Habitat: Mostly degraded forest with a small
area of semi-evergreen forest. Elevation from
200 m - 698 m.

Access: Easy access from Route 13 N just
outside Vientiane Capital.

1. GENERAL INFORMATION

Name

Phou Phanang; also spelt Phou Pha Nang, Phu Panang. Abbreviated: PPN

Status

Established by PM Decree 164, 29 October 1993.

Location

Latitude: 18o 05' - 18o 34'N;
Longitude: 102o 13' - 102o 25'E.

Map Sheets

Scale I: 100,000

E 48-49

E 48-61

Scale I: 200,000

E 48-XIII

Scale I: 500,000

E 48-A

Provinces

Vientiane
Vientiane Municipality

Districts

Phonhon [ Vientiane ]
Hinheup [ Vientiane ]
Sangthong [ Vientiane Municipality ]
Naxaithong [ Vientiane Municipality ]
Sikhopdt [ Vientiane Municipality ]

Perimeter

1,525 km

Boundaries

The W boundary follows the base of the Sayphou Phadeng and Sayphou Phanang, which together form a single N-S escarpment and mark the watershed between the Nam Thon and Nam Ngum catchments. In its central section, the W boundary extends up to 4km W of the foot of the scarp, almost to the Nam Thon itself.

The northern limit of the area lies just S of the point at which route 13 (N) crosses the Sayphou Phadeng, and the southern limit is c. 8km N or the Mekong.

The E boundary extends c. 10km down the back of the scarp into the Nam Ngum basin, and for much of its length is roughly equidistant between the crest of the scarp and route 13. It does not follow any clear geographical feature, but skirts the more densely settled areas close to route 13, approaching the Nam Cheung along much of its N half and the Nam Souang in the S.

Area

As decreed: 700 sq. km

1996 CPAWM GIS: 452 sq. km (This estimate, however, did not include the northern part of the NBCA, and whilst this area is still recognised to be within its boundaries, the original figure is probably more reliable.)

Proposed
Extensions or
Excisions

Access

A road heading W from route 13 at Ban Hong Luay-Saka penetrates the centre of the area and leads to a track which continues down into the Nam Thon valley. Route 13 comes to within a couple of km of the northern end of the area.

Stakeholder
Villages &
Population

No. of villages by type

District

Villages

I

II

III

IV

Persons...

TOTAL

Principal Local

Resource
Uses

Ethnic
Composition

2. BRIEF HISTORY

1993

NBCA declared

3. ECOLOGY

Physical
Features

The whole area is comprised by a single N-S scarp system facing W and sloping down more gently to the E. Almost all drainage from the area is to the E, down the back of the scarp and eventually to the Nam Ngum. The scarp is formed by the contact between Mz1 and vPz3 (Carb-Perm shallow sea sequences - limestone?? - with mafic intrusions). E boundary appears to run close to the Mz1 - Mz2 contact - possibly greater fertility on Mz2 soils??

Elevation

200m (close to Nam Thon) - 698m (highest point on scarp).

Climate

Main Forest Types

MacKinnon (1997) shows degraded forest with a small area of semi-evergreen forest.

Other Habitat

Recorded

Vertebrates

Vertebrate Class

No. of Species

No. of Key Species

Mammals

Birds

Reptiles

Amphibians

Fish /td>

Note: only figures in bold text considered result of
Key species follow Duckworth et al. (1999). Numbers in ( ) are additional provisional records.

Survey Efforts

4. EVALUATION
Principal Contributions to the NBCA System

Biodiversity
Values

Wildlife surveys to the W of the Nam Thon in Sangthong district revealed a number of species of conservation interest in a relatively small and degraded area of forest. These included gibbons, Inornate Squirrel, Elephant and probably Gaur. Populations were generally small, however, and given the density of settlement along the Nam Thon valley, it is unlikely that many terrestrial animals move between the two areas. Nevertheless, this study does give some indication of the species which may potentially survive in PPN.

Not very important biologically

Watershed
Values

Presumably very important - potentially supplying most of the villages W of route 13 as far as intersection with Sayphou Phadeng.

Cultural
Values

Recreation
and Tourism
Values

Accessible from Vientiane .

Research &
Education
Values

Principal
Threats

Highly accessible with large population nearby. Presumably extractive uses and habitat degradation are severe.

Given the elongate N-S shape and W-E drainage, there is probably a high risk of fragmentation by ribbon development along rivers. Already there is at least one track which bisects the NBCA, from Ban Houaydua on the road from route 13, to Ban Nahoipong on the Nam Thong.

Reasons for
Proposed
Extensions or
Excisions

5. CURRENT MANAGEMENT

Contact

Mr. Phuthong Saensarintha

Staffing

3 full-time staff - 1 from Vientiane Province and 1 from each of Phonhong and Hinheup Districts.

Organization

Buildings

Equipment

3 motorcycles.

Financial
Support &
Training

Canada Fund worked in 1997-1998 in four villages through the CPAWM extension unit.

Current
Management
Priorities

Other
Management
Opportunities

NBCA status has been questioned on grounds of size and biological importance. Not included in Berkmüller et al. (1995) for that reason.

Other Relevant
Project
Intiatives

Forest Faculty of the NUL works in villages and forests to the E of the NBCA in Sangthong district.

6. REPORTS AND PUBLICATIONS

Duckworth, J. W. (1996) Conservation Concerns in the Training and Model Forest, Sangthong District, Vientiane Municipality, Laos (second edition). Report to Vientiane Forestry College .

Flint , C. (1999) Data/Information on Conservation Management and Protected Areas in the Lao PDR. CMS & TNA Project, DoF.

MacKinnon, J. (1997) Protected Areas Systems Review of the Indo-Malayan Realm. ABC/WCMC.