Nam Et-Phou Louey
| Nam Et / Phou Louey National Biodiversity Conservation Area | |
|---|---|
| Managed Resource Protected Area (IUCN VI) | |
| Name origin: Nam Et River and Phou Louey (“Forever Mountain”) | |
| Country | Laos |
| Province | Houaphan, Luang Prabang, Xieng Khouang |
| Location | |
| - coordinates | 20°00′N 103°18′E / 20°N 103.3°ECoordinates: 20°00′N 103°18′E / 20°N 103.3°E |
| - elevation | 1,000 m (3,281 ft) |
| Area | 3,000 km2 (1,158 sq mi) |
 Southeast Asia, Laos (green) | |
| Website : Lao People’s Democratic Republic - National Report on Protected Areas and Development | |
Nam Et-Phou Louey National Biodiversity Conservation Area (NBCA) is a protected area in northern Laos, covering 5,959 km2 in three provinces - Houaphan, Luang Prabang and Xieng Khouang. The park includes a 3,000 km2 core area where human access and wildlife harvest is prohibited, and a 2,950 km2 buffer area where pre-existing villages are allocated land for subsistence living.[1]
The park consists mainly of mountains and hills, with altitude ranging between 336 and 2257 metres above sea level. The area is the source of many rivers. It is named after the Nam Et River and Phou Louey Mountain (“Forever Mountain”). The area has a high level of biodiversity, and a number of endangered species including tiger, leopard, clouded leopard, Asian golden cat, marbled cat, civet, gaur, Sambar deer, white-cheeked gibbon, sun bear, black bear, Asian elephant, dhole, hornbill and three species of otter.[2]
Villagers living in the Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park include Tai Dam, Tai Daeng, Tai Kao, Tai Puan, Tai Lue, Tai Yuan, Khmu, Hmong Kao, Hmong Lai, and Yao.
Viengthong, a small town in Houaphan Province, is the location of the Nam Et-Phou Louey NPA headquarters and visitor centre, where tours into the park can be organised. The town has basic accommodation and a handful of restaurants serving Lao food. There are many biking and walking trails, as well as hot springs.
Ecotourism
The only access for visitors to visit the protected area is by doing a tour organized by the protected area ecotourism unit.
Nam Nern Night Safari boat tour-(24 hour overnight tour) This innovative and adventurous journey by traditional long-tail boat offers some great nature activities that include bird watching, wildlife tracking, nighttime wildlife spotting, medicinal plant exploration and moderate hiking. We are proud that this tour has won the prestigious ‘World Responsible Tourism Award’ at the World Travel Mart in London, England, both in year 2013 and 2014!
Treking tours The Nests - Option 2 days & 3 days) is a family friendly hike with overnight in cosy spherical baskets hanging from the trees. The trip is perfect to enjoy wildlife viewing from the wildlife observation tower (currently under construction) at the nearby Poung Nyied salt lick, which attracts animals such as the rare Sambar deer from far and wide.
Trekking tours Cloud Forest Climb - (Option 4days or 5 days including ‘The Nests’) is a hiking trail up to the summit of Phou Louey (Forever Mountain) to one of the few cloud forests in the region, and is an option for the more adventurous ones. The hike goes through the evergreen forest and offers a rare opportunity to track wild species such as white-cheeked gibbon, leopards, bears and wild dog using camera traps, which will be set up along the trail and maintained by tourists.
For more information contact the protected area headquarters [3]
See also
References
- ↑ Jan Kamler (10 November 2010). "The Ecology of Dholes in a Zoned Reserve in Laos".
- ↑ Nam Et - Phou Louey National Protected Area (11 June 2011). "Nam Et - Phou Louey National Protected Area".
- ↑ Nam Et - Phou Louey National Protected Area. "Nam Et Phou Louey Protected Area". Retrieved 22 November 2011.