Gibbon conservation under climate change: Workshop participation in Vietnam

On 13-14 June 2024, we were invited to participate in the workshop Developing capacity and informing priorities for ape conservation under climate change in Vietnam: Dissemination, implementation and training workshop II.

Workshop group photo

This workshop was organized by the Central Institute for Natural Resources and Environmental Studies (CRES) of Vietnam National University in collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH). The workshop was held at Da Nang University. Seral researchers, national park representatives, and conservation practitioners were convened to discuss the results of a Species Distribution Model for the six gibbon species occurring in Vietnam.

Since 2018, the CRES and the AMNH collaborated to launch a series of activities to evaluate the possibility of applying the species distribution model (SDM), especially using MaxEnt, to understand the potential distribution, undiscovered populations, realized niches, and potential impacts of climate change on endangered primates of Vietnam, including six gibbon species. Therefore, the goal of this workshop was to present and discuss the results of the distribution models for the six species of gibbons and identify where there may be some issues and areas for improvement. In addition, experts from the AMNH and CRES provided training for the participants on using species distribution models. A visit of Son Tra was organized, where macaques and red-shanked doucs can be observed.

Following this workshop, the project’s leaders will refine the model before disseminating it. The final results will help conservation practitioners and donors prioritize gibbon conservation in Vietnam, considering future distribution under climate change scenarios.

Dr. Le Duc Minh giving opening remark to the workshop

Meeting participants

Dr. Ha Thang Long addressing the audience

Group discussions on the different gibbon species distribution models

Hoang Chuong addressing the audience

Dr. Camille Coudrat addressing the audience

Dr. Daniel Lopez (Biodiversity Informatics Specialist at American Museum of Natural History) delivering a training for the participants on using Species Distribution Models

Dr. Nguyen Tuan Anh delivering the training on species distribution modeling

Species Distribution Model training

Visit to Son Tra National Park in Da Nang