Habitat: Mixed deciduous and evergreen forest covering rough highlands ranging from 500 m – 2,257 m. Drainage is primarily southwest into the Nam Khan and Nam Xuang Rivers. Much bamboo and grassland is found in the NPA, probably the result of past shifting cultivation.

Access: Most conveniently accessed by an all- weather road from Phonsavanh on Route 7 and Route 1 to Meuang Hiam. The northern area can be approached from Xam Neua on a rough seasonal road, which traverses Nam Et NBCA in an east-west direction.

1. GENERAL INFORMATION

Name

Phou Loei. Abbreviated: PLI

Status

Established by PM Decree 164, 29 October 1993.

Location

Latitude: 19º50' - 20º29' N
Longitude: 103º00' - 103º23' E

Map Sheets

Scale I :100,000

Scale I :200,000

Scale I :500,000

Provinces

Houapanh
Louang Prabang

Districts

Viengthong [Houapanh]
Ponsai [Luang Prabang]
Viengkham [Luang Prabang]

Perimeter

km

Boundaries

Area

as decreed: 1,465 km²
(in combination with Nam Et NBCA, directly adjacent to its eastern boundary: 3880 km²)

Proposed
Extensions or
Excisions

Access

The site is most conveniently accessed by an all weather road from Phonsan on route 7 and route 1 to Meuang Hiam close to the boundary. From Meuang Hiam, spur roads penetrate into the north and west.
Road access is also possible from Luang Prabang
The northern parts can be approached from Xam Neua on a rough seasonal road, which traverses Nam Et NBCA in an east-west direction.

Stakeholder
Villages &
Population

No. of villages by type

District

Villages

I

II

III

IV

Persons

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

TOTAL

.

.

.

.

.

.

Principal Local
Resource
Uses

Shifting cultivation, with rotation down to 2-3 years. Poppy is still an important crop for some villages.

Ethnic
Composition

2. BRIEF HISTORY

1993

Declared NBCA

3. ECOLOGY

Physical
Features

Mostly rough highlands with elevations well above 1,000 m and over wide sections much above 1,500 m. Drainage is primarily southwest into Nam Khan and Nam Xuang rivers.

Elevation

500 - 2,257 m

Climate

Main Forest Types

Forested area 87% with dense/mature forest 46%:
Mixed decidous forest (56%)
Evergreen forest (31%)
Other natural vegetation (8%)

Other Habitat

Much bamboo and grassland probably resulting from past shifting cultivation.

Recorded
Vertebrates

Vertebrate Class

No. of Species

No. of Key Species

Mammals

Birds

Reptiles

Amphibians

Fish

Survey Efforts

low

4. EVALUATION
Principal Contributions to the NBCA System

Biodiversity
Values

Watershed
Values

Cultural
Values Recreation
and Tourism
Values

Research &
Education
Values

Principal
Threats

  • New settlements in remote areas with good forest \
  • Increased disturbances along new roads
  • Hunting pressure high
  • Fishing with indigenous poison was observed

Reasons for
Proposed
Extensions or
Excisions

5. CURRENT MANAGEMENT

Contact

Staffing

Organization

[ Flow chart]

Buildings

Equipment

Financial
Support &
Training

Current
Management
Priorities

  • Settlement control
  • Prevention of development along roads inside the NBCA

Other
Management
Opportunities

Other Relevant
Project
Intiatives

6. REPORTS AND PUBLICATIONS

Anon. (1992). Reconnaissance Survey Report.

IUCN (1995). Protected Area Fact-Sheets. Annex 3 to the mid-1995 status report on protected area system planning and management in Lao PDR. Vientiane .

IUCN (1998 ). Biodiversity Conservation and Integrated Community Development in Nam Et and Phou Loei NBCAs, Lao PDR. Project Proposal, 3 rd revision. Vientiane .

Wildlife Conservation Society (1995). Report on Management Options Reconnaissance.