Southeast Asia is experiencing unprecedented biodiversity declines brought about by human population growth and economic development leading to unsustainable use of natural resources and loss of natural habitat. The scientific community has emphasized this biodiversity crisis in the past decade, calling for immediate action. In this context, I set my research as a case study in Nakai-‐Nam Theun National Protected Area (NNT NPA), central eastern Laos where wildlife hunting has been rampant and management strategy failing to prevent wildlife declines. This research aimed (1) to re-‐assess and bring forward the importance of NNT NPA for wildlife conservation, (2) to identify the key species for which NNT NPA is a priority for their conservation, (3) to use the data collected to develop a long-‐term project in the area for research and conservation. In addition to this local-‐level case study, I aimed (4) to identify the National near-‐future priorities for research and conservation of Lao non-‐human primates (primates). For the latter, I reviewed the literature for the most reliable occurrence localities of Lao primate species across the country to model their potential distribution. I used the models to re-‐assess their current status and identify the remaining gaps in our knowledge that need to be addressed. For the research in NNT NPA, I collected baseline data on key species occurrence and threats within the area. From January 2011 to March 2012, I conducted transect surveys in 10 different sites in the area. At each site, I set four to 20 transects, each replicated up to three times. During the transect walks I recorded all diurnal primate species sighted. In addition, I used the camera-trap database of 2006 management staff. Using modelling softwares (MAXENT, ENFA, DISTANCE) to provide baseline predictions, I analysed both my transect survey and the camera-‐trap survey data to assess the current status and distribution of red-‐shanked doucs (Pygathrix nemaeus), four macaque species (Macaca arctoides, M. assamensis, M. leonina, M. mulatta), small-‐carnivores (i.e. Viveridae, Prionodontidae, Herpestidae and Mustelidae), small medium-‐sized cat species and muntjacs species (Muntiacus spp.) occurring in the area. Southeast Asia is experiencing unprecedented biodiversity declines brought about by human population growth and economic development leading to unsustainable use of natural resources and loss of natural habitat. The scientific community has emphasized this biodiversity crisis in the past decade, calling for immediate action. In this context, I set my research as a case study in Nakai-‐Nam Theun National Protected Area (NNT NPA), central eastern Laos where wildlife hunting has been rampant and management strategy failing to prevent wildlife declines. This research aimed (1) to re-‐assess and bring forward the importance of NNT NPA for wildlife conservation, (2) to identify the key species for which NNT NPA is a priority for their conservation, (3) to use the data collected to develop a long-‐term project in the area for research and conservation. In addition to this local-‐level case study, I aimed (4) to identify the National near-‐future priorities for research and conservation of Lao non-‐human primates (primates). For the latter, I reviewed the literature for the most reliable occurrence localities of Lao primate species across the country to model their potential distribution. I used the models to re-‐assess their current status and identify the remaining gaps in our knowledge that need to be addressed. For the research in NNT NPA, I collected baseline data on key species occurrence and threats within the area. From January 2011 to March 2012, I conducted transect surveys in 10 different sites in the area. At each site, I set four to 20 transects, each replicated up to three times. During the transect walks I recorded all diurnal primate species sighted. In addition, I used the camera-‐trap database of 2006-‐ management staff. Using modelling softwares (MAXENT, ENFA, DISTANCE) to provide baseline predictions, I analysed both my transect survey and the camera-‐trap survey data to assess the current status and distribution of red-‐shanked doucs (Pygathrix nemaeus), four macaque species (Macaca arctoides, M. assamensis, M. leonina, M. mulatta), small-‐carnivores (i.e. Viveridae, Prionodontidae, Herpestidae and Mustelidae), small medium-‐sized cat species and muntjacs species (Muntiacus spp.) occurring in the area. Southeast Asia is experiencing unprecedented biodiversity declines brought about by human population growth and economic development leading to unsustainable use of natural resources and loss of natural habitat. The scientific community has emphasized this biodiversity crisis in the past decade, calling for immediate action. In this context, I set my research as a case study in Nakai-‐Nam Theun National Protected Area (NNT NPA), central eastern Laos where wildlife hunting has been rampant and management strategy failing to prevent wildlife declines. This research aimed (1) to re-‐assess and bring forward the importance of NNT NPA for wildlife conservation, (2) to identify the key species for which NNT NPA is a priority for their conservation, (3) to use the data collected to develop a long-‐term project in the area for research and conservation. In addition to this local-‐level case study, I aimed (4) to identify the National near-‐future priorities for research and conservation of Lao non-‐human primates (primates). For the latter, I reviewed the literature for the most reliable occurrence localities of Lao primate species across the country to model their potential distribution. I used the models to re-‐assess their current status and identify the remaining gaps in our knowledge that need to be addressed. For the research in NNT NPA, I collected baseline data on key species occurrence and threats within the area. From January 2011 to March 2012, I conducted transect surveys in 10 different sites in the area. At each site, I set four to 20 transects, each replicated up to three times. During the transect walks I recorded all diurnal primate species sighted. In addition, I used the camera-‐trap database of 2006-‐ management staff. Using modelling softwares (MAXENT, ENFA, DISTANCE) to provide baseline predictions, I analysed both my transect survey and the camera-‐trap survey data to assess the current status and distribution of red-‐shanked doucs (Pygathrix nemaeus), four macaque species (Macaca arctoides, M. assamensis, M. leonina, M. mulatta), small-‐carnivores (i.e. Viveridae, Prionodontidae, Herpestidae and Mustelidae), small medium-‐sized cat species and muntjacs species (Muntiacus spp.) occurring in the area.
Permanent link to this resource: https://doi.org/10.24384/88sg-0894
Coudrat, C
Faculty of Humanities and Social SciencesDepartment of Social Sciences
Year: 2013
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