watching ; - Invertebrates collection with sweep nets; - data collection through interviews, discussions with villagers; - surveys in markets. Each team focused on IUCN red list species/species dependant on channel habitat mosaic, rare species and commercially important species. 8
METHODS Voucher specimen and collections : A permanent contribution to science at national and international level : - The Herpetology collection was deposited in FoS in Vientiane and in the University of North Carolina. - The Botany collection was deposited in the National Lao Herbarium and at Chiang Mai University - Fish collection is deposited at LARReC - Invertebrates collection is deposited at FoS. 9
KEY FINDINGS Habitats t and botany : - A database of 335 species was compiled. - A total of 164 vascular plants were collected in addition to 5 bryophytes. - Among these are 23 new records for the Lao Flora. - Most of the original primary, evergreen vegetation has been recently destroyed and replaced by more deciduous facies, often with bamboo. - Slash and burn agricultural methods, logging resulted in much abandoned scrub, fragmented habitats, infertile soil, and erosion. - Some sites still present preserved vegetation, mainly in sacred areas or on limestones. 10
KEY FINDINGS Birds and mammals : - No River Terns were found and the last Great Thick-knee record was in 2004; - Large populations of Spot-billed Duck, River Lapwing, Plain Martin and Wiretailed Swallow are probably of regional significance; - 2 records of national conservation significance : the second Lao record of Red Avadavat, and the first recent records of Savanna Nightjar from North or Central Lao PDR; - Small numbers of otters (Lutrinae) seem to persist, but this is based solely on village reports: the one captive otter seen had reportedly come from a tributary, not the Mekong itself. - Diversity and abundance seem to be significantly lower than 12 years ago : proof of disappearance and sensibility of birds populations (indicators). 11
KEY FINDINGS Herpetology: - 64 species of amphibians and reptiles were documented. -6 globally threatened species (IUCN 2012) were documented in the study area : Amolops cremnobatus (Near Threatened), Rhacophorus kio, Manouria impressa, Amyda cartilaginea, and Ophiophagus hannah (Vulnerable), and Cuora mouhotii (Endangered). -At least 7 species of national conservation significance (Stuart 1999) were documented. - Reliable local information was obtained for the historical occurrence of one additional species, the Siamese crocodile Crocodylus siamensis. i 12
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KEY FINDINGS Fish - 114 species indentified so far on this stretch of the Mekong river. - Area significant for Probarbus julliani (endangered) with 2-3 spawning area; - Some records of endangered catfish species and stingrays (secondary data); - Many of species still present are reported having smaller size than decade ago (Himantura chaophraya, Catlocarpio siamensis); - Fisheries tend to become commercial (especially on the Thai border), increasing the pressure on fish stocks. 14
KEY FINDINGS Aquatic invertebrates : - Researchers documented 234 taxa belonging to 19 orders and 105 families from 4 main groups, including 201 taxa of aquatic insects, 10 taxa of Crustacea, 20 taxa of fmolluscs and d2 taxa of ffreshwater worms. - High diversity in the tributaries, much lower in the mainstream. - Highly important group for local livelihood. - Decision to focus on freshwater crab species assessment. High harvest pressure on these species for local consumption and trade. Worldwide concern about freshwater crustaceans. - The crab stock seems decreasing compared to 5 years ago. 15
CONSERVATION-MANAGEMENT SITES Threats -Agriculture/logging (on terrestrial habitats mainly); -Over harvesting, hunting, fishing and wildlife trafficking ; -Road development, gold mining and other economic activities in the main channel and riverine habitats; -Overfrequentation and population increase; - Hydropower development in the study area 16
CONSERVATION-MANAGEMENT SITES Conservation mesures and opportunities -Bird nest protection and monitoring (and turtle nest if any) -Management plan for protected sites -Better regulation and control of trade with village and local authorities -Fish spawning sites protection by the villagers -Small ecotourism projects -Awareness campaign -Biodiversity monitoring -All activities would be carried out by the villagers with support from IUCN and Partners. -To protect biodiversity but also to find nature based solutions to livelihood and poverty alleviation. 17
THANK YOU VERY MUCH Raphael Glemet Water and wetlands programme officer IUCN Lao PDR, Vientiane raphael.glemet@iucn.org 18