Vietnam's Ninh Binh establishes world's largest delacour's langur reserve

On Tuesday, Ninh Binh authorities held a ceremony to announce the establishment of the Kim Bang Delacour's langur Conservation Area as a special-use forest.

The Delacour's langur (Trachypithecus delacouri), also known as the white-rumped langur, is a primate species endemic to Vietnam.

Once found across several areas of northern and north-central Vietnam, the species has suffered a sharp population decline due to hunting and habitat loss. 

Its remaining population is now concentrated mainly in the limestone forests of Kim Bang and the Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve, with a combined population of nearly 400 individuals. These account for more than 90 percent of the world's remaining wild Delacour's langurs.

The species is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on both Vietnam's Red Data Book and the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List. Hunting, captivity and trade are prohibited.

Under the establishment decision, the conservation area covers 3,182 hectares, including 3,016.81 hectares of natural limestone forest. It forms part of the Van Long-Kim Bang-Tam Chuc landscape.

The reserve is divided into three zones: strict protection, ecological restoration, and administration and services. The Ninh Binh Protection and Special-use Forest Management Board has been assigned direct responsibility for managing the area.

The establishment of the reserve is expected to provide a legal and scientific foundation for preparing a UNESCO nomination for the Van Long-Kim Bang-Tam Chuc cultural and ecological landscape to be recognized as a World Heritage Site.

Ninh Binh Vice Chairman Tran Anh Dung said the establishment of the conservation area marked an important milestone, but stressed that it was only the beginning.

"What matters most is how these goals are put into practice to deliver concrete, lasting and sustainable conservation results," Dung said.

"For the Kim Bang Delacour's Langur Conservation Area to operate effectively, I urge relevant departments, agencies and local authorities to strengthen their management responsibilities, actively raise public awareness and encourage residents to comply with the law and help detect and prevent violations," he said.

Dung also called on scientists, experts, conservation organizations and partners to continue supporting the province in research, monitoring, habitat restoration and efforts to protect the Delacour's langur and preserve biodiversity.