Xekong - Protected Areas

Protected Areas

The Dakchung Plateau is an Important Bird Area (IBA). It is 5,140 ha in size, and is situated at an altitude of 800–1,400 metres (2,600–4,600 ft) above sea level. The habitat is characterized as pine woodland, grassland, degraded semi-evergreen forest, dry evergreen forest, marshy land, and tall grasses areas. Of the avifauna, Yellow-billed Nuthatch Sitta solangiae is classified as Near Threatened, whie Black-crowned Barwing Actinodura sodangorum is classified as Vulnerable. Other fauna include, Oriental Small-clawed Otter A. cinerea, Tiger P. tigris, Big-headed Turtle Platysternon megacephalum, and herds of Asian Elephant Elephas maximus.

The Xe Sap IBA is located within the Xe Xap National Biodiversity Conservation Area (NBCA); the IBA surpasses the NBCA's 1335 km2 boundaries (established in February 1996). The IBA and NBCA are part of two provinces, Sekong and Salavan. The NBCA sits at an altitude of 400–2,066 metres (1,300–6,778 ft) and is 1335 sqkm in size; the highest peak is Dong Be with an altitude of 2,066 m, part of the Southern Annamite Mountains. The habitat is characterized by various forests (dry evergreen, pine, semi-evergreen, and upper montane), as well as grassland. Two species of gymnosperm were recorded. Its key avifauna includes Blyth's Kingfisher Alcedo hercules, Crested Argus Rheinardia ocellata, and Yellow-billed Nuthatch Sitta solangiae. Other notable wildlife are two types of primates and one turtle species. An unpaved road from Salavan to Ta-Oy and further east to Samuoy runs the northern border of Xe Sap NBCA. But small paths provide approaches from the main road to villages located on the northern part of the NBCA. The southeastern part of NBCA is difficult to reach. However, the Kong River (or Xe Kong, or Sekong) and its two tributaries Xe Sap and Xe Lon provide access to the reserve by boats. The reserve has many water falls, rocky cliffs and rhododendrons at higher elevations. There are 43 mammals (including 18 key species), 178 birds (18 are key species), 48 reptiles and 33 amphibians; the notable species of wildlife are two species of bears, serow, large antlered muntjac, large number of gaurs and tigers. A particular plant species are Pinus dalatensis and Kinabaluchloa species, a genus of bamboo.

The Phou Ahyon IBA is 148,900 hectares in size. The IBA altitude varies between 400–2,193 metres (1,300–7,195 ft) above sea level. The topography contains the Phou Ahyon massif (2,193 metres (7,195 ft)), which is the highest and largest massif in the country's southern area. The habitat is characterized by dry evergreen forest, Fokienia forest, and upper montane forest. Notable avifauna includes Black-crowned Barwing Actinodura sodangorum, Black-hooded Laughingthrush Garrulax milleti, Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush G. konkakinhensis, Crested Argus Rheinardia ocellata, Golden-winged Laughingthrush G. ngoclinhensis, and Yellow-billed Nuthatch Sitta solangiae.