0040-B3

Conservation of Forest Genetic Resources in Vietnam

Nguyen Hoang Nghia 1

Abstract
For many reasons such as the long-lasted war, shifting cultivation and over-
exploitation, the forest area reduced at alarming rate, which can lead to a decline of
natural populations and a loss of genetic diversity, therefore many plant and animal
species are in danger of becoming extinct. It is obvious that conservation of forest
genetic resources plays a very important role in environmental protection, sustainable
forest management and conservation of biodiversity. Conservation is not only strict
protection but it should integrate means to protect and sustainably use forest genetic
resources. However, conservation of forest genetic resources does not only aim at
preventing the extinction of a species but also the depletion of genepool, loss of genes
and genotypes. Conservation of forest genetic resources requires continuous funding
and integrated management and conservation activities. In situ conservation and the
establishment of ex situ conservation stands should be considered as high priority in
future conservation programmes in Vietnam.

1. Introduction
In 1943 the forest area of Vietnam was estimated to be about 14.3 million hectares, or
43% of the total land area. Owing to long-lasting wars, shifting cultivation, land
clearances and over-exploitation, forest coverage was reduced at a rate of about
100,000 ha each year to 27.1% in 1980 and 26.2% in 1985 (Ministry of Forestry
1991). At present, total forest land is about 16 million ha which occupies 48.3% o0f
the country's total land area. By the end of 1999, statistical data relating to forest can
be seen as follows,

Total forest area : 10,915,592 ha (forest coverage: 33.2%)

Natural forest : 9,444,198 ha (occupies 86.5% of forest area)

Protection forest : 4,812,671 ha,

Special-use forest : 1,463,746 ha,
Production forest : 3,167,781 ha.

Plantation forest : 1,471,394 ha (occupies 13.5% of forest area)

Protection forest : 537,997 ha,

Special-use forest : 61,122 ha,
Production forest : 872,275 ha.

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Table 1. The targets of the forest development plan by 2010.
Parameter Dec. 1999 2001-2005 2006-2010
Forest coverage 33.2% 39% 43%
Protection forest 5,350,668 ha 5.4 million ha 6.0 million ha
Special-use forest 1,524,868 ha 1.6 million ha 2.0 million ha
Production forest 4,040,056 ha 6.2 million ha 8.0 million ha

2. Biodiversity conservation in Vietnam

Vietnam has an abundant and diverse forest flora. According to the Flore Générale de
L'Indochine, the country has more than 7,000 plant species in 1,850 genera and 290
families. Of these, 64 genera and 2,084 species are endemic. According to the
Ecological and Plant Resources Institute (Tran Dinh Ly 1993), there are 11,000
species in the Pteridophyta, Gymnospermae and Angiospermae. The National
Biodiversity Action Plan, approved by the government in 1995, estimated that there
are about 12,000 plant species in Vietnam (7,000 of which have been named), as well
as 275 animal species, 800 bird species, 180 reptile species, 80 amphibian species,
2,470 fish species, and 5,500 insect species (Vietnam Government & GEF 1995). Of
these, 40% are endemic.

Vu Van Chuyen et al. (1987) divided species into different groups as follows

Wood supply : 1,200 species of 100 genera,

Material for paper in dustry : 100 species
Essential oil supply : 500 species (160 valuable)
Fat oil supply : 260 species
Tannin supply : 600 species
Dye supply : 200 species
Medicine : 1,000 species (3,200 species)

Table 2. Composition of plant species in some National Parks.

National Park Species Genera Family Medicine Wood
Ba Be 417 300 114 650*
Ba Vi 812 472 99 250
Bach Ma 1406 635 170 108 200
Ben En 870 412 134 177
Cat Ba 745 495 149 350 265
Cat Ba 1362 638 151 310 440
Con dao 882 562 161 165 371
Cuc Phuong 1983 915 229
Tam Dao 904 478 213 80
Yokdon 464 97 64 150
Vietnam 12,000 2,500 3,200 1,200 ??
* Data in 1999 only for medicinal plants

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By the year 1986, the Vietnam Government approved 87 nature reserves with a total
area of 1 million ha over the whole country. National Environment Agency (MOSTE)
and IUCN published a map of nature reserves system in Vietnam in 2001 which
includes 194 resreves and occupies an area of 2 million ha:

• 16 National Parks (Ba Be, Ba Vi, Bach Ma, Bai Tu Long, Ben En, Cat Ba, Cat
Tien, Con Dao, Cuc Phuong, Phong Nha - Ke Bang, Phu Quoc, U Minh
Thuong, Tam Dao, Tram Chim, Xuan Son, Yokdon),
• 65 Nature Reserves
• 33 Historical-Cultural-Environmental Areas
• 65 Wetland Reserves
• 15 Marine Reserves

In 1991, the Government issued the laws for forest protection and in 1994, for
environment protection. Many other decrees and decisions have also been issued that
serve as a legal framework for establishment and management of the special-use
forests. The system of nature reserves established in the country can serve as a base
for conservation of biological diversity as well as forest genetic resources in Vietnam.

3. Endangered Plant Species in Vietnam.

Deforestation and shifting cultivation are the main causes of forest fragmentation,
which can lead to a decline of natural populations and a loss of genetic diversity.
There are some examples of endangered tree species in Vietnam:

a. Loss of important populations.

• Pinus dalatensis: This species is found only in a few areas such as Mat Station
(Da Lat City), Lac Duong (Lam Dong province) and Mang Giang (Gial Lai
province). The population at Mat Station, which is where the first samples of
P. dalatensis were collected, is now almost extinct. Only two trees remain
along the river bank at Uyen Uong Waterfalls,
• Erythrophloeum fordii: Many important populations of Erythrophloeum fordii
in Bac Giang, Lang Son, Phu Tho and Son Tay have disappeared; other
populations are depleted,
• Aquilaria crassna: The species used to be distributed throughout Vietnam, is
now found scatteredly only in some areas such as Ha Tinh, Tay Nguyen and
Phu Quoc.
• Chukrasia tabularis: Most of big sized trees have been exploited while natural
regeneration seems to be difficult.

b. Loss of species.

• Glyptostrobus pensilis is in danger of extinction. Only two populations

remain: 32 individual trees at Trap Ksor and about 200 trees at Ea H'Leo (Dac
Lac). Some of these trees are able to produce seed but no germination takes
place, i.e. there is no natural regeneration,
• Only less than 50 individuals of Taxus chinensis have been found scatteredly
in some areas in Vietnam on harsh limestone sites, seeds could not be
collected and natural regeneration has not been observed.

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 • Only about 50 individual of Pinus kwangtungensis remain in the North
Vietnam,
• Shorea falcata is represented by only six trees at Song Cau (Phu Yen province)
and seven trees at Cam Ranh (Khanh Hoa province). Only trees at Song Cau
gave fruits in the last years,
• Hopea cordata is represented by about 100 young saplings (coppice) at Cam
Ranh (Khanh Hoa), however they still be cut for fuelwood by local people,
• Only 200 individuals of Taxus wallichiana found in some small populations in
Lam Dong province.

Table 3. Endangered tree species in Vietnam and their levels of endangerment.

(Nguyen Hoang Nghia 2000). Degree of endangerment is based on IUCN (1994);
Oldfield et al. (1998) and MOSTE (1996).
Species Family Degree of endangerment
Cephalotaxus hainanensis Cephalotaxaceae EN C2a
Calocedrus macrolepis Cupressaceae EN D
Cupressus torulosa Cupressaceae CR A1cd
Fokienia hodginsii Cupressaceae VU A1cd
Keteleeria evelyniana Pinaceae VU A1
Pinus dalatensis Pinaceae LR/cd
Pinus krempfii Pinaceae VU A1cd
Pinus kwangtungensis Pinaceae EN D
Dacrydium pierrei Podocarpaceae VU A1cd
Podocarpus fleuryi Podocarpaceae EN B1
Podocarpus imbricatus Podocarpaceae VU A1cd
Podocarpus neriifolius Podocarpaceae VU A1cd
Podocarpus pilgeri Podocarpaceae VU A1cd
Podocarpus wallichianus Podocarpaceae VU A1cd
Taxus chinensis Taxaceae CR D
Taxus wallichiana Taxaceae CR C2a
Glyptostrobus pensilis Taxodiaceae CR A1cd
Melanorrhoea usitata Anacardiaceae EN C1
Melanorrhoea laccifera Anacardiaceae EN C1
Markhamia stipulata Bignoniaceae VU A1cd
Anisoptera costata Dipterocarpaceae EN A1cd
Dipterocarpus alatus Dipterocarpaceae VU A1cd
Dipterocarpus chartaceus Dipterocarpaceae EN A1cd
Dipterocarpus dyeri Dipterocarpaceae VU A1cd
Dipterocarpus grandiflorus Dipterocarpaceae VU D1
Dipterocarpus tonkinensis Dipterocarpaceae EN A1cd

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Hopea cordata Dipterocarpaceae CR D
Hopea helferi Dipterocarpaceae EN C2a
Hopea odorata Dipterocarpaceae VU A1cd
Parashorea chinensis Dipterocarpaceae VU A1cd
Parashorea stellata Dipterocarpaceae EN A1cd
Shorea falcata Dipterocarpaceae CR D
Shorea roxburghii Dipterocarpaceae LR/cd
Diospyros mun Ebenaceae CR A1cd
Endospermum chinense Euphorbiaceae VU A1cd
Annamocarya sinensis Juglandaceae CR D
Carya tonkinensis Juglandaceae CR C2a
Cinnamomum balansae Lauraceae CR A1cd
Cinnamomum panthenoxylon Lauraceae CR A1cd
Afzelia xylocarpa Leguminosae EN A1cd
Caesalpinia sappan Leguminosae CR A1cd
Dalbergia annamensis Leguminosae EN A1cd
Dalbergia bariensis Leguminosae EN A1cd
Dalbergia cochinchinensis Leguminosae VU A1cd
Dalbergia mammosa Leguminosae EN A1cd
Dalbergia tonkinensis Leguminosae VU A1cd
Dialium cochinchinensis Leguminosae VU A1cd
Erythrophloeum fordii Leguminosae EN A1cd
Ormosia balansae Leguminosae VU A1cd
Pterocarpus macrocarpus Leguminosae VU A1cd
Sindora siamensis Leguminosae EN A1cd
Xylia xylocarpa Leguminosae VU A1cd
Fagraea fragrans Loganiaceae EN D
Manglietia fordiana Magnoliaceae CR C2a
Chukrasia tabularis Meliaceae CR A1cd
Rhodoleia championii Rhodoleiaceae VU A1cd
Madhuca pasquieri Sapotaceae VU A1cd
Aquilaria crassna Thymeleaceae CR A1cd
Wikstroemia balansae Thymeleaceae VU D2
Burretiodendron tonkinense Tiliaceae EN A1cd
CR = Critically endangered (criteria A-E); EN = Endangered (criteria A-E); VU =
Vulnerable (criteria A-D); LR = Lower risk; cd = conservation dependent.

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 4. Conservation of forest genetic resources
The research project on conservation of forest plant genetic resources, managed by the
Forest Science Institute of Vietnam (FSIV), has received continuous funding from the
Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (MOSTE) since 1988. Strategic
orientation and the selection of conservation methods and priority species have
received special attention. Priority species have been divided into the following
groups:

i) Threatened species with high economic value (Table 4);

ii) Threatened species with high scientific value (Table 5);

iii) Precious native species for reforestation (Table 6); and

iv) Valuable exotic species for reforestation.

In-situ conservation is the main method used by the project, applied in combination
with the establishment of ex-situ conservation stands. The following steps are taken to
conserve forest genetic resources:

• Inventories (botanical and genecological surveys);

• Collection, evaluation and documentation of information;
• In-situ and/or ex-situ conservation; and
• Utilisation.

Table 4. Threatened species with high economic value

Species Scientific name Family
Go do Afzelia xylocarpa Craib Leguminosae
Tram huong Aquilaria crassna Pierre Thymeleaceae
Nghien Burretiodendron tonkinense Kost Tiliaceae
To moc Caesalpinia sappan L. Leguminoasae
Bach xanh Calocedrus macrolepis Kurz Cupressaceae
Vu huong Cinnamomum balansae H.Lec Lauraceae
Re huong Cinnamomum panthenoxylon Meissn Lauraceae
Lat hoa Chukrasia tabularis A.Juss Meliaceae
Hoang dan Cupressus torulosa Don Cupressaceae
Hong tung Dacrydium pierrei Hickel Podocarpaceae
Trac day Dalbergia annamensis Chev. Leguminosae
Cam lai BR Dalbergia bariensis Pierre Leguminosae
Trac Dalbergia cochinchinensis Pierre Leguminosae
Cam lai vu Dalbergia mammosa Pierre Leguminosae
Sua Dalbergia tonkinensis Prain Leguminosae
Xoay Dialium cochinchinensis Pierre Leguminosae

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Mun Diospyros mun Lecomte Ebenaceae
Dau cat Dipterocarpus chartaceus Seem Dipterocarpaceae
Dau dot tim Dipterocarpus grandiflorus Blco Dipterocarpaceae
Vang trung Endospermum chinense Benth Euphorbiaceae
Lim xanh Erythrophloeum fordii Oliv. Leguminosae
Trai Nam Bo Fagraea fragrans Roxb. Loganiaceae
Po mu Fokienia hodginsii Henry et Thomas Cupressaceae
Sang dao Hopea ferrea Pierre Dipterocarpaceae
Sao xanh Hopea helferi (Dyer) Brandis Dipterocarpaceae
Kien kien Hopea pierrei Hance Dipterocarpaceae
Du sam Keteleeria evelyniana Mast Pinaceae
Sen mat Madhuca pasquieri Lam Sapotaceae
Vang tam Manglietia fordiana Oliv. Magnoliaceae
Dinh Markhamia stipulata Seem Bignoliaceae
Son huyet Melanorrhoea laccifera Pierre Anacardiaceae
Son dao Melanorrhoea usitata Wall Anacardiaceae
Rang rang mit Ormosia balansae Drake Leguminosae
Cho chi Parashorea chinensis Hsie Dipterocarpaceae
Cho den Parashorea stellata Kurz Dipterocarpaceae
Kim giao Podocarpus fleuryi Hickel Podocarpaceae
Bach tung Podocarpus imbricatus Blume Podocarpaceae
Thong tre Podocarpus neriifolius Don Podocarpaceae
Kim giao nam Podocarpus wallichianus Presel Podocarpaceae
Giang huong Pterocarpus macrocarpus Kurz Leguminosae
Hong quang Rhodoleia championii Hook f. Rhodoleiaceae
Gu mat Sindora siamensis var.siamensis Teysm ex Miq Leguminosae
Do giay Wikstroemia balansae Drake Thymeleaceae
Cam xe Xylia xylocarpa Taub Leguminosae

Table 5. Threatened species with high scientific value

Species Scientific name Family
Sam lanh Abies nukiangensis Cheng Pinaceae
To hap Altingia chinensis Oliv. Altingiaceae
De tung Amentotaxus argotenia Pilg Taxaceae
Co dai Annamocarya sinensis Leroy Juglandaceae
Truc dui ga Bambusa ventricosa Mclure Poaceae
May chau Carya tonkinensis Lecomte Juglandaceae

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Dinh tung Cephalotaxus hainanensis Hook Cephalotaxaceae
Truc vuong Chimonobambusa quadrangularis Maki Poaceae
Sa mu dau Cunninghamia konishii Hyata Taxodiaceae
Thong hai la det Ducampopinus krempfii A.Chev. Pinaceae
Cu Sa Pa Fagus longipetiolata Seem Fagaceae
Tan Fraxinus chinensis Roxb. Oleaceae
Trai ly Garcinia fagraeoides A.Chev. Clusiaceae
Thuy tung Glyptostrobus pensilis Koch Taxodiaceae
Sao la hinh tim Hopea cordata Vidal Dipterocarpaceae
Sao la to Hopea hainanensis Merr et Chun Dipterocarpaceae
Sao mang Ca Na Hopea reticulata Tard Dipterocarpaceae
Du sam da voi Keteleeria davidiana Beissn Pinaceae
Ma qua Liriodendron chinense Hemsl Magnoliaceae
Truc den Phyllostachys nigra Munro Poaceae
Thong nam la DaLat Pinus dalatensis de Ferre Pinaceae
Thong Pa Co Pinus kwangtungensis Chun ex Tsiang Pinaceae
Cho nuoc Plantanus kerrii Gagnep Plantanaceae
Thong tre la ngan Podocarpus pilgeri Foxw Podocarpaceae
Duoi ngua Rhoiptelea chiliantha Diel et Hand Rhoiteleaceae
Chai la cong Shorea falcata Vidal Dipterocarpaceae
Thong do Pa Co Taxus chinensis Rehn Taxaceae
Thong do Lam Dong Taxus wallichiana Zucc Taxaceae
Thiet sam Tsuga dumosa Eichler Pinaceae
Bach vang Xanthocyparis vietnamensis Cupressaceae

Table 6. Precious native species for reforestation

Species Scientific name Family
Ven ven Anisoptera costata Korth Dipterocarpaceae
Tram trang Canarium album Raeusch Burseraceae
Tram den Canarium tramdenum Dai et Jacovl Burseraceae
Que Cinnamomum cassia Blume Lauraceae
Manh tong Dendrocalamus flagellifer Munro Poaceae
Luong Dendrocalamus membranaceus Munro Poaceae
Dau rai Dipterocarpus alatus Roxb Dipterocarpaceae
Dau song nang Dipterocarpus dyeri Pierre Dipterocarpaceae
Sao den Hopea odorata Roxb Dipterocarpaceae
Hoi Illicium verum Hook Illiciaceae

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Gioi xanh Michelia mediocris Dandy Magnoliaceae
Truc sao Phyllostachys pubescens Hourz Poaceae
Thong ba la Pinus kesyia Royle Pinaceae
Thong nhua Pinus merkusii Jung et Vries Pinaceae
Sen cat Shorea roxburghii G.D Dipterocarpaceae

Priority conservation areas and species are selected according to the following
criteria:

i) Level of diversity;
ii) Representativeness;
iii) Endemism; iv) Degree of endangerment; and
v) Scientific and economic values.

Many threatened tree species of Vietnam require both in situ and ex situ conservation
measures. Beside nature reserve system established over the whole country for in situ
conservation, establishment of ex situ conservation stands in safe areas should be very
important. Efforts have been made in three main measures as follows,

1) Seed bank: only for orthodox seeds such as seeds of leguminous tree species,

2) Collection of living trees in field: in form of arboretum, bambusetum with many

species but less individuals (about 20 individuals for each species),

3) Ex situ conservation stands: established only for some important species (with very
high economic value or very rare) on bigger area (from 1 to 10 ha per species or
provenance) and about 400 trees/ha.

In conclusion, it can be said that conservation of forest genetic resources requires

continuous funding and integrated management and conservation activities. In situ
conservation and the establishment of ex situ conservation stands should be
considered as high priority in future conservation programmes for many above-
mentioned tree species in Vietnam.

REFERENCE
IUCN (1994) IUCN Red List Categories. The World Conservation Union, Gland,
21pp.

Ministry of Forestry (1991) Thirty Years Construction and Development of Forestry

Sector, 1961-1990. Statistical Publishing House, Hanoi. 250pp.

MOSTE, 1996. Red Data Book of Vietnam, Part II: Plants. Science and Technique
Publishing House, Hanoi, 484pp.

Nguyen Hoang Nghia (2000) Some Threatened Tree Species of Vietnam. Agriculture
Publishing House, Hanoi, 148 pp.

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Oldfield, S., Lusty, C. and MacKinven, A. 1998. The World List of Threatened Trees.
World Conservation Press, Cambridge, UK, 650pp.

Tran Dinh Ly (1993) 1900 Useful Plant Species of Vietnam. World Publishing House,
Hanoi, 544pp.

Vietnam Government & GEF (1995) National Biodiversity Action Plan. Hanoi, 208
pp.

Vu Van Chuyen, Le Tran Chan, Tran Hop, 1987. Geography of Vietnam's Plant
Families. Science and Technique Publishing House, Hanoi.

1
Forest Science Institute of Vietnam
Dong Ngac - Tu Liem - Hanoi
Fax: 84.4.8389722
E-mail: nhnghia@netnam.vn

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