Author : Tran Quoc Hung

Summary : This study was conducted to develop a GIS-based forest resource management system for the Gibbon Protected Area in Trung Khanh District, Cao Bang Province, Vietnam. The study gathered primary vegetation data from 34 sample plots in the Cao Vit Gibbon Protected Area. Primary socio-economic data are also gathered through interviews with 74 households of the nearby villages. Analysis shows that there is a total of 131 trees, shrub, vine, and herb species from 59 families found in the research area. Floristic composition analysis shows that the research area is dominated by some species such as Cephalomappa sinensis, Dendrocnide urentissima, Radermachera sinica, Acer tonkinensis Lecomte, and Excentrodendron hsienmu. The study shows that local people rely on agricultural production, animal husbandry, forest products, gardening, fishery and wage labor for their income. Forest products rank third as main source of income in the nearby villages. However, firewood collection, timber cutting and livestock grazing pose a big threat to the Cao Vit Gibbon Protected Area. This is also reflected and affirmed through the correlation analysis. The study site has a generally steep topography with an elevation range of 500-1000 masl and interrupted by lowlanddepression. The analysis shows that human activities are mostly carried out in areas near the villages, at lower altitude, and less steep slope where accessibility is much easier. The study confirms that limited habitat and degraded vegetation, especially food plant species for gibbon, are reasons for larger number of CAo Vit gibbon in group (5-7 individuals). The study is really useful not only for forest resources management in the Gibbon Protected Area but also for other protected areas in Vietnam.