Sites - Important Bird Areas (IBAs)

Ornithological information The previous surveys did not focus sufficiently on birds in the IBA area. Only well surveyed area was at Houay Gouan Xiem, but very much on the edge of the IBA and the Protected Area. Large area of IBA, deeping into the eastern side close to the Vietnamese border is the least known area. In the furture, more bird surveys in such area are required.There were records of undescribed Phylloscopus leaf warbler species, that may be a new species in the IBA.

Site description The topography of the IBA is characterised by limestone karst outcrops, interspersed with undulating limestone hills and valleys. The vegetation of the IBA is dominated by sparsely vegetated limestone karst, with semi-evergreen forest and mixed deciduous forest in valley bottoms (Thewlis et al. 1998, Walston and Vinton 1999). Forest in the east of the IBA, close to the international border with Vietnam, may be the only example of wet evergreen forest on limestone in Lao P.D.R.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Protected areas

Protected area	Designation	Area (ha)	Relationship with IBA	Overlap with IBA (ha)
Hin Nam No	National Biodiversity Conservation Area	86,229	protected area contains site	68,125

Habitats

Land use

Other biodiversity Walston and Vinton (1999) recorded two species of other important fauna: Inornate Squirrel C. inornatus and either Asiatic Black Bear U. thibetanus or Sun Bear U. malayanus. Seven species were also reported (or their specimens were observed during the survey at local villages) occur in the area: Dhole C. alpinus, Oriental Small-clawed Otter A. cinereal, Owston's Palm Civet H. owstoni, Leopard Cat P. bengalensis, Marbled Cat P. marmorata, Clouded Leopard P. nebulosa and Tiger P. tigris.Walston and Vinton (1999) observed seven species of primate: Pig-tailed Macaque Macaca nemestrina, Assamese Macaque M. assamensis, Rhesus Macaque M. mulatta, Bear Macaque M. arctoides, Francois's Langur Semnopithecus francoisi, Douc Langur Pygathrix nemaeus and White/Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon Hylobates leucogenys/gabriellae.The results of interviewing local people showed that six species of turtle to occur within the survey area by Walston and Vinton (1999), but the sighting sites of these species were not confirmed and they might not occur inside this IBA area. The species reported include Asian Leaf Turtle Cyclemys dentata complex, Yellow-headed Temple Turtle Hieremys annandalii, Keeled Box Turtle Pyxidea mouhotii, Elongated Tortoise Indotestudo elongata, Asiatic Softshell Turtle Amyda cartilaginea and Wattle-necked Softshell Turtle Palea steindacheri (Walston and Vinton 1999).There are the evidences or reports of Gaur Bos gaurus.

Management considerations As a result of the inaccessibility of the terrain, threats to biodiversity at the IBA are medium to low compared with other sites in Lao P.D.R. However, threats are expected to increase as a result of human population growth and infrastructure development. Hunting and exploitation of forest products, including rattan and agarwood, remain serious threats to biodiversity. Particularly significant in this context are cross-border incursions into the IBA (Walston and Vinton 1999). Previously, the IBA was inhabited by members of an ethnic minority, who cultivated non-rice crops in small areas within the limestone. However, these people have now been resettled outside of the IBA, although they continue to maintain some cultivation within the IBA (Thewlis et al. 1998). Much of the remainder of the IBA is unsuitable for conversion to agriculture.

Protection status The Proposed Phou Louang Extension is located in south of Hin Namno Protected Area. If the Phou Louang Extension is accepted as the Protected Area, the Hin Namno Protected Area will increase in size. The Protected area may also share the border with the Nakai-Nam Theun Protected Area, if the Proposed Nakai-Nam Theun Protected Area Southern Corridor becomes a part of the Nakai-Nnam Theun Protected Arae.

Further web sources of information 

Site account from Important Bird Areas in Lao P.D.R. (Ounekham and Inthapatha 2003)

References Duckworth, J. W., Salter, R. E. and Khounboline, K. eds. (1999) Wildlife in Lao P.D.R.: 1999 status report. Vientiane: IUCN, WCS and CPAWM.Duckworth, J. W., Tizard, R. J., Timmins, R. J., Thewlis, R. M., Robichaud, W. G. and Evans, T. D. (1998) Bird records from Laos, October 1994-August 1995. Forktail 13: 33-68 (including errata sheet distributed with Forktail 14).Thewlis, R. M., Timmins, R. J., Evans, T. D. and Duckworth, J. W. (1998) The conservation status of birds in Laos: a review of key species. Bird Conserv. Internat. 8(suppl.): 1-159.Timmins, R. J., Do Tuoc, Trinh Viet Cuong and Hendrichsen, D. K. (1999) A preliminary assessment of the conservation importance and conservation priorities of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang proposed national park, Quang Binh province, Vietnam. Hanoi: Fauna & Flora International Indochina Programme.Timmins, R. J. and Khounboline, K. (1996) A preliminary wildlife and habitat survey of Hin Namno National Biodiversity Conservation Area, Khammouan province, Lao P.D.R. Vientiane: CPAWM/WCS.Walston, J. L. and Vinton, M. D. eds. (1999) A wildlife and habitat survey of Hin Namno National Biodiversity Conservation Area and adjacent areas, Khammouane province, Lao P.D.R. Vientiane: WWF Lao Project Office and WCS Lao Program.

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Hin Namno. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 20/05/2013

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