Bolikhamxay Ecosystem and Wildlife Project

Bolikhamxay Ecosystem and Wildlife Project
2005- 2010

Bolikhamxay Province harbors some of the most globally significant biodiversity in Southeast Asia.  It contains the largest block of uninhabited montane forest in Lao PDR and borders the largest expanse of protected central Annamite forest in Vietnam.  Even though much of the province remains unexplored biologically, the forests are known to harbor a myriad of endemic mammals and birds.  These include Saola, Truongson Muntjac, Giant (or large-antlered) Muntjac, Heude’s Pig, the Annamite Striped Rabbit, Crested Argus, White-winged Magpie, and Short-tailed Scimitar-babbler.  Also, the only recent reports of Rhino surviving in Laos (although few and unsubstantiated) are from Bolikhamxay. 

Although very little of this outstanding landscape is under national level protection, significant portions of Bolikhamxay’s forests are included in a provincial conservation forest system.  This demonstrates the province’s recognition of this unique ecosystem; however, the capacity to conserve it is limited.  The province has pressing priorities such as poverty alleviation and the provision of basic education, health and food security.  While these activities contribute to biodiversity conservation, they do not necessarily focus on the high priority issues or geographic areas for wildlife.  The units responsible for protected area management are generally understaffed and have low technical skills.  The province and central government has invited WCS to work in Bolikhamxay Province to help build national capacity and institutions to manage its globally significant biodiversity.

WCS works in an area of 14,460 km² Bolikhamxay Province.  It represents the first time that the WCS- Lao program has taken on an area greater than a NPA.   The provinces landscape is extremely diverse and important.  The goal of WCS Lao is to conserve globally significant wildlife and landscapes in the northern Annamites by building national capacity and institutions for implementing natural resource management strategies in Bolikhamxay Province.  Over the next five years, this project will:

· Raise the capacity of provincial staff to design strategies for landscape species conservation that complement existing provincial land use plans.
· Create a training center to increase the ability of provincial staff to protect biodiversity.
· Raise the capacity of Lao biologists to gather information regarding the status and ecology of species for the development of management plans for provincial and national protected areas in the province. 
· Improve the implementation of conservation strategies, and the monitoring of their effectiveness, by working with trained provincial staff to build the capacity of district and protected area staff and institutions.
· Train and support district extension teams to increase the awareness and involvement of villagers in wildlife conservation and management.
· Implement, monitor, and adapt landscape conservation strategies based on the results of field research and monitoring.