Nam Et-Phou Louey
| Nam Et / Phou Louey National Biodiversity Conservation Area | |
|---|---|
| Managed Resource Protected Area (IUCN VI) | |
| Name origin: Nam Et River and Phou Louey (“Forever Mountain”) | |
| Country | Laos |
| Province | Houaphan, Luang Prabang, Xieng Khouang |
| Location | |
| - coordinates | 20°00′N 103°18′E / 20°N 103.3°ECoordinates: 20°00′N 103°18′E / 20°N 103.3°E |
| - elevation | 1,000 m (3,281 ft) |
| Area | 3,000 km2 (1,158 sq mi) |
 Southeast Asia, Laos (green) | |
| Website : Lao People’s Democratic Republic - National Report on Protected Areas and Development | |
Nam Et-Phou Louey National Biodiversity Conservation Area (NBCA) is a protected area in northern Laos, covering 5,959 km2 in three provinces - Houaphan, Luang Prabang and Xieng Khouang. The park includes a 3,000 km2 core area where human access and wildlife harvest is prohibited, and a 2,950 km2 buffer area where pre-existing villages are allocated land for subsistence living.[1]
The park consists mainly of mountains and hills, with altitude ranging between 336 and 2257 metres above sea level. The area is the source of many rivers. It is named after the Nam Et River and Phou Louey Mountain (“Forever Mountain”). The area has a high level of biodiversity, and a number of endangered species including tiger, leopard, clouded leopard, Asian golden cat, marbled cat, civet, gaur, Sambar deer, white-cheeked gibbon, sun bear, black bear, Asian elephant, dhole, hornbill and three species of otter.[2]
Villagers living in the Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park include Tai Dam, Tai Daeng, Tai Kao, Tai Puan, Tai Lue, Tai Yuan, Khmu, Hmong Kao, Hmong Lai, and Yao.
Viengthong, a small town in Houaphan Province, is the location of the Nam Et-Phou Louey NPA headquarters and visitor centre, where tours into the park can be organised. The town has basic accommodation and a handful of restaurants serving Lao food. There are many biking and walking trails, as well as hot springs.
Night Safari
The only access for visitors to the park is on the Nam Nerm Night Safari, in which long-tailed boats steered by ethnic guides take small groups upriver into the core zone, and then drift back while searching by spotlight for animals. The trip includes bird watching, wildlife tracking at the Boung Man salt lick, night time wildlife spotting, medicinal plant discovery and moderate hiking. The safari is designed to promote community involvement in wildlife protection, with a cash incentive paid for every animal spotted.[3]
References
- ↑ Jan Kamler (10 November 2010). "The Ecology of Dholes in a Zoned Reserve in Laos".
- ↑ Nam Et - Phou Louey National Protected Area (11 June 2011). "Nam Et - Phou Louey National Protected Area".
- ↑ Nam Et - Phou Louey National Protected Area. "Nam Nern Night Safari". Retrieved 22 November 2011.