Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
CHINA
VIETNAM
MYANMAR
20-d N
LAOS
THAILAND
South
15-d N
CAMBODIA
Figure 3.1. Location of survey in Lao PDR.
provinces of Laos (Champasak and Attapeu Provinces,
Figure 3.2
)
, from
Thakhek to the border to Cambodia along National Route No 13 (NR-13),
along NR-9 from Savannakhet to Den Sawan, national boundary to Vietnam;
along NR-23 and NR-16, from Pakse, via Thateng and Sekong to Attapeu; and
then from Attapeu to the west on NR-18 to Sanamxai and to the east on the new
NR to Ban Xe Xou (
Figure 3.3
)
. In the survey area, the Mekong River flows in
the west and borders Thailand, and the Xay Phou Louang (Annam Mountains)
runs north to south in the east. Between them are plains and gently sloping
areas with dry forest. These geographical conditions contain three environ-
mental types: the mountainous area, the Mekong River side, and the plains in
between (Duckworth
et al
.,
1999
). In the plains area, there are low profile hilly
areas, e.g., Phou Xang He NPA, which are covered by deciduous dipterocar-
pus forests. In the South from about 15.25˚N, the Mekong River flows inside
Laos and plains are located west of the Mekong. In the far south, the Bolaven
Plateau is at the center and Xay Phou Louang is in the east. Moreover, there
are some low-altitude hilly areas (Xe Pian NPA) to the south of the Bolaven
Plateau that are continuous to the forested area in north-eastern Cambodia.
Along these routes, we interviewed 91 people at a total of 83 sites.
We interviewed people to gain the following information: interviewee's
name, address, age, ethnicity, primate species inhabiting forests near village,
abundance of primates, changes in abundance over time, possible reason for
changes, human population changes, year village established, agricultural
crops, primate damage to crops, counter-actions to such damages, hunt-
ing, wildlife trade, and economic conditions (Hamada
et al
.,
2007
). We also
