NAT. H!ST. BULL. SIAM Soc. 55(2): 223-234，2 007 WETLAND RESOURCE USE IN XEP IAN NATIONAL ， ， PROTECTED AREALAO PDRIN 2005 Mark R. Bezuijen ，12，Chanthone Phothitay，So mboun Chanry~， Akchousanh Rasphone1 and Chris D. Hallam1 ABSTRACT Wer ecorded natural resource use at nine wetlands in and near Xe Pian National Protected Area，L ao Peopl巴'sDemocratic Republic，du ring two brief visits in April and June 2005 (to匂1 10 days). We observed eight categories of human activities at these wetlands: hunting and wildlife trade，fi shing，bu ming of wetland and forest vegetation，lo gging，cu ltivation，li vestoc主 grazing，c ollection of non-timber forest products，a nd powerline construction. All activities except for powerline construction were cordedin the reserve 5-12 years pviouslyby other 問 陀 authors. We conclude that，d espi胞 arelatively intensive history of‘integrated conservation and development' projects in the reserve，m ost threats to wetland biodiversity remain，a nd follow-up activities are urgently quiredto gulateregional development，h uman population 問 陀 growth and natural sourceuse in the reserve. 路 Key words: Laos，X e Pian，we tland，th reats. INTRODUCTION XePi加 NationalProtectedArea (NPA) (total size 2，500 km2: 13055' -14047' N，1 05。 54' -1060 29' E; Fig. 1) in Lao People's Democratic Republic (hereafter ‘Laos') supports among the largest lowland riverine forests in mainland Southeast Asia and globally impo此叩t populations of threatened fauna，e. g. gibbon (Nomascus leucogenys gabriellae)，Gi ant Ibis (Pseudibis gigantea) and Masked Finfoot (Heliopais personata) (DuCKWORTH ETA L.，1 994， 1995，1 998; THEWLIS ET AL.，1 996，1 998; Aus百N，1999; STEINMETZ，2 004). The NPAi s listed as an‘outstanding representative site' for the Indochinese Tropical Moist Forests Biome (No. AS09)，a nd wetlands in and near the NPAa re listed under two‘Important Bird Areas' ‘(XeK .hampho/Xe Pian LAO1 9' and‘XeK ong Plains LA020') (OUNEKHAM &I NTHAPA:叩A， 2003). In Laos，X eP ian NPAi s ranked as the second-highest priority for management in the protected area network，af ter Nakai-Nam Thuen NPA( ROBICHAUD ETA L.，20 01). Wetlands in the NPAs upport high biodiversity values yet釘ealso focal points of human activity. Natural resource use is high: 90 villages comprising 50，000 people are found within five kilometres Wildlife Conservation Society，P O Box 6712，Vi entiane，La o PDR I 2C urrent address: WWFG reater Mekong Programme，P .O. Box 7871，V ientiane，L ao PDR. Email: <[email protected]> 3L iving Aquatic Resources Research Centre，Mi nistry of Agriculture and Forestry，P O Box 9108，Vi entiane，L ao PDR. Received 21 June 2006; accepted 6J une 2007. 223 224 MARK R.B EZUIJEN ET AL レ、1 J slInS 川 ong-Thai. \ シ刊 凪叫11伽11川 ~. '〆"\ Xc Kh川川a川1川1'川n粁'問ηt町官帆 Xc KO\I !Iplaills 日111\Pind川n;司 ヨzh-bF 1 ，1 ・ ‘'... 地 • f 企 ベ a (・ 1a ... J>A j XePian NPA )F~ -、J?l・nC能 nopE 田・ujt ヱIWza匂内・ s:1l\ N刷唱I<he a 1 / \ 仁〆， ‘ 4 ム 、，、 Laos NongP 泊luA・t、 ぃ.jA\... Xcl刊百nrh剖 ，・-w刊白L内向戸 ‘' A ‘ 立 ‘' 4‘ • Villa且C ‘ • '.ー. -FIUisvhciln gc mtlp -zzhB毘 r 1ν o ぺ閥抗 ( 25 5 ハ Atlap唯 L一一ーKムm一一 一」 -ー」ーーーーーーーー- '田・8'5"E 3帽・2σs-ε 1田・24'5~E 3描・2B'5"E 106・32'5~E Figure l. Xe Pian NationalPr otectedA rea (shaded area in main map and inset)a nd localities mentioned in the text. of the NPA，in cluding 14 villages in the NPA，an d the NPAh asb een am 句orregional source for subsistence and commercial fishing for many years (GOL，20 00). Wep resent incidental observations of wetland use in and near the XeP ian NPAi n 2005，co llected during ap rogramm巴 of crocodile surveys (BEZUIJEN ETA L.， 2006). STUDY SITES Xe Pian NPAi sl ocated in two provinces of Laos，At tapu and Champasak (Fig. 1).O ur observations were restricted to the‘XeK ong Plains' region (T1MM刑SETA L.，19 93)in theAttapu section of the NPA: al arg巴alluvialplain with am osaic of dry dipterocarp，se mi-evergreen and mjxed deciduousf orest，dr ained by thXePian，X eK hampho and XeK ong rivers. We 巴 visited ninew etlands: two perennial rivers，t hree permanent lakes and four seasonal lakes (Table 1;Fi g. 1). Four wetlands were in the NPAa nd five were outside the north-east border of the NPA. Wed id not visit any areas of the NPA in Champasak province. Observations along the XeP ian and XeK hampho ri vers were from Ban Mai village to the XeP ian/XeK ong confluence (75 km) and XeP ian/XeK hampho confluence to Ban Nongkhe village (12 km)，re spectively. Xe Pian and Xe Khampho are 20-50 m wide，s low-flowing， and fringed by little-degraded forest and bamboo stands. The standing waterbodies w巴 WETLAND RESOURCE USE IN XE PIAN NATIONAL PROTECTED AREA 225 visited were defined as‘lakes' (> 8h a)‘，ponds' (< 8h a) or‘marshes' (supporting non-woody aquatic vegetation) following CLARIDGE (1996) (Table 1)， but for brevity we refer to all as ‘lakes'. Lakes were 0.1-4 km( mean 1.4k m，n = 7 )仕omthe Xe Pian or XeK hampho rivers. Six lakes were within forest and one (Nong Khe) was in cultivated land. Two lakes (Bung Pulone，Bu ng Khe)s upported thickly vegetated surfaces off1oating and emergent vegetation (sedges，fe ms，gr asses) with little visible surface water. One lake (Nong Khoung Hape) had no surface vegetation. All other lakes were dry at the time of visit，wi th sparse grass cover and grazed by livestock. Permanent settlements were located at three of nine wetlands (Xe Pian and XeK hampho rivers，No ng Khe lake). Wetlands visited in the NPAa re within白ピXe Khampho-Xe Pian-Xe Kong Priority Management Area'，a z onation ref1ecting high biodiversity values (GOL，20 00). Wer efer to the five lakes outside the NPAa s the ‘BungPulone complex'. This complex is apparently located within ap rovincial protected area‘，Houaysoy Conservation Forest'，al though the boundaries of this area are unclear. Wev isited four villages with partial community ownership of these wetlands: Ban Phonesaat and Ban Nongkhe，in the NPA，a nd Ban Mai and Ban Pindon，ou tside the NPA (Fig. 1). Wetlands were 0.1-8 kmf rom at least one ofthese villages (mean distance 2.5 km). In 2005 the populations of these villages were 503，3 77，59 1 and 246 people，re spectively (village heads，pe rs. commふCommunitieswere‘Sou' or 'Lao Loum' ethnic groups. Wet season rice cultivation was the principal subsistence activity in all villages，su pplemented by fishing，wi ldlife hunting and collection of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) (pers. obsふ All villages had dry season road access but only Ban M泊hadwet season access. PREVIOUS CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES Xe Pian NPA was established in 1993 and ad etailed management plan was prepared in 2000，un der National Decree 164 of the Prime Minister (GOL，20 00). Between 1990 and 2002，bi odiversity and socioeconomicsurveys，li velihood p吋ects das even-year‘inte- ・ 佃 grated conservation and development' (ICDP) project，we re conducted in the NPA( POULSEN & LUANGLATH，2 005 and references therein). These activities identified NPAm anagement zones and preliminary regulations for natural resource use by local communities. Sustained intemational funding in the NPAe nded in 2000 (POULSEN & LUANGLATH，20 05). Between 2005 and 2007 another ICDP (Mekong Wetlands Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use Programme) conducted surveys of livelihoods，wi ldlife trade and crocodiles in the Xe Kong Plains region (BEZUIJEN El' AL.，20 06; SINGH ETA L.，20 06; P-J. Meynell，pe rs. commふ In 2005，a s mall ecotourism project was established by CUSO( a Canadian non-govemment organisation) at Ban Mai village，wh ich continues to receive visitors (S. Rozak pers. commふ Published information on the wetlands we visited was largely based on data collected 8-12 years previously (TIMMINS ETA L. 1993; DUCKWORTH ETA L. 1994，1995; DAVENPORT，19 97; THEWLIS ETA L.，1 996，1998; THORBJARNARSON ETA L.，20 04). METHODS Wev isited the NPAfrom 2-6 April (dry season) and 31 May- 4J une 2005 (wet season) (total 10 days). Visits to each wetland were brief (1-5 days). At each wetland we recorded 226 MARK R. BEZUIJEN EfA L Table 1. Wetlands visited in and near Xe Pian National Protected Area，L aos，in 2005. Wetland Coo刈Inates Wetland category事 A(rhae) a Le(nmg)t h Wi(dm)t h Ddreyp-t醐h (smo)n InsuJeth e NPA (31 May -4Ju nり Xe Pian river 1430'52"N; 10620'55"E Perennial river (4) 75 km^ 30 0.5-3 0 0 Xe Khampho river 1434'44"N; 10617'51"E Perennial river (4) 12 km^ 20 0.5。-3 0 0 Nong Palu 143I'IO"N; 10619'43"E Seasonal freshwater pond (2) 1.9 223 128 0 0 Nong Khe 1434'55"N; 10617'49"E Seasonal freshwater pond (2) 0.5 88 69 0 。-0 OutsuJeth e NPA 6Ap ril) Bung Pulone 14042'32"N; 106027'56"E Permanent freshwater lake (1) 18.5 952 290 0.3-3 Bung Khe 1441'49"N; 10628'18"E Permanent freshwater pond (1) 4.8 380 100 。2 0 0 Nong Kham Miem 14041'16"N; 106028'25"E Se唱sonalfreshwater marsh (3) 35.4 793 792 Nong Khoung Hape 1442'20"N; 10626'OI"E Permanent freshwater pond (3) 0.24 54 44 0.。8 0 0 Nong Hoi 14042'03"N; 106026'25"E Seasonal freshwater marsh (2) 1.6 135 117 *Aft er CLARIDGE (1996). Numbers in parentheses 問ferto sub-categories: 1= vegetated water-floating & emergent rooted vegetation; 2= v egetated watermergentrooted vegetation; 3' =o pen water-unvegetated; 4= p ennial 司 陀 river channe .1^Distance of team observations human activities and mapped the perimeters of lakes with aG armin eTrex Vista GPS. Lake area was calculated in ArcView GIS 3.2 (@Environmental Systems Research Institute，In c.) (Table 1). To compare human disturbance at wetlands，we d eveloped as凶 ple‘disturbanceindex' by measuring six variables:‘clearance'‘ ，buming'and‘catde' were the percent landcover within 50 mr adius of aw etland which had been cultivated，bu mt or gr ed，respectively‘，weed invasion' 但 was percent cover of two weeds (Mimosa pigra，Ei chhornia spp.) over the wetland surface +w ithin 50 m radius of aw etland (summed)‘，fishing impact' was the number of residences (seasonal or permanent) at aw etland (we assumed larger settlements resulted in more fishing) d‘distance'，fr om wetland to nearest village (we assumed wetlands closer to villages would 叩 be more disturbed than remote wetlands). Using SPSSfor Windows vers. 10ω.β0.1 (@SPSSInc.) 即 we tested raw data for normality then converted raw values to av alue range of 1t ω04‘，4' indicating由ehighest disturbance. Av alue range of 1-4， rather thanι3，w as used because for three of six variables (burning，li vestock，di stance)，a ‘0 ' value would include sites where ad isturbance was in fact present. This resulted in all sites having am inimum value of ‘l'for all variables，ev en if ad isturbance was absent. Wec omp'edthese results with disturbance 紅 scores for 15 other wetlands visited in southem Laos (BEZUIJEN ETA L.，20 06). Wes upplemented field observations with brief community interviews in the four villages we visited，to obtain information on wetland resource use. Spelling of site names follows the Service Geographique d' Etat (1 :200，000) topographic map series for Laos. Site names 'egiven in full，.ie . including the Laos prefix for river ‘(xe')， 紅 pond ('nong')，la ke ('bung') or village ‘(ban'). Conservation status of globally threatened species follows IUCN Red List categories (IUCN，20 06). WETLAND RESOURCE USE IN XEP IAN NATIONAL PROTECTED AREA 227 OBSERVATIONS Hunting and wildlife trade. -Over 10 days wer ecorded the following capti ve wildlife in four villages: one Water Monitor lizard (拘ranussaLvator)，tw o Elongated Tortoises (lndotes- tudo eLongata)‘ (Endangered')，on e Asian Box Turtle (Cuora amboinensis)‘ (Vulnerable')，one Asian Giant Pond Turtle (Heosemys grandis) ‘(Near Threatened') and one Sambar (Cervus unicoLor). TheW ater Monitor and one Elongated Tortoise were transported by public bus on 5J une，fr om Ban Mai village to the town capi凶.At one lake，No ng Kham Miem，on 6J une at dusk we observed three mistnets erected on the dry lake surface，fo r duck hunting. Train plumes of recently hunted Gre四 peafowl(Pavo muticus) ‘(Vulnerable') were observed at a border police post (Xe PianJXeK ong confluence) and af ishing camp (Xe Pian/Xe Khampho confluence). Hunting dogs and firearms were observed in all villages. Residents sta凶白紙 hunting is conducted at all wetlands we visited，fo r subsistence consumption and commer- cial sale. At Ban Pindon and Ban Mai villages，re sidents stated that traders ‘often' visit to purchase wildlife. Fishing. -Fishing was observed at all permanent waterbodies，in cluding由icklyvegetated lakes with <0 .3 cmd ry season depth. Wer ecorded most fishing activity along the Xe Pian river: on 1J une，w e recorded 19 fishing camps over 75 km( Ban Mai to Xe PianlXeK ong confluence) and 30 motorised canoes over 29.5 km( Ban Mai to Ban Phonesaat). The highest fishing activity was between Ban Mai and Ban Phonesaat villages (Fig. 1). Along the XeP ian and Xe Khampho rivers，mo st exposed sandbars supported fishing camps or signs of recent camps. Fishermen were observed to use aw ide aayoffishing gear (cast-nets，mo nofilament 町 line nets，tr aps，ho oks). Residents stated that all seasonallakes 'efished between July and 紅 January，wh en water is present. The lakes we visited were each under community ownership of at least one village. Nong KhamM iem，th e largest lake in the Bung Pulone complex (Table 1)，w as dry at the time of visit but is apparently visited by more than five nearby villages and district residents for wet-season fishing. The community which ‘owns'白islake (B佃 Samong-百laivillage) apparently charges non-residents adaily fishing fee of5，000 Kip (USD 0.50)/cast-netlday and 3，000 Kip (USD 0.30)/bamboo trap/day (residents，pe rs. comm.) ∞ Burn姐i加血n略g.一Wer，陀ecorl吋de吋ddeliberate 加bumi加ngぱ0ffI白or，陀esはtand aquatic vegetation at eight of n凶i即newetlands. In the Bung Pulone complex，> 7 0% vegetation within 50 m of five lakes had been bumt in the previous two ye紅s.Local guides stated出atbuming is conducted to assist hunting.τ'heX e Pian and Xe Khampho rivers retained large sections of unbumt riverine forest during our visits. Logging.-Wer ecorded timber logging at five of nine wetlands: three sites inside the NPA( Xe Pian and XeK hampho rivers，N ong Khel ake) and two lakes outside the NPA( Bung Khe，No ng KhamM iem). At the Bung Pulone complex in April，w eo bserved clearance of a 50-m wide swathe of mature mixed dipterocarp/deciduous forest，ex tending many kilome- tres，as part of ap owerline construction project (below). This activity involved clearance of additional forest for vehicle access and stockpiles of machinery and timber near Ban Pindon village. Cleared timber was being removed by heavy vehicles for commercial sale. In the NPAo n 2J une at the XeP ian/Xe Khampho confluence，w eo bserved recent felling of 30-40 large (20+ m high) dipterocarp trees，ov er 15 kmf rom the nearest village.1t is not known who conducted this logging，al though local guides stated it was for subsistence use. 228 MARK R. BEZ山 ENETAL. Cultivation.-In the NPA，w e observed five sections of cultivated riverbanks (each >1 h a) a10ng remote regions ofthe XeP ian (n =4 ) and XeK hampho (n =1 )，ov er 10 kmf rom 血enearest village. All sites had been cleared and burnt wi出in出eprevious 12 months and planted with rice or dipterocarp trees (as ac ash crop). Sma11se asonal camps were present at these sites but only one was attended; the‘owner' of this site stated he was from Ban Mai village (outside the NPA). Conversion of riverbanks in remote are ofthe NPAi s being undertaken 回 by communities from within and outside the NPA. Two of seven lakes wev isited，bo th in the NPA，we re partly cultivated with rice: Nong Khe( 60% of land within a5 0-m radius around the lake) and Nong Pa1u( 10%). Both lakes have supported wet-season rice cultivation since 白e1960s (residents ofBanNongkhe village，pe rs. commふNongPa1uis located in relatively intact forest but Nong Khe，ne xt to Ban Nongkhe village，is highly modified by cultivation dgr ing.At Ban Nongkhe and Ban Phonesaat villages，cu ltivated lands extend severa1 佃 昭 hundred metres from the settlements. Noc ultivation was observed at wetlands in the Bung Pulone complex. Noi rrigated rice cultivation was observed at any wetlands or villages. Livestock.-Wee ncountered domestic buffalo at seven of nine wetlands: five wetlands = were entirely grazed. Mean herd size encountered was 25 (range 1-43，n 5w etlands). We observed 25 domestic cows (with ah erd of29 buffa1o) at only one lake，No ng KhamM iem. All herds were unaccompanied and had ranged 2-12 kmf rom the ne tvillage. Seasonallakes 紅白 were intensively grazed and retained as psecover of grasses. At permanent lakes，we tland 紅 vegetation was trampled and damaged. Local guides stated出ata11we tlands wev isited were used as water sources for livestock. Non・timberforest product (NTFP) coIIection. -Weo bserved collection of tree resin， bamboo shoots，m ushrooms，aq uatic invertebrates，pl ants and frogs by local communities， who stated this was for subsistence use and sa1e. Dipterocarp tree resin ‘(nam man yang' in Lao language) is bumt as al ight so andalso used for boat caulks and vamishes: collec- 町田 tion involves cutting and buming al arge incision in at ree to stimulate resin secretion. In the NPA，at the XeP ianJXeK hampho confluence on 2J une we observed fresh resin-cuttings on 15 mature (20+ m high) trees. Containers oftree resin and ‘torches' (grass bundles dipped in resin) were observed at the four villages we visited and for sale at nearby district markets. At Ban Phonesaat village on 4J une，w e saw over 100 kg of wild edible mushrooms (Astraeus hygrometricus) ‘(het phor' in Lao language) collected by residents from nearby forests. Residents sold these to the village head for 3，000 Kip (USD 0.30)/kg，w ho would transport them to血.ene訂'estdistrict market 白(vehours away by motorised boat and vehicle) and sell them for 5，000 Kip (USD 0.50)/kg. RegionaI development. -Weo bserved construction of a5 0mwide powerl泊eease- ・ ment at the Bung Pulone complex，-5 00 m north of the NPAb order，in April. This easement extends between Attapu and Champasak provinces. Easement construction had resulted in forest clearance and exposure of the south margin of one lake，Bu ng Khe. Nof orestry officia1s were observed to attend this logging during our five-day visit to血iswetland complex. WetIand disturbance scores.-The highest disturbances at most wetlands were from ‘cattle' (livestock grazing/trampling in wetlands)‘，dist ce'(close proximity to villages) and 加 ‘buming' (of wetland/forest vegetation)，wh ich accounted for 58-69%o f maximum possible scores (Table 2). Direct impacts weo bserved from these variables inc1uded loss and degrada- tion of wetland and forest vegetation，an d soil damage at wetland margins. WETLAND RESOURCE USE IN XE PIAN NATIONAL PROTECTED AREA 229 Table 2. ‘Disturbance' scores at nine wetlands in and near XeP ian National Protected Area， Laos，2 005 (1 = no/little disturbance，4 = high disturbance). TotaI 1月Vetland Clearance Burning Fishing Cattle Distance Weed scoreJsite Nong Khe 4 4 4 4 4 21 Xe Khampho river 4 2 4 13 Nong Kham Miem 3 4 3 13 Bung Pulone 3 4 2 12 Nong Hoi 3 4 2 12 Xe Pian river 4 4 12 Nong Palu 2 2 4 11 Bung Khe 4 2 10 Nong Khoung Hape 3 2 9 Total (max. possible score = 36) 13 21 18 25 23 12 Mean score for 24 wetlands* 2 2 2 2 3 2 % (= score/36)x100 36 [57] 58 [58] 50 [57] 69 [59] 64 [66] 33 [56] [%score for 24 wetlands*] *Derived from total disturbance scores for 24 wetlands in southern Laos incIuding the 9w etlands in this study (data from BEZUIJEN ET AL. 2006) Nong Khe lake was the most degraded wetland we visited (score 21 from am aximum possible score of 36，Ta ble 2) and was located adjacent to Ban Nongkhe village. The most intact wetland was Nong Khoung Hape lake (score 9)，wh ere wed id not observe cultivation， buming，li vestock grazing or weeds，an d which was 4.5 kmf rom the nearest village. Other sites were similar in extent of total disturbance (scores 10-13，n = 7 ) although the extent of individual disturbance variables varied slightly between sites (Table 2).‘Weed invasion' and ‘clearance' were absent from all except two sites，al though another weed M. pudica was abundant in Nong Khe lake (it occupied 30% of vegetation cover within a5 0-m radius around the lake). Cultivation was only recorded at Nong Khe and Nong Palu lakes，bo th within the NPA. DISCUSSION In 2005 we observed eight categories of human activities at wetlands in and near Xe Pian NPA: hunting and wildlife trade，f ishing，b uming of wetland and forest vegetation， logging，c ultivation，l ivestock grazing，c ollection of non-timber forest products，a nd powerline construction. All activities，ex cept powerline construction，w ere recorded at the s ame or nearby wetlands 5-12 years previously and all are listed as threats to the NPA( TIMMINS ETA L.， 1993; GOL，20 00). Hunting occurs throughout the NPA( TIMMINS ETA L.， 1993) and apparently occurred in the Xe Kong Plains during the Indochinese Conflict (1961-75) (residents，pe rs. comm.). In 2005-06，co mmercial trade in wildlife and fish was documented in白eareas wev isited (SINGH 230 MARK R. BEZUIJEN ETA L Table 3. Fishing activity along XeP ian river，La os. Fishing camps on Xe Pian river Motorised boats on Xe Pian Date Source (density over 75 km)* (density over 29.5 km)** 19-0ct・2000 29 (O.4/km) 31 (l.llkm) 恥1.K.Pouls巴nin litt 1-Jun-2005 19 (0.3/km) 30 (1Ikm) Current study May・2006 19 (0.3/km) 26 (0.9Ikm) SINGH ET AL. (2006) *Ban Mai village-Xe PianlXeK ong confluence; **Ban Mai-Ban Phonesaat villages ETA L.，20 06). Ban Mai village is af ocal point of wildlife trade due to its proximity to the NPA and ad istrict road (SINGH ETA L.，20 06). The decline of large mammals，bi rds and Siamese Crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis) (‘Critically Endangered') in the NPAi s largely attributed to hunting (TIMMINS ETA L. 1993; DUCKWORTH ETA L.，1 994，1 995; BEZUIJEN ETA L.，20 06). Fish and other aquatic fauna and flora are the most commonly traded natural resource in and near XeP ian NPA. Since 2000 the number of fishing camps and motorised boats along the Xe Pian river appears to have remained relatively constant (Table 3)，al though interpretation of these data is limited due to differences in seasonal timing of counts. Local communities report that fishing activity and numbers of seasonal fishing camps in the NPAh as increased since the 1990s (S別GHETA L.，20 06). Local communities in and near Xe Pian NPA report declines in fish populations and attribute this to over-harvesting (POULSEN &L UANGLA:四，2005;SINGH ETA L.， 2006). In 2005， weo bserved fishing camps on virtually all sandbars along the XeP ian and XeK hampho rivers. Fishing may be impacting other fauna such as birds and ωrtles. Dry-season sandbars along these rivers are zoned as‘Ecologically Sensitive Sites' (GOL，20 00) and are critical nesting habitat for some threatened bird species (T田 WLISETA L. 1996) and potentially，Ca ntor's Giant Softshell Turtle (Pelocheかscantorii) (‘Endangered'). Human presence may suppress bird and turtle nesting activity，an d fishermen actively search for nests (and other fauna) to supplement their diet or income. Buming of wetland and forest vegetation，lo gging，cu ltivation and livestock gr位泊ghad caused direct loss and degradation of wetland vegetation and soil at the sites we visited. At Nong Palu lake，lo ng-term livestock presence may have caused ad ecline in extent and quality of native vegetation: in March 1993，th is wetland was p tiallygrazed/trampled by domestic 紅 buffalo，bu t retained tall reedbeds and shrubs，an d ar oosting colony of 50 unidentified weavers (THEWLIS ETA L. 1996); in 2005，th e lake was entirely grazed by bu百alo，supported al ow (< 0.5 m) cover of grasses and no bird colonies. Human activities have also caused loss of breeding habitat and disturbance to threatened fauna confirmed to occur at the wetlands we visited， e.g. Siamese Crocodile，Le sser Fish Eagle (/chthyophaga humilis) (‘Near Threatened') and l紅gewaterbirds (DAVENPORT ETAL.， 1997; THEWLISETAL.，1 998; BEZUIJEN，20 06; BEZUIJEN ETA L.，20 06). Elsewhere in the NPA，un regulated logging has also damaged wetland habitats (CLARIDGE，20 00). Arange ofNTFPs are harvested in the NPA( GOL，20 00; POULSEN &L UANGLATH，20 05)， although potential impacts to wetlands are unclear. The extent of dipterocarp resin collection in the NPAi s unknown，bu t studies in Cambodia concluded this practice causes low direct tree mortality (EVANS ETA L.，20 03). Within 12 months between 2005 and 2006，th e village price WETLAND RESOURCE USE IN XE PIAN NATlONAL PROTECTED AREA 231 of edible mushrooms (A. hygrometricus) in the NPA increased from USD 0.30/kg (current study) to USD 2/kg，d ue to commercial demand in Laos and Thailand，c ausing some fish traders to temporarily switch to mushroom trade (SINGH ETA L.， 2006). Market prices of this species reach USD5 -6/kg in Thailand (NAFRI ETA L.，20 07). Unregulated regional development is ak ey threat to biodiversity in and near Xe Pian NPA. Powerline construction observed in 2005 had removed wetland vegetation and created new road access at the south margin of Bung Khe lake. This wetland was one of only two sites in Laos where successful breeding of Siamese Crocodile was confirmed in 2005，a nd is globally important for this species (BEZUlJEN ETA L.，20 06). Planned developments in and near the NPAi nclude commercial peat extraction (previously proposed at Bung Khe lakea nd planned at other wetlands in and near the NPA)，co nstruction ofthe XeN amN oy/Xe Pian dam northeastofthe NPA(in 2008) and upgrade of district roads (GOL，20 03; THORBJARNARSON 開 ETA L. 2004; COLENCO POWER ENGINEERING，20 07). These activities will almost certainly result in wetland degradation and will further impact threatened wetland fauna. High regional population growth has almost certainly resulted in increased extraction of wetland resources compared with the 1990s. In 2005，th e total population of four villages we visited was 1，717，co mpared with 1，239 in 1996 (CPAWM，19 96; M. K. Poulsen，un published data): increases of 25-77% per village and mean annual growth rates of 3-8%. Population growth at Ban Phonesaat and Ban Nongkhe (in the NPA) was higher from 2000-2005 than from 1996ー2000(respective increases of 5%t o 19% in Ban Phonesaat，a nd 8%t o 37% in Ban Nongkhe). At Ban Nongkhe，th e population increased from five families in 1962 to 77 families in 2005 (residents，pe rs. comm.): an increase of 1.7f amilies/year (we do not know the extent of in-migration versus births in these villages). Despite these threats，t he wetlands we visited in Xe Pian NPA and the Bung Pulone complex were among the most intact of 24 wetlands surveyed in three provinces in southern Laos (BEZUlJEN ETA L.， 2006). Nong Palu and Nong Khoung Hape lakes (in the NPA) and Bung Khe lake (Bung Pulone complex) were in the top five least disturbed wetlands (< 50% maximum possible disturbance scores). In the nine wetlands in and near XeP ian NPA， ‘clearance' and ‘weed invasion' were absent in all except two sites，bu t at 15 other wetlands surveyed in southern Laos‘，clearance'‘ ，weed invasion' and close proximity to settlements ‘(distance ') accounted for most disturbances to wetlands (BEZUIJEN ETA L.， 2006). The reasons for higher intactness of wetlands in and near Xe Pian NPAa re unclear，bu t may include legal protection status (none of the 15 other wetlands were in national protected areas)，r emote location and low human populations. The threats to wetland biodiversity we describe in and near Xe Pian NPAa re common to many wetlands in southern Laos. Most wetlands in this region are located on the ‘Mekong Plain'，a n aπow strip of flat，fe rtile landく200m elevation which suppo此sthe country's most important agriculturallands and highest human populations (density 5，500 peoplell，OOO ha cultivated land) (DUCKWORTH ETA L.， 1999; ICEM，20 03). In this landscape，ri vers and lakes are targeted for water-related infrastructure (dams，re servoirs，ir rigated agriculture) yet also provide critical dietary resources for local communities (MEUSCH ETA L.， 2003; MOLLOT ET AL.， 2005)，re sulting in increasing pressures on remnant wetlands. Current management activities in the ‘Xe Khampho-Xe Pian-Xe Kong Priority Management Area' of Xe Pian NPA include infrequent ranger patrols，g un confiscation， meetings between NPAs taff and local communities，a nd establishment of fish conservation zones near Ban Phonesaat village (POULSEN &L UANGLATH，20 05; K. Luanglath，pe rs. comm.; 232 MARK R. BEZUIJEN ET AL authors' observations). NPAs taff reported to us they are hindered by low management budgets 組 dinsu妊icientequipment，e. g. patrol boats and fue .lDespite ar elatively intensive history of ICDPs in the NPA，th ere has been no sustained project presence in the Xe Kong Plains region for at least six years. At the Bung Pulone complex，n o management activities have been developed. In contrast，li velihood，ec otourism and biodiversity conservation projects are being implemented or planned in and near the NPAi n Champasak province，b y ar ange of provincial govemment and intemational agencies. Effective wetland management in the NPA will require new conservation activities in the Xe Kong Plains region in Attapu province. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Our brief visits to Xe Pian NPA in 2005 were insu伍cientto properly assess wetland status，ye t they confirm at least three conditions in the Xe Kong Plains region of the NPA: first，th at all human threatst o wetland biodiversity documented 5-12 years previously persist and some，es pecially commercial fishing，su bsistence agriculture and regional development， have probably increased; second，th at wetland resources (wildlife，fi sh，N TFPs) remain an important component in the diet and income of communities in and near the NPA; third，th at management is urgently required in the ‘Xe KhamphoーXePian-Xe Kong Priority Manage- ment Area' of XeP ian NPAa nd for as mall complex of wetlands outside the NPAw ith high biodiversity value. Based on our observations，w e provide the following recommendations: (1) Implement existing NPAr egulations (GOL，20 00) for management of infrastructure development，d ry-season fishing and sandbar protection，ag riculture，l ogging，p opulation growth，vi llage land zonation and NTFPc ollection; (2) Strengthen community involvement in wetland management in and near the NPA， because these wetlands are focal points of local use; (3) Develop community management at the Bung Pulone complex，in cluding designation of'nobum'and 'non sidential'zones; ・ 刊 (4) Conduct new awareness activities about NPAr egulations (to followupICDPefforts 司 >6ye spreviously) targeting enforcement agencies，lo cal traders and communities; 紅 (5) Strengthen technical capacity ofNPA staffto engage in regional development planning and assess potential町lpactsto the NPAo f proposed developments; (6) Assess current logistical needs to strengthen law enforcement in the NPA，e. g. patrolling; (7) Consider nomination of Xe Pian NPA as aR amsar site，w hich may strengthen intemational support for future funding; (8) Assess current wetland status and management requirements elsewhere in Xe Pian NPA，es pecially sections of the NPAi n Champasak province. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Observations were made during ac rocodile survey project funded by the Mekong Wetlands Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use Programme (MWBP) and Wildlife Conservation Society Lao Programme. The MWBPi s aj oint program of the four nations of the Lower Mekong Basin (Cambodia，La o PDR，Th ailand and Viet Nam)，m anaged by the