Da Nang to expand habitats, protect gray-shanked douc langur

On March 27, the Green Vietnam Biodiversity Conservation Center (GreenViet), in coordination with the Tam My Commune People’s Committee and the Da Nang Protection Forest Management Board, organized a workshop titled “Solutions to Strengthen the Protection of the Gray-shanked Douc Langur in Tam My Commune.”

The workshop brought together more than 50 participants, including policymakers, scientists, and local representatives, to assess the current situation and propose conservation solutions for this rare primate species amid growing challenges.

Pressure of genetic decline

The gray-shanked douc langur (Pygathrix cinerea) is an endemic species of Vietnam, classified under Group IB – strictly prohibited from exploitation and commercial use, and listed in both Vietnam's Red Data Book and IUCN Red List. Its wild population is currently estimated at only 1,000–2,000 individuals, declining due to habitat loss and human impacts.

However, conservation efforts in many localities still face significant limitations. Forest protection largely depends on community awareness; risks of hunting and trapping persist, while livelihood models linked to conservation have yet to be systematically developed.

Drawing from practical implementation, Tran Huu Vy, Director of GreenViet, said that about eight years ago, the douc langur population in Tam My Commune (Da Nang) faced a serious risk of decline due to shrinking forests and fragmented habitats. However, thanks to the involvement of local authorities and communities, the area has since been included in conservation planning, and pioneering local groups have been established and are operating increasingly effectively.

These groups participate in forest patrols and monitoring, install camera traps, and prevent harmful activities, while also actively raising awareness and encouraging residents to protect forests and retain acacia trees near natural forests to maintain habitat. As a result, the langur population has shown signs of recovery, increasing from 69 individuals in 2022 to 75 in 2024, including newborns – a positive signal that the species is reproducing again. However, a major concern now is the risk of inbreeding leading to genetic decline, as the species’ habitat continues to shrink.

In the coming period, key solutions include supporting community patrol groups for forest protection; effectively managing 60 hectares of special-use forest under planning; strengthening communication to raise awareness; and developing plans for sustainable ecotourism linked to conservation.

Urgent need to expand forest areas to preserve the douc langur population

Dong Anh Dai, representative of the Viet Nam Administration of Forestry (VNFOREST), emphasized the role of the National Forestry Planning for the 2021–2030 period in maintaining stable ecosystems for wildlife. According to the plan, by 2030, the country will have 225 special-use forests covering more than 2.64 million hectares, meaning an additional 58 areas need to be established. In Da Nang alone, the number of special-use forests is expected to increase from 9 to 16.

From a local perspective, leaders of Tam My Commune's People’s Committee believe the gray-shanked douc langur can become a “unique ecotourism asset,” contributing to sustainable livelihoods while promoting the locality’s image and cultural identity. However, to achieve this goal, conservation efforts need to adopt an integrated approach, with the community playing a central role.

Accordingly, the locality proposes strengthening communication to raise public awareness while developing ecotourism models, such as forest tours and langur observation in their natural habitat, combined with local cultural experiences. At the same time, it is necessary to invest in environmentally friendly infrastructure, enhance coordination among authorities, conservation organizations, and communities, and gradually build a local brand associated with the gray-shanked douc langur.

In addition, it is necessary to effectively implement forest environmental service payment mechanisms to create sustainable livelihoods; expand and connect habitats; and promote scientific research. In particular, enhancing the capacity of local communities is identified as a key factor, as when people have the knowledge, skills, and stable income from forests, they become the most effective and sustainable force in forest protection.

Tran Ut, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Da Nang, emphasized that forest resources and biodiversity should be viewed not only as objects of protection but also as important resources for local socio-economic development.

Since 2017, Da Nang has received strong support from international organizations in conservation efforts, helping the gray-shanked douc langur population develop more steadily and maintain its group structure. However, the species still faces multiple threats, including forest encroachment, impacts of climate change, and wildlife hunting.

Therefore, for sustainable conservation, it is essential to ensure that local people can make a living from the forest, benefit from it, and access relevant forest protection policies. At the same time, communities need to be empowered to manage and sustainably utilize the unique values of forest ecosystems.