Habitat: Semi-evergreen, mixed deciduous,
bamboo and dipterocarp forest covering
predominately limestone karst ranges with steep slopes, cliffs, bluffs and caves to 1,500 m. Flat bottomed enclosed valleys ranging from a few hundred hectares to 40 sq km. Many of the rivers flow through underground caves. The largest is 7.5 km between Konglor and Natan village on the Nam Hinboun and is navigable by boat.
Access: The gateway to the Phou Hin Poun NPA is Thakhaek town and Ban Na Hin on
Route 8.
1. GENERAL INFORMATION
Name
Phoun Hin Poun. Abbreviated: PHP
Also widely known as "Khammouane Limestone"
Status
Established by PM Decree 164, 29 October 2024
Location
Latitude:
Longitude:
Map Sheets
Scale I : 100,000
Scale I : 200,000
Scale I : 500,000
Provinces
Khammouane
Districts
Hinboun
Thakek
Mahaxsai
Gnommalat
Nakai
Perimeter
km
Boundaries
The decree 164 boundaries follow the Nam Hinboun in the north and north west . The boundaries then largely follow the edge of the main limestone massif, the Nam Don river in the SW, then highway 12 to just before Gnommalat. They then follow the depression between the Nakai Plateau and the limestone to the Nam Hinboun. The current management boundaries are different from decree 164 boundaries, and include areas to the north of the Nam Hinboun. They require further refinement to take into account additional areas with high conservation values, and to delete areas with low values.
Area
As decreed:
Proposed
Extensions
Access
Nam Theun - Hinboun hydro transmission line road from Highway 8; Nam Hai - Konglo road (under construction); Nam Hinboun river, Hinboun - Ban Boneng Road (all weather); Ban Nakkhu road (dry season only) Nam Pakan , Nam Don rivers (wet season only); Upper Nam Don catchment (various dry season roads); Highway 12; Highway 12 - Ban Vieng 4WD track (dry season only); "Highway 8 - Ban Nathon road (off Nakai Plateau - dry season only).
Stakeholder
Villages &
Population
No. of villages by type
District
Villages
I
II
III
IV
Persons
Hinboun
64
15
32
9
8
19.037
Thakek
11
4
3
4
2.146
Mahaxai
8
5
2
1
1.856
Gnommalat
12
6
3
3
3.021
Nakai
14
7
4
3
3.543
TOTAL
109
15
54
21
19
29.603
Note: Only small villages within the NBCA.
Principal Local
Resource
Uses
Ethnic
Composition
Composition Lao Loum (Kaleung, Tai Bo, Tai Sam and Meuy sub groups); Mangong (Kwa, Tro sub groups) - mainly in the east of the NBCA.
2. BRIEF HISTORY
1993
NBCA declared
1995
FOMACOP NBCA Sub-Programme launched
1999
Official change of name from "Khammouane Limestone" into "Phou Hin Poun"
2000
FOMACOP Management Sub-Programme is set to end (September)
3. ECOLOGY
Physical
Features
Predominately limestone karst ranges with steep slopes, cliffs and bluffs and caves in many areas, rising to 1500 metres near Phou Mon. Flat bottomed valleys or kouan ranging in size from a few hundred hectares to 40 square kilometres. Major rivers include the Nam Hinboun in the north and west, and the Nam Pathen, Nam Pakan and Nam Don in the west and south. Many of these rivers flow through underground caves , the largest of which is between Konglo and Natan on the Nam Hinboun and is navigable by boats.
Elevation
m - m
WSC: Class 1 - 44%, Class 2 - 35%, Class 3 12%, Class 4 - 7%, Class 5 2%. Note: These are based on the CPAWM boundaries, and not the 164 or current management boundaries so Classes 1 & 2 may be overstated and Classes 4 - 5 may be understated.
Climate
Main Forest
Types
Semi-evergreen forest, Vine and bamboo forest, Mixed deciduous forest, Deciduous dipterocarp forest. The vegetation of the large kouans is heavily modified and dominated by secondary species.
Forest Cover
This calculation was realized by the Forest Cover Monitoring Project (FCMP) MRZ/GTZ. It is based on interpretation of 1996/97 Landsat TM with the NBCA boundaries as shown on topographical maps 1:100.000 provided by the FOMACOP project. Verification with the original documents has not taken place. Therefore the Data might be only approximate.
Forest Code
Area / ha
% of Total Area
Evergreen/Mixed, Continuous Cover, High Cover Density (11, 17)
3.019
1,6
Evergreen / Mixed, Continuous Cover, Medium Cover Density (12, 18)
19.354
10,7
Evergreen / Mixed, Mosaic (13, 19)
886
0,4
Deciduous Continuous Cover (20)
3.123
1,6
Deciduous Mosaic (22)
116
0,6
Evergreen Wood and Shrubland (61, 63, 65)
55.983
31,1
Dry Wood and Shrubland (64)
440
0,2
Rocks
93.250
51,7
Mosaic of Cropping (81, 82)
350
0,1
Agricultural Land (91)
3.628
2,0
Grand Total
180.149
100,0
Other
Habitat
Features
Extensive areas of semi-vegetated and bare limestone; extensive caves; limited wetland areas, including several nongs; habitat linkages to Nakai plateau and Nam Kading NBCA.
Recorded
Vertebrates
Vertebrate Class
No. of Species
No. of Key Species
Mammals
113
12 - 15
Birds
160
6
Reptiles
81
?
Amphibians
47
?
Fish
145
?
Note: only figures in bold text considered
result of adequate survey.
Survey Efforts
4. EVALUATION
Principal Contributions to the NBCA System
Biodiversity
Values
- Biogeographically distinct from other NBCAs. One of two protected areas in Central Indochina Limestone, and protects a representative sample of the drier western limit of this feature.
- Globally important for Francois' Langur sub-species laotum (an all black form is also present), and contains nationally important populations of Assamese Macaques and gibbons.
- Provides part of the range for one of the largest and most viable populations of Asian Elephant, and for gaur.
- Part of an important area of tiger habitat.
- Good populations of both species of bear.
- Contains a nationally significant Serow population.
- Contains at least 43 species of bat (largest bat diversity of any NBCA).
- Type locality for Sooty Babbler.
- Limestone Leaf Warbler (possible new species) present.
- Contains at lest 14 species of turtle.
- Nationally significant for the conservation of reptiles.
Watershed
Values
Provides catchment protection for parts of the Nam Hinboun, Nam Pakan, and Nam Don rivers, and the Thakek water supply. Upper catchments of these rivers have distinctive milky coloured limestone water.
Cultural
Values
- Numerous temples and shrines in limestone caves.
- A number of sacred forests and areas.
- Ban Na: Remains of an extensive town called Alan. Covers 20+ hectares, inlcuding remains of a number of buildings built of brick.
- Ban Nakhu - remains of stupa built of brick about 3-400 years ago.
- Archaeological sites with pottery.
- Indochina War sites and trails.
Security
Values
Recreation &
Tourism
Values
Principal
Threats
- Logging of remaining mature forest areas adjacent to the NBCA.
- Limestone quarrying.
- Impacts from hydro-electricity development on Nam Hinboun river and on elephant migration routes.
- New roading proposals in Nakai District.
- Increased village populations and resource use.
- Hunting.
- Wildlife trade.
- Fires.
- Uncertain boundaries.
Reasons for
Proposed
Extension or
Excisions The Phou Ak, Phou Mon and Phou Hai areas to the north east of the NBCA are geologically and geomorphologically distinct from the rest of Phou Hin Poun, but are linked ecologically with the NBCA. They contain extensive areas of undisturbed forest and other habitat and, because they are higher and wetter than Phou Hin poun, are likely to include vegetation communities which are uncommon or absent from the NBCA. These areas are located within the proposed Nam Theun and Nam Kading wildlife corridors and provide habitat or migratory corridors for up to 3 different sub-populations of elephant, as well as gaur.
The Phou Ak escarpment contains a number of salt licks and provides a forested corridor linking the central forest area of the NBCA with the Nakai plateau. This linkage is significant for elephant and gaur populations moving between the NBCA and the plateau. It is probably important for the movement of other species such as tiger and other large cats, hornbill, and possibly sambar, and is also likely to be important for maintaining general biodiversity values.
5. CURRENT MANAGEMENT
Contact
Somlor Vonglampanh (NBCA Manager) - Tel./ Fax 051- 212 755
Robin Delamore (NBCA advisor) - Tel./ Fax 051- 212 755
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Staffing
24 staff (6 PAFO, 18 DAFO from Hinboun (6), Thakek (6), and Gnommalat (6) Districts), I contract advisor. Discussions are being held with Nakai District to provide additional staff.
Organization
Buildings
- NBCA office (Thakek), and
- Three field bases (Thakek, Gnommalat, Hinboun Districts).
Equipment
Office equipment (computers, copier etc).
Field equipment.
2 4WD vehicles, 4 motorcycles.
Financial
Support &
Training
Current
Management
Priorities
Other
Management
Opportunities
- Assessment and finalisation of NBCA boundaries.
- Preparation of management plan.
- Staff capacity building.
- Patrolling/ ranging activities and monitoring.
- Conservation awareness.
- Land and forest allocation.
- ICAD activities.
Other
Relevant
Project
Initiatives
- Improved natural resource information.
- NBCA extensions to protect important habitat.
- Co-management with villagers.
- Ecotourism development
Current Project Initiatives in Surrounding Area
- Village information collection
- NBCA signs.
- ICAD development projects.
- PAFO and NBCA staff oversight of logging in adjacent areas.
- Conservation awareness activities and market surveys.
6. REPORTS AND PUBLICATIONS
Anononymus (1998). Rapid and Participatory Biodiversity s National Biodiversity Conservation Area, Khammouan Province, Lao PDR. Vol. 1 - Final Report. WWF Thailand/ Burapa Consultants, Bangkok.
Anononymus (1998). Rapid and Participatory Biodiversity Assessments (BIORAP) in Kammouane Limestone National Biodiversity Conservation Area, Khammouan Province, Lao PDR. Vol. 2 - Consultants Report. WWF Thailand/ Burapa Consultants, Bangkok.
Claridge, G. F. and Bouaphanh Phanthavong (1996). Community Relationships with the Khammouane Limestone NBCA, Lao PDR: Results of a Reconnaissance survey in nine villages. Global Environment Trust Fund Wildlife and Protected Areas Conservation Program in Lao PDR, Midas Agronomics Pty. Ltd., Vientiane.
Claridge, G. F, Nooren, H. and Sorangkhoun, T. (1998). An Assessment of Ecotourism Potential and Issues in the Northern Khammouane Limestone National Biodiversity Conservation Area. Lao GEF Biodiversity Conservation Project.
Claridge, G. F. (1999). Phou Hin Poun National Biodiversity Conservation Area Interim Management Plan - Working Draft Version 1.0 Sept 1999.
Delamore, R. (1999). Proposal for Boundary Reassessment, Khammouane Limestone NBCA. Unpublished Report, FOMACOP, Thakek.
Delamore, R. (1999). Inception Report - Conservation Advisor, Khammouane Limestone (Phou Hinboun) NBCA. Unpublished Report, FOMACOP, Thakek.
Delamore, R (1999). Report of Some Ecotourism Opportunities in Phou Hin Poun NBCA. Unpublished Report, FOMACOP, Thakek.
Gregory, A., Openshaw, S., Senior, K. and Papard, P. (n.d.). Report Following the 1996 LPDR Caves Project to Vientiane and Khammouane Provinces. LPDR Caves Project. Unpublished Report.
Timmins, R. J. (ed). (1997). Notes on Wildlife and Habitats in Khammouan Province, Lao PDR - form visits between 1994 and 1996. Wildife Conservation Society, Vientiane.