CONSERVATION OF THE NORTHERN WHITE-CHEEKED GIBBON IN MUONG NHE NATURE RESERVE

Located at Vietnam’s westernmost point, Muong Nhe Nature Reserve (Dien Bien Province) lies at a tri-border area and is one of the most biologically significant conservation sites in the Northwestern region of Vietnam. However, the biodiversity values of Muong Nhe continue to face increasing pressures from human activities, including hunting, wildlife snaring, illegal logging, and livestock grazing in natural forests.

Muong Nhe is also known as an important habitat of the northern white-cheeked gibbon (Nomascus leucogenys), one of the most endangered primate species in Vietnam and globally.

from left to right:

Picture 1: Northern white-cheeked gibbon (male and female)

Picture 2: Field survey on the northern white-cheeked gibbon.

Picture 3: Community awareness-raising session conducted in Nam San 2 village, Muong Nhe commune.

©CCD/2026

From November 2025 to January 2026, Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD), in collaboration with the Management Board of Muong Nhe Nature Reserve, conducted field surveys to assess the status of the northern white-cheeked gibbon population. In parallel, community outreach and awareness-raising activities were carried out in buffer zone villages to improve local understanding of the species’ critical conservation status and the legal regulations protecting this highly threatened primate. The conservation program was supported by The Rufford Foundation and the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund.

Survey results confirmed that Muong Nhe is one of the key sites for the conservation of northern white-cheeked gibbons in Vietnam. In addition, the team recorded the presence of several other endangered wildlife species, further highlighting the reserve’s importance for biodiversity conservation efforts at both regional and national levels.

from left to right:

Picture 4: Community awareness-raising session conducted in Nam San 2 village, Muong Nhe commune.

Picture 5: Local residents engage and share information about the northern white-cheeked gibbon and other wildlife species in Muong Nhe.

Picture 6: CCD, in collaboration with Muong Nhe Nature Reserve, installs conservation awareness signboards at local villages and schools.

Picture 7: Conservation awareness signboards displayed at primary and secondary schools in Sin Thau commune.

Picture 8: Conservation awareness signboards installed in Nam San 2 Village, Muong Nhe Commune.

©CCD/2026

Through village-level communication activities, local communities were provided with information about the northern white-cheeked gibbon, its ecological role, and relevant legal frameworks on forest and wildlife protection, with a particular focus on endangered primate species.

The collected data on gibbon populations will serve as a crucial foundation for Muong Nhe Nature Reserve to develop more targeted and effective conservation strategies. Meanwhile, awareness-raising activities also contribute to fostering positive attitudes and strengthening community responsibility in protecting forests and biodiversity. CCD hopes that the close collaboration between CCD, Muong Nhe Nature Reserve, and local communities will help safeguard the area’s unique biodiversity values in the long term.