Hin Namno National Park

Hin Namno National Park (or Hin Nam No) is in Boualapha District, Khammouane Province, Laos. The park borders Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park of Vietnam to the east and Nakai-Nam Theun National Park of Laos to the north. Hin Namno National Park was created by prime ministerial decree in January 2020. It is managed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF).[2]

Hin Namno National Park
Map showing the location of Hin Namno National Park
Map showing the location of Hin Namno National Park
Location of the national park in Laos
LocationKhammouane Province
Coordinates17.394000°N 105.886906°E / 17.394000; 105.886906
Area941.21 km2 (363.40 sq mi)
DesignationNational Park
DesignatedJanuary 2020
Governing bodyMinistry of Agriculture and Forestry

Hin Namno's distinctive feature is its karst formations. Were this park and Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng to be combined into one contiguous park, it would be one of the largest protected karst regions in the world.

As Hin Namno lies between the Khammuan limestone belt and the Annamite Range there are many caves and limestone escarpments including the Xe Bang Fai River Cave. It is believed to be one of the largest river caves in the world with passages some 120 meters tall and 200 meters wide, and a subterranean channel seven kilometres long.[3][4]

In early-2021, Hin Namno was nominated for inclusion on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas. The IUCN Green List is a global standard for protected area management performance. It is seen as a precursor to a UNESCO World Heritage Site nomination.[2][5]

Flora and fauna

The national park is in the Northern Annamites rain forests ecoregion. 721.9 km2 or 77.5% of the park is covered in forest.[6] Plant communities in the reserve include evergreen, mixed deciduous, and dipterocarp forests. The park includes areas of Central Indochina limestone karst forest, a distinctive plant community, also found in Phou Hin Poun reserve and in Vietnam, which is home to many endemic plants. The park is home to seven species of diurnal primates, all of conservation concern.[7]

Hin Namno is home to 1,520 species of vascular plants and 536 vertebrate species.[2] Important species living in the reserve include Douc and Francois’s langur, giant muntjac, fruit bat, harlequin bat, great evening bat, wreathed and great hornbills and the sooty babbler.[8]

Resolutions
  • Pursuance of the Forest Strategy for the Year 2020
  • Pursuance of the Forestry Law No. 04/NA, dated 24/12/2007
  • Pursuance of the Law on Wild Animals and Aquatic Resources No. 07/NA, dated24/12/2007.

See also

References
  1. [UNEP-WCMC (2023). from the World Database on Protected Areas. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  2. "Hin Nam No national park to join IUCN green list". Vientiane Times. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  3. Patowary, Kaushik (8 July 2015). "Tham Khoun Xe Cave". Amusing Planet. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  4. "Hin Namno National Protected Area Co-Management Plan" (PDF). Department of Forestry, Division of Forest Resources Conservation and With Technical Assistance from IUCN Lao PDR. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
  5. Boulom, Souksamai (21 August 2020). "Hin Nam No to gain World Heritage status by 2022". Vientiane Times. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  6. Hin Nam No. DOPA Explorer. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  7. Robichaud, William, Marsh, Clive W., Southammakoth, Sangthong, and Khounthikoumammane, Srivanh (2001). Review of the National Protected Area System of the Lao PDR. Lao-Swedish Forestry Programme, Vientiane 2001.
  8. "Hin Namno NBCA - Ecotourism Laos". www.ecotourismlaos.com. Archived from the original on 2015-11-23. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
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