Recovery of threatened rosewoods in Vietnam

Recovery of threatened rosewoods in conjunction with habitat restoration in Dakrong Key Biodiversity Area, Vietnam

Partner: Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD)
Years: 2024-2027

Siamese rosewood (Dalbergia cochinchinensis) and Burmese padauk (Pterocarpus macrocarpus) are in high demand from trade and illegal logging and the wild populations of these two species have been reduced dramatically. However, individuals were recently recorded in the Quang Tri province of Vietnam. There are no research efforts or conservation action that have been made so far focusing on these two target species in the region. Therefore, this project is entirely new and not related to any existing work in Dakrong Nature Reserve.

Dalbergia Cochinchinensis

Dalbergia cochinchinensis and Pterocarpus macrocarpus are among the most threatened plants in Vietnam. Due to high demand from trade and illegal logging, for a long time, the wild populations of these two species have been reduced dramatically and are locally extinct in many formerly known distribution areas. The remaining populations are small, fragmented, and mainly distributed in protected areas without conservation efforts. The project aims to contribute to the long-term conservation of the threatened rosewood species in Vietnam by effectively mobilizing local community participation in the protection, restoration, and sustainable management of D. cochinchinensis and P. macrocarpus populations in Dakrong Nature Reserve (also a Key Biodiversity Area). This will be achieved through (i) building capacity of forest rangers, protected areas staff, and local communities in forest protection, threatened plant conservation, and sustainable forest management, (ii) developing and implementing a management and conservation plan for these two species, (iii) restoring rosewood populations by natural regeneration measures and (iv) replanting in the degraded habitats. If successful, this model could be replicated in other protected areas and with other plant species.