Laos, now the Lao People's Democratic Republic, has long been known as a land of forests, mountains and rivers. To the Western world, the forests and landscapes of this unique part of Southeast Asia became more widely known through European exploration in the 19th century, when Laos still included the large area of present-day northeastern Thailand and northern Cambodia. The journals of these explorers speak eloquently of the natural wonders of the landscapes through which they traveled and the cultural diversity of the people that they met. With respect to the natural environment, what they described in present-day terminology was a rich and unique biological diversity. The wildlife seen on a daily basis included tigers, elephant, rhinoceros, deer, wild cattle, monkeys, peacocks, pythons and others - all within forests with "a power and beauty beyond compare."

Sadly, the numbers of wildlife are now greatly depleted through hunting and habitat loss, and some species, such as the Javan Rhinoceros, are probably extinct - and the country of the Lao can no longer be called the "Land of a Million Elephants," when their numbers are only a few thousand at most. Nevertheless, a considerable area of the country remains forested and the rugged mountainous terrain and low human population have resulted in the retention of diverse habitats. Recognizing the need to take action to protect its natural heritage, in 1993 the Lao Government established a comprehensive system of Natural Biodiversity Conservation Areas (NBCA's) throughout the country. The area under legal protection is now about 12.5% of the total land area, one of the highest rations in the world. The value of such a forward thinking policy decision has been reinforced by the discovery of new genera and species of large mammals, and the rediscovery of others, in the forests of the Sai Phou Louang mountains on the border between Lao PDR and Vietnam. These have included the Saola, Giant-Antlered Muntjac, Black Muntjac and Indochinese Warty Pig. Although reduced in numbers and very wary of humans, the tiger still prowls forests and woodlands throughout the country. In a nation as poor as Lao PDR, the vision to protect the country's natural heritage is all the more commendable. The challenges to make this vision a reality are enormous.

The Dong Hua Sao National Biodiversity Conservation Area (NBCA) is located on the south-west of the Bolovens plateau, an area formed by volcanic lava intrusions through and over what was probably an earlier sandstone plateau. While in some areas the lava flows completely covered the sandstone base and the landscape is one of gently descending levels of lave flows (Paksong to Pakse and Laongarm, or between XeKhampo and Xepiane, for example) in other areas the volcanic (or other forces) apparently uplifted the sandstone which now forms the mountain ridges and peaks, and the drop from the plateau to the lowlands in characterised by steep sandstone cliffs and deeply incised valleys. Thus, The DHS NBCA contains three main topographical components.

�   an upland plateau section with flat to undulating landscapes dissected by streams in places and      grading up into mountain peaks and down into streams or river valleys. Elevations ranges from      1000 to 1400 meters.
�   a flat to undulating lowland section, at elevations from 150 to 350 meters.
�   Steep slopes, cliffs (escarpment) and gorges joining the lowland to the plateau.

The climate of Dong Hua Sao is generally related to altitude. The plateau section, where Tad Fane Resort is located, receiving high rainfall and cooler temperatures, while the lowland section receives less rain and warmer temperatures. However the presence of steep and forested mountains appears to cause more rain and lower temperatures in the lowland section than would normally be experienced at these altitudes.


Soils in the NBCA and surrounding areas are derived from basalt and sand/claystone and the relative abundance of these two types - in the NBCA - is approximately:

�   71% basaltic, of which 9% is "rocky" (the "rocky" soils are all in the lowland section of the NBCA)
�   11% clay/sandstone (darns, all on the plateau)
�   18% steep land (mostly sand/claystone)

Wildlife is under threat in the DHS NBCA. Part of the NBCA has been logged before. Most interesting areas are the unlogged forest on the steep escarpment slopes and in the Houay Bangliang Gorge and the logged semi-evergreen forest of the flat lowlands. Eleven species of birds occur in populations which might be considered of moderate global significance. Amongst them the globally threatened Lesser Adjudant, Green Peafowl, Blyth's Kingfisher and Grey faced Tit-Babbler. The Pied Hornbill is regularly seen near the in small numbers.

The gibbon population of DHS is of global significance, particularly whilst it remains linked to the larger population in XE Pian NBCA. The populations of Douc Langur, Sun Bear and Dhole may also be of global significance but there is little evidence. There seem to be small populations of tiger, wild cattle (Gaur) and large populations of Finlayson's Squirel, Cambodian striped tree squirrel and Black Giant Squirrel.

The biggest threat to the wildlife is from hunting. Clearance of forest for coffee cultivation is another threat to the NBCA. Lack of management seems to be the biggest problem. There is enough arable land outside the NBCA. Most coffeeplantations have a very low yield. Use of fertilizer and better management could increase the yield of existing plantations. There is no need to go into the NBCA to clear forest.


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