We forecasted potential impacts of climate change on the ability of a network of key sites for bird conservation (Important Bird Areas; IBAs) to provide suitable climate for 370 bird species of current conservation concern in two Asian biodiversity hotspots: the Eastern Himalaya and Lower Mekong. Comparable studies have largely not accounted for uncertainty, which may lead to inappropriate conclusions. We quantified the contribution of four sources of variation (choice of general circulation models, emission scenarios and species distribution modelling methods and variation in species distribution data) to uncertainty in forecasts and tested if our projections were robust to these uncertainties. Declines in the availability of suitable climate within the IBA network by 2100 were forecast as 'extremely likely' for 45% of species, whereas increases were projected for only 2%. Thus, we predict almost 24 times as many 'losers' as 'winners'. However, for no species was suitable climate 'extremely likely' to be completely lost from the network. Considerable turnover (median = 43%, 95% CI = 35-69%) in species compositions of most IBAs were projected by 2100. Climatic conditions in 47% of IBAs were projected as 'extremely likely' to become suitable for fewer priority species. However, no IBA was forecast to become suitable for more species. Variation among General Circulation Models and Species Distribution Models contributed most to uncertainty among forecasts. This uncertainty precluded firm conclusions for 53% of species and IBAs because 95% confidence intervals included projections of no change. Considering this uncertainty, however, allows robust recommendations concerning the remaining species and IBAs. Overall, while the IBA network will continue to sustain bird conservation, climate change will modify which species each site will be suitable for. Thus, adaptive management of the network, including modified site conservation strategies and facilitating species' movement among sites, is critical to ensure effective future conservation.

SummaryThe Grey-crowned Crocias Crocias langbianis, previously known from three specimens collected near Da Lat, Lam Dong province, Vietnam, was rediscovered in Chu Yang Sin Nature Reserve, Dak Lak province, in January 1994. Subsequent fieldwork at this site in March and April 1995 revealed the presence of a population inhabiting lower-montane evergreen forest. The species was recorded during an eight-day period. The species appears to have highly specific ecological requirements and several management recommendations are made which would reduce the level of threat to the habitat of the species at this site.

Four species of wild canids are documented as occurring in Vietnam: Dhole Cuon alpinus, Eurasian Golden Jackal Canis aureus, Red Fox Vulpes vulpes and Raccoon Dog Nyctereutes procyonoides.  Except for Dhole, all species are widely distributed globally and are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.  Concerned by the paucity of recent records of these species from Vietnam, especially in the context of rapidly declining mammal populations in the country in general, we undertook a review of the status of these species in Vietnam.  All traceable and potentially verifiable canid records from 01 January 2002 until 31 December 2018 were collated and reviewed.  The Dhole, formerly the most widely distributed of all canid species in Vietnam, and Raccoon Dog, apparently formerly widely distributed in the northern part of the country, appear to have both declined; Dhole is now either extirpated, or close to extirpation, while Raccoon Dog is of uncertain status.  The Eurasian Golden Jackal does not seem to have been reliably observed in the wild since 2004, although it is possible the species may persist in some areas.  Red Fox has only ever been known from a handful of records, and the current status of this species is unknown. In summary, Vietnam cannot be considered to sustain healthy populations of any of its four native wild canid species. These declines seem largely attributable to hunting of both the canids themselves and, for Dhole, their prey base, exacerbated by habitat loss. 

SummaryChu Yang Sin Nature Reserve, Dak Lak Province, Vietnam, is within an area of high bird endemism and supports a number of globally threatened and restricted-range species. Data were collected on the bird communities of the Reserve and their habitat in 1995, to ascertain habitat associations of some of the endemic and threatened taxa. Birds were surveyed in circular plots around a recording point. Habitat associations were investigated using Discriminant Function Analysis, and populations estimated using DISTANCE.Seven restricted-range species and 38 restricted-range subspecies were recorded in the survey. The number of contacts with some of the endemic species was low, which limited the statistical investigation of the habitat requirements of these species. When analysis was possible, altitude was the most important of the factors measured determining species distributions, while measures of forest architecture seemed less important. The area appears to support important populations of several restricted-range taxa and, provided that protection and management of the protected area can be enhanced, it remains one of the most important areas for bird conservation in southern Vietnam. Some drawbacks of the techniques used in the survey are discussed.

SummaryThe Red River Delta in northern Vietnam is an important stopover and wintering site for migratory waterbirds. During the spring of 1994, six globally threatened and five near-threatened species were observed in the coastal areas of the Delta. According to current applications of threat categories, one of the species has Critical status (Black-faced Spoonbill Platalea minor), three are Endangered (Nordmann's Greenshank Tringa guttifer, Saunders's Gull Larus saundersi and Chinese Egret Egretta eulophotes), two are Vulnerable (Spoonbill Sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmaeus and Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis) and five are Near-threatened (Asian Dowitcher Limnodromus semipalmatus, Grey-headed Lapwing Vanellus cinereus, Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus, Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala and Japanese Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone atrocaudata). A nature reserve, also listed as a Ramsar area, already exists in the middle of the Delta. The Cua Day Estuary in the southern part of the delta is not included in either the nature reserve or Ramsar area. However, observations of 260 Saunders's Gulls and 41 Black-faced Spoonbills, which represent 9% and 12% of the estimated respective world populations, indicates the international importance of this area. The major threats to the waterbirds using the delta are reclamation of intertidal sand- and mudflats for aquaculture, increased disturbance associated with collection of sea products and hunting. Recommendations are made for future conservation actions.