HCMC – The Central Highlands of Vietnam is seen as a major biodiversity hub for bamboo, with 32 species across 16 different genera. The highest concentration is found in ecosystems below 1,000 meters.
This key finding is part of a newly released national-level scientific database project conducted by scientists at the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST). The research not only underscores the region’s rich biodiversity within tropical moist closed forests but also clarifies the ecological adaptability of each species, providing a rigorous scientific foundation for conservation and the sustainable exploitation of non-timber forest products.
The comprehensive study, led by Nong Van Duy and his colleagues from VAST’s Institute of Life Sciences, spanned a vast geographic area including the Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park and Ta Dung in Lam Dong Province, the dipterocarp forests of Ea Sup and Buon Don in Daklak Province, Kon Na Hung in Gia Lai Province, and the Ngoc Linh mountain range in Quang Ngai Province.
Notably, the project has established a morphological database for all 32 identified species, supplemented molecular biology data for nine representative species, and completed a standardized herbarium collection of 96 specimens. This serves as a long-term scientific resource, contributing to the standardization of information on Central Highlands bamboo and opening new avenues for resource research and management through a more modern and sustainable approach in the coming time.
