Diversity of forest trees in Dong Son - Ky Thuong Natural Reserve Area, Ha Long city, Quang Ninh province

Abstract

Dong Son - Ky Thuong Natural Reserve Area is known as the largest natural forest area in Northeastern Vietnam. Understandings current status of forest tree diversity is important to support forest protection strategy and biodiversity conservation. A total of 38 temporally representative plots were used for field data collection, which were located in bamboo-timber mixed forest (BTMF), evergreen broadleaved medium forest (EBMF), evergreen broadleaved poor forest (EBPF), and evergreen broadleaved very poor forest (EBVPF) on both elevation zones of < 300 m above sea level and ≥ 300 m. These plots were also distributed in strictly protected area and forest recovered area. The results indicated that there were significant differences of diversity among four forest types. In term of species number, it was highest in EBMF (41 species/plot), reducing to 33 species in EBPF, 26 species in BTMF and 21 species in EBVPF. Shannon diversity index was 2.88 in EBMF, 2.76 in EBPF, 2.61 in BTMF, and 2.21 in EBVPF. In total of 367 species found, 312 species were found in < 300 m elevation zone and 155 species in ≥ 300 m; 286 species found in strictly protected area and 218 species in forest recovered area. It is concluded that Dong Son - Ky Thuong Natural Reserve Area has high forest tree diversity. However, the diversity is much different among micro-sites as results of human disturbances in the past. Therefore, conservation activities still play an important role to not only conserve current biodiversity but also create suitable conditions for returns of many other species in specific micro-sites in the Natural Reserve Are