Flora – Fauna in Bach Ma National Park

Cloud on the top of Bach Ma park

Studies of the biodiversity of Bach Ma’s forests show clearly that the park supports a very large number of plant and animal species. This is partly due to the variations in altitude and also because the park is located within the transition area of two bio-geographical zones containing species from northern and southern Vietnam.

Flora in Bach Ma National Park

The vegetation includes two main formations: tropical lowland forest below 900 m and subtropical submontane forest between 900 and 1450 m – latter being the richest and are less disturbed by human influence. The flora of Bach Ma includes 2,147 species which represents around one-fifth of the entire flora of Vietnam. Of these, 86 species are listed as endangered in the red book of Vietnam. There are also over 500 species which have commercial potential as medicinal plants. Bach Ma has given its name to at least three plant species: Piper bachmariaefolia, Cissus bachmaensis, and Elaeocarpus bachmaensis.
In the summit area there are some species of rare conifers like Bach Ma pine (Dacrydium elatum), Podocarpus neriifolius and Podocarpus fleuryi. In February, the red blossoms of the Rhododendron species – Rh. simsii – can be seen along small streams and in particular at the bottom of the Rhododendron waterfall.
Forests contain such valuable broadleaves trees such as species from the Dipterocarp family, rosewood and eaglewood. On the upper mountain, tree species of the oak and chestnut family are prevailing.
Forests are rich in palms such as rattans and fishtail palms as well as in ferns and orchids.
Due to the effects of spraying with herbicide chemicals and bombing during the Vietnam war the original forest in parts of the national park has suffered considerably.

bachma 5 Flora Fauna in Bach Ma National Park

Flowers of Rhododendron simsii – the only species of this kind in Bach Ma

Tree ferns are commonly seen on steep, moist slopes and ravines of the upper areas of the park

Dacrydium elatum – locally called “Bach Ma pine” – a common conifer in the summit area

Fauna in Bach Ma National Park

The fauna of Bach Ma National Park is very various with a lot of endemic and rare species. Until now, scientists have identified 1.493 species including 132 species of mammals (occupy half of all mammals known in Vietnam), 358 bird species, 31 reptile species, 21 frog species , 57 fish species and 894 insect species. Nine species of primates are confirmed in Bach Ma, including macaques, langurs, loris and the white-cheeked gibbon. The elusive Saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis) was only discovered in Vietnam in 1992 and is also present in the protected area. Large predators, such as tiger and leopard, may still remain in remote areas of the park.

The 358 species of birds that have been observed in the park represent over one-third of the species found in Vietnam. There are seven species of pheasants, including the rare endemic Edward’s pheasant (Lophura edwardsi). Historically, this species was very common in the forests along the foot of the mountain but was already considered to be extinct by the 1940s. More than 50 years later, it was rediscovered in the park and has become the symbol of Bach Ma National Park.