Visitor satisfaction with services for environmental interpretation in Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam

<p>The increase in visitor demand creates more and more pressures on visitor management, especially in protected areas like national parks. Environmental interpretation is regarded as an effective soft management strategy that aims to educate visitors in national parks. However, no study about visitor satisfaction with environmental interpretation using Importance-Performance analysis has been undertaken in national parks in general and national parks of Vietnam in particular. This study attempts to fill in the research gaps in the literature by examining visitor satisfaction with services for environmental interpretation in Cat Tien National Park of Vietnam using Importance-Performance Analysis. The research aims are: (1) To identify current interpretive services in Cat Tien National Park; (2) To explore visitor use of these services for environmental interpretation; (3) To investigate visitor satisfaction with these services using Importance-Performance Analysis and (4) To analyze similarities and differences in visitor satisfaction with services according to motivation-based segments and market-based segments. Secondary research, a site visit and three semi-structured interviews were first implemented to provide information background for the study. Next, the main survey for both international and domestic visitors was conducted at the entry point of Cat Tien National Park. Data from 237 pre-visit and post-visit questionnaires collected in four weeks was then analyzed with relevant statistical analyses. Market-based segmentation and motivation-based segmentation were also implemented to analyze the data. The findings show that site interpreters were the most important service provider for environmental interpretation in Cat Tien National Park. Site interpreters, interpretive signs and staff at the museum are very important and very satisfying services for environmental interpretation. Displays at the museum need to be redesigned to meet visitor satisfaction. Moreover, videos at the rescue centre need to improve the performance to ensure domestic visitor satisfaction. With regard to twelve roles of site interpreters, the role for a comfortable pace of the trip, the role for a good group organisation, the communicative roles and the roles of an environmental interpreter are important and satisfying roles according to visitors. The performance of the instrumental role for visitor safety and the social role for a positive group environment need to be enhanced to meet visitor satisfaction. Also, two roles of a motivator of responsible behaviour need to be enhanced to meet the satisfaction of “Passive visitors” and “Active learners”, as well as international visitors. The study highlights the need for continuing research on visitor satisfaction with environmental interpretation using importance performance analysis and visitor segmentation. Some management implications were given for future development of services for environmental interpretation in Cat Tien National Park.</p>

Visitor satisfaction with services for environmental interpretation in Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam

<p>The increase in visitor demand creates more and more pressures on visitor management, especially in protected areas like national parks. Environmental interpretation is regarded as an effective soft management strategy that aims to educate visitors in national parks. However, no study about visitor satisfaction with environmental interpretation using Importance-Performance analysis has been undertaken in national parks in general and national parks of Vietnam in particular. This study attempts to fill in the research gaps in the literature by examining visitor satisfaction with services for environmental interpretation in Cat Tien National Park of Vietnam using Importance-Performance Analysis. The research aims are: (1) To identify current interpretive services in Cat Tien National Park; (2) To explore visitor use of these services for environmental interpretation; (3) To investigate visitor satisfaction with these services using Importance-Performance Analysis and (4) To analyze similarities and differences in visitor satisfaction with services according to motivation-based segments and market-based segments. Secondary research, a site visit and three semi-structured interviews were first implemented to provide information background for the study. Next, the main survey for both international and domestic visitors was conducted at the entry point of Cat Tien National Park. Data from 237 pre-visit and post-visit questionnaires collected in four weeks was then analyzed with relevant statistical analyses. Market-based segmentation and motivation-based segmentation were also implemented to analyze the data. The findings show that site interpreters were the most important service provider for environmental interpretation in Cat Tien National Park. Site interpreters, interpretive signs and staff at the museum are very important and very satisfying services for environmental interpretation. Displays at the museum need to be redesigned to meet visitor satisfaction. Moreover, videos at the rescue centre need to improve the performance to ensure domestic visitor satisfaction. With regard to twelve roles of site interpreters, the role for a comfortable pace of the trip, the role for a good group organisation, the communicative roles and the roles of an environmental interpreter are important and satisfying roles according to visitors. The performance of the instrumental role for visitor safety and the social role for a positive group environment need to be enhanced to meet visitor satisfaction. Also, two roles of a motivator of responsible behaviour need to be enhanced to meet the satisfaction of “Passive visitors” and “Active learners”, as well as international visitors. The study highlights the need for continuing research on visitor satisfaction with environmental interpretation using importance performance analysis and visitor segmentation. Some management implications were given for future development of services for environmental interpretation in Cat Tien National Park.</p>

Three New Species of Placoneis Mereschkowsky (Bacillariophyceae: Cymbellales) with Comments on Cryptic Diversity in the P. elginensis—Group

Using genetic markers 18S V4 rDNA and rbcL and morphological investigation of the diatom genus Placoneis, we described three new species. The new species, Placoneis baikaloelginensis sp. nov., Placoneis subundulata sp. nov., Placoneis neohambergii sp. nov. were isolated from Russia (Lake Baikal) and Vietnam (waterbodies of Cát Tiên National Park (Đồng Nai Province) and Khánh Hòa Province). We examine relationships within the Cymbellales and show that the genera Placoneis, Paraplaconeis and Geissleria are phylogenetically independent. We discuss the importance of careful identification of strains used for phylogenetic analysis and we show the history of identification of several different Placoneis elginensis strains. After careful identification of Placoneis elginensis vouchers, we found that we have a few independent species. The question of cryptic or pseudocryptic species in this context is discussed.

Phasmarhabditis quinamensis sp. n. (Nematoda: Rhabditidae) from tropical terrestrial gastropods in southern Vietnam

Summary Phasmarhabditis quinamensis sp. n. was recovered from several tropical terrestrial gastropod species collected in Cat Tien National Park in southern Vietnam with the snail, Sesara sp., designated as the type host. Phasmarhabditis quinamensis sp. n. is recognised by males and females with a lip region set off by the circle of six triangular low probolae, three bilobed, separated lips, stoma nearly as wide as long, the first genital papilla in males not incorporated into the bursa, the ensheathed dauer juveniles more than 1 mm long and with two circles of papillae at the head end and prominent amphidial apertures, a long filamentous tail and, when exsheathed, with a short, conical tail ending with two tiny spikes. The head structure of P. quinamensis sp. n. differentiates it from all nominal species of Phasmarhabditis. Phasmarhabditis quinamensis sp. n. is the second species of the genus found in Cat Tien National Park. The sympatric species P. meridionalis was also found during the present study. Phylogenetically, both species belong to different lineages within Phasmarhabditis. The molecular analysis based on partial sequences of LSU rDNA, and ITS rDNA regions showed P. kenyaensis to be the closest species to P. quinamensis sp. n.

Impacts of Payment for Forest Environmental Services in Cat Tien National Park

This paper assesses the impacts of Payment for Forest Environmental Services (PFES) in Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam. We analyze the impacts and additionality of PFES on local livelihoods by comparing the socio-economic situations in four pairs of villages before and after its implementation, and between places where PFES is and is not applied. In total, 149 people participated in focus group discussions, while 244 households (123 in areas with PFES and 121 in areas without) took part in household surveys. Our research shows that 92% of the people interviewed are from ethnic minorities participating and benefiting directly from PFES. In villages with PFES, the numbers of participating households ranged from 45% to 88% of all poor households in those villages. Of the poor households participating in PFES in the studied villages, 22% have no source of cash income other than their forest protection contracts, while 81.4% have escaped poverty, based on self-defined poverty criteria, through additional income from forest protection. Since the implementation of PFES, the area of forests allocated for community and household management is estimated to be three to 3.64 times higher than it had been previously. Although the number of communities under PFES contracts has not changed, the number of households participating in forest protection contracts is now much lower than before PFES started. On average, PFES contributes 16% to 74% of total household income in villages with PFES. Incomes in places with PFES are significantly higher than in places without. Although our research demonstrates immediate positive socio-economic impacts on livelihoods, it also highlights weaknesses in the current monitoring and evaluation system and a lack of reliable data for measuring PFES impacts in Cat Tien National Park.

Microbiomes in Suspended Soils of Vascular Epiphytes Differ from Terrestrial Soil Microbiomes and from Each Other

Microbial biodiversity parameters for tropical rainforests remain poorly understood. Whilst the soil microbiome accounts up to 95% of the total diversity of microorganisms in terrestrial ecosystems, the microbiome of suspended soils formed by vascular epiphytes remains completely unexplored. Samples of ground and suspended soils were collected in Cat Tien National Park, southern Vietnam. DNA extraction and sequencing were performed, and libraries of 16s rDNA gene sequences were analyzed. Alpha diversity indices of the microorganisms were the highest in the forest ground soil. In general, the microbiological diversity of all the soil types was found to be similar at the phylum level. Taxonomic composition of the bacterial communities in the suspended soils of plants from the same species are not closer than the taxonomic compositions of the communities in the suspended soils of different plant species. However, the beta diversity analysis revealed significant differences in the movement of mineral elements in terrestrial versus suspended soils. Our data showed that the suspended soils associated with vascular epiphytes were a depository of unique microbiological biodiversity. A contributing factor was the presence of large amounts of organic matter in the suspended soils—deposits collected by the epiphytes—which would have been degraded by termites if it had reached the ground. Further, the nutrient content of the suspended soils was prime for soil respiration activity and taxonomic microbial community biodiversity.

Males and ephippial females of Oriental Chydoridae (Cladocera: Anomopoda) from Cat Tien National Park, South Vietnam

Cladocera (Crustacea: Branchiopoda) of South-East Asia have been intensively investigated over the last decades, but males and ephippial females of many taxa remain unknown or poorly studied. Males and ephippial females of ten species of Chydoridae were collected by monthly sampling of eight water bodies during autumn-winter dry season in Сat Tien National Park, South Vietnam. Morphology of studied specimens is described and taxonomic status of studied species is discussed. Gamogenetic specimens were sparse in all studied taxa, contributing less than 8 % of the populations in samples. Gamogenetic specimens were found mostly during December–January, what suggests that daylight period is the main factor inducing a sexual reproduction in most studied species.