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Less than 10 percent of this ecoregion’s native habitat remains, and as a result most of its once-outstanding biodiversity has been lost. Despite this, hundreds of bird species, several well-known mammals and other living things can still be found here.
These forests vary from wet evergreen forests to stands of evergreens mixed with deciduous trees. These forests are full of woody vines called lianas and epiphytes (plants that are dependent on trees and other plants to survive). As the forest shrinks, all of its inhabitants have increased chances of becoming locally extinct.
Although their habitats have been degraded or in many cases destroyed, mammals still find shelter in this moist ecoregion, including white-cheeked and red-cheeked gibbons and Francois’ leaf monkeys. One endemic bat species lives here as well. You can find more than 300 bird species here, including the Edwards’ pheasant, short-tailed scimitar-babbler, gray-faced babbler, and the endemic Annam partridge.
Vietnam’s high human population density has taken a heavy toll on all of the country’s habitats, but the coastal forests have been hit particularly hard because populations are highest in the lowlands. More than 90 percent of the ecoregion’s natural habitat has been converted to human use. The rampant illegal wildlife trade also threatens wildlife and other natural resources. Conservationists are looking for ways to protect the remaining habitat while ensuring that people in the region have the food, water, and shelter they need to survive. For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report. All text by World Wildlife Fund © 2001
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