Yok Don National Park

Semi-evergreen forest in Yok Don National Park

Yok Don National Park was established in 1991 in Buon Don District, Dak Lak Province, in order to protect 58,200 hectares of lowland dipterocarp forest.

Scientific studies justified expanding the park to the north to include further areas of biological importance. As a result, in 2002, the boundary was redefined to include a total of 115,545 hectares, making Yok Don Viet Nam’s largest national park.

The park occupies relatively flat land with two small mountains to the south of the Srepok River. It is mainly under natural forest, most of which is dry dipterocarp forest. Yok Don is the only national park in Viet Nam conserving this particular forest type.

Forest cover map of Yok Don National Park [GIF 315KB 1200x1696px]

Black-shanked Douc Langur at Yok Don Mountain

The national park is an important site for the conservation of large mammals, particularly Gaur, Banteng and Blackshanked Douc Langur. It is also regarded as one of the most important areas in the country for bird conservation, particularly for Green Peafowl. Its importance is further strengthened by recent discoveries of the Giant Ibis and Mekong Wagtail in the park.

Although only one village is located within the park, the forests and wildlife of Yok Don National Park are under threat from hunting, grazing and bush fires. Furthermore, pressure is increasing with population migration and infrastructure development in the immediate vicinity of the national park.

Same forest, different seasons: the contrasting difference between the deciduous dipterocarp forest in the dry and wet seasons.

Publications

Some experiences for dealing with human-elephant conflicts Vietnamese

Reports

Draft final biodiversity report on Yok Don National Park
English

First Report: Conservation Management
English

Second Report: Conservation Management
English Vietnamese

Operational Plan for Yok Don National Park
Vietnamese

Review of previous activities and forestry possibilities for PARC Project at Yok Don National Park
English Vietnamese

The forest rehabilitation needs of Yok Don National Park
English Vietnamese

Resource Use Plan for Krong Na Commune
Vietnamese

Resource Use Plan for Ea Huar Commune
Vietnamese

Mission Report: Community Development Specialist
English Vietnamese

Assessment of the Community Development Programme
Vietnamese

Ecotourism Promotion / Development for Yok Don
English Vietnamese

Environmental Education Curricula
Vietnamese only: Grade 3; Grade 4; Grade 5; Grade 6 ; Grade 7 ; Grade 8 ; Grade 9

Sustainable Financing Mechanisms for Yok Don National Park
English Vietnamese