ABSTRACT
The proposed Song Thanh Nature Reserve (STNR) is located in Nam Giang and Phuoc Son districts, within Quang Nam province along the Vietnam–Laos border. It has one of the largest areas of tropical forest in Vietnam (Lê Nho Nam, 2001) and is situated at the intersection of multiple bio-geographical areas. Song Thanh will be one of the few nature reserves to have diverse groups of ethnic minority people living in the core zone. In addition, STNR is situated in an area where many large and small hydropower projects are being planned. STNR is still not officially gazetted as a nature reserve, and at present forms part of the special-use forest system of Vietnam. This lack of recognition by the central government means that there has been inadequate funding for management activities.
