Nam Et-Phou Louey

Nam Et / Phou Louey National Biodiversity Conservation Area
Managed Resource Protected Area (IUCN VI)
Name origin: Nam Et River and Phou Louey (“Forever Mountain”)
Country	Laos
Province	Houaphan, Luang Prabang, Xieng Khouang
Location
- coordinates	20°00′N 103°18′E / 20°N 103.3°E / 20; 103.3Coordinates: 20°00′N 103°18′E / 20°N 103.3°E / 20; 103.3
- elevation	1,000 m (3,281 ft)
Area	3,000 km2 (1,158 sq mi)
Southeast Asia, Laos (green)
Website : Lao People’s Democratic Republic - National Report on Protected Areas and Development

Nam Et-Phou Louey National Biodiversity Conservation Area (NBCA) is a protected area in northern Laos, covering 5,959 km2 in three provinces - Houaphan, Luang Prabang and Xieng Khouang. The park includes a 3,000 km2 core area where human access and wildlife harvest is prohibited, and a 2,950 km2 buffer area where pre-existing villages are allocated land for subsistence living.^[1]

The park consists mainly of mountains and hills, with altitude ranging between 336 and 2257 metres above sea level. The area is the source of many rivers. It is named after the Nam Et River and Phou Louey Mountain (“Forever Mountain”). The area has a high level of biodiversity, and a number of endangered species including tiger, leopard, clouded leopard, Asian golden cat, marbled cat, civet, gaur, Sambar deer, white-cheeked gibbon, sun bear, black bear, Asian elephant, dhole, hornbill and three species of otter.^[2]

Villagers living in the Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park include Tai Dam, Tai Daeng, Tai Kao, Tai Puan, Tai Lue, Tai Yuan, Khmu, Hmong Kao, Hmong Lai, and Yao.

Viengthong, a small town in Houaphanh Province is the location of the Nam Et-Phou Louey NPA headquarters and visitor centre, where tours into the park can be organised. The town has basic accommodation and a handful of restaurants serving Lao food. There are many biking and walking trails, as well as hot springs.

Night Safari

It is possible to do a night safari in a traditional long-tail boat steered by ethnic guides. The trip includes bird watching, wildlife tracking at the Boung Man salt lick, night time wildlife spotting, medicinal plant discovery and moderate hiking. The safari is designed to promote community involvement in wildlife protection. The fees, which include a bonus if a tiger is spotted, are used for a community development fund. This special fee for tigers is charged in order to provide local people with higher incentives to protect this extremely endangered species. The amount of money in the fund can be reduced in the event that a villager breaks the laws of the national protected area. Visitors can spend one or two nights in a local village.^[3]

References

External links

• Ecotourism Laos - Protected Areas
• Nam Et-Phou Louey NPA