Contributions to the biodiversity of Vietnam – Results of VIETBIO inventory work and field training in Cuc Phuong National Park

VIETBIO [Innovative approaches to biodiversity discovery and characterisation in Vietnam] is a bilateral German-Vietnamese research and capacity building project focusing on the development and transfer of new methods and technology towards an integrated biodiversity discovery and monitoring system for Vietnam. Dedicated field training and testing of innovative methodologies were undertaken in Cuc Phuong National Park as part and with support of the project, which led to the new biodiversity data and records made available in this article collection. VIETBIO is a collaboration between the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin – Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science (MfN), the Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum, Freie Universität Berlin (BGBM) and the Vietnam National Museum of Nature (VNMN), the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (IEBR), the Southern Institute of Ecology (SIE), as well as the Institute of Tropical Biology (ITB); all Vietnamese institutions belong to the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST). The article collection "VIETBIO" (https://doi.org/10.3897/bdj.coll.63) reports original results of recent biodiversity recording and survey work undertaken in Cuc Phuong National Park, northern Vietnam, under the framework of the VIETBIO project. The collection consist of this “main” cover paper – characterising the study area, the general project approaches and activities, while also giving an extensive overview on previous studies from this area – followed by individual papers for higher taxa as studied during the project. The main purpose is to make primary biodiversity records openly available, including several new and interesting findings for this biodiversity-rich conservation area. All individual data papers with their respective primary records are expected to provide useful baselines for further taxonomic, phylogenetic, ecological and conservation-related studies on the respective taxa and, thus, will be maintained as separate datasets, including separate GUIDs also for further updating.

How Does Tourism Affect Protected Areas?: A Multi-Criteria Decision Making Application in UNESCO Natural Heritage Sites

The tourism is an industry that makes extensive use of natural heritage sites. It has long been debated whether tourism is a threat to natural heritage sites. This research has been written to contribute to these discussions. In the study, the author(s) aims to determine the effects and threat levels of tourism in World Natural Heritage Sites. Within the scope of the research, the impact of tourism on 24 samples selected from UNESCO natural heritage sites was examined with multi-criteria decision-making methods. According to the results of the research, the highest endangerment level among the selected NHS are "Lake Malawi National Park", "Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary" and "Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park", while "Atlantic Forest Southeast Reserves", "Sinharaja Forest Conservation Area" and "Vredefort Dome" were found to be the least affected sites. The research results were discussed with the implications developed in accordance with the contexts of the selected NHS.

Community-Based Tourism and Local People's Perceptions Towards Conservation

Uganda is among the most bio-diverse countries and a competitive wildlife-based tourism destination in the world. Community-based tourism approach has been adopted in the country's conservation areas as a strategy to ensure that local communities benefit and support wildlife conservation. This chapter analyses local communities' perceptions of conservation and the benefits they get from tourism in Queen Elizabeth Conservation Area. The study reveals that local communities were concerned about loss of protected resources and support their conservation irrespective of the benefits they get from tourism in the conservation area. There is need to design conservation programmes that focus on local community-conservation-benefits nexus which take into consideration the perceived conservation values, strategies for benefit sharing and incorporation of indigenous knowledge systems.

VALUASI EKONOMI TAMAN WISATA ALAM LEJJA KABUPATEN SOPPENG PROVINSI SULAWESI SELATAN

Lejja Natural Tourism Park (Lejja-NTP) is a conservation area managed by the South Sulawesi Natural Resources Conservation Agency. Lejja NTP is a natural tourist attractions located in Marioriawa Sub-District, Soppeng Regency, South Sulawesi Province. The natural potential of Lejja NTP’s among others, as a hot springs, waterfall, flora-fauna, and the beauty of the natural panorama. The purpose of this study are (1) to determine the characteristics of visitors to Lejja NTP, (2)to identify the factors that influence the tourism demand, and (3) to calculate the economic value of environmental service-based tourism. Individual Travel Cost Method (ITCM) was used to estimate the potential economic value of tourism activity, and linear regression analysis was used to determine the influence factors of tourism demand. Sampling method was carried out by using a purposive convenience by interviewing visitors who came to the Lejja NTP. The results showed that the variable of travel costs, and distance of the residence from Lejja NTP had a significant effect on the level of tourist visits. The value of Lejja NTP for each visitors per year was Rp..464.476.00 and the total benefits derived by were Rp.838.232.00. The economic value of Lejja NTP for visitors in year 2013 of at least Rp.92.582.825.754.00. The value of economic benefits generated from Lejja NTP is expected to be considered by relevant stakeholder to participate in preserving the area, so it is necessary to coordinate and collaborate with stakeholders in managing of ecotourism in Lejja NTP

THE EFFECT OF ECOTOURISM DEVELOPMENT ON MARINE CONSERVATION AREA IN WEST SUMATERA, INDONESIA

Ecotourism is critical in conservation areas for the development of mutual relationships between the community, government and tourist in the marine conservation area. However, the community must be key stakeholders in maximizing benefits to local communities and obtaining environmental support to effectively manage conservation areas. This study aimed 1) to determine the socio-economic impact on fishermen community for the marine resource conservation, b) to investigate the socio-economic impact on the community's understanding and respect to support conservation. This research was conducted in the Ampiang Parak and Maligi villages. The research used a structured questionnaire and qualitative method using observation and interview to evaluate the fishermen community involvement in ecotourism management. The research discussed and explained the source, income, and employment allocation of ecotourism regulations and economic participation for community programs. The management of the Ampiang Parak and Maligi conservation areas is still not aligned with the local community's ecotourism management, and the conservation area and tourist attraction has not yet been beneficial for the local community economy. The relationships between ecotourism and sustainable growth, tourism, community, and natural resource conservation need to be improved.

Occurrence of bats in protected areas of Nepal: An update on species richness and distribution records

Bat surveys in 20 Protected Areas (PAs) of Nepal are sporadic and/or had targeted purposively a few localities, therefore, bat diversity from the PAs is yet to be explored. Bat species richness in PAs from two reviews until 2011 are inconsistent. In total, seven surveys have been undertaken in six PAs since 2011. Hence, an update and revision on chiropteran account from the PAs of Nepal is warranted. We reviewed available literatures and museum collection records, and further collated and plotted bat occurrence coordinates into the country and mapped them. In total, 44 of 53 bat species in Nepal have been recorded from 12 PAs. Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) reports highest species richness (22) followed by Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park and Buffer Zone (SNNP & BZ) (15), Makalu Barun National Park and Buffer Zone (MBNP & BZ) (14) and Chitwan National Park and Buffer Zone (CNP & BZ) (13). In contrast, survey localities are more in CNP & BZ (12), ACA and SNNP & BZ (equally 11) and MBNP & BZ (10). Species richness increased proportionately with higher survey efforts and including more habitat types in respective PAs. Three species: Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Rh. pearsonii and Rh. sinicus are recorded from six out of 12 PAs. Pipistrellus javanicus (12), Hipposideros armiger (10), Cynopterus sphinx (9) and Rh. sinicus (9) are recorded from maximum number of surveyed localities in the PAs. All the PAs have limited occurrence records. Therefore, intensive surveys are recommended for understanding actual chiropteran diversity to the PAs of Nepal.