Human Population and Destruction of Habitat

One of the main threats the Saola is facing is the loss of their habitat. This is especially prevalent due to the increase in human population size which in turn threatens the natural habitat.

The population in the Annamites region amounts to over 25 million. This increase in population has led to migration programmes in which people are moved to remote but accessible areas in the Annamites mountain. The increase of population in these once secluded regions have dire impacts on the natural habitat.

Credits: Vaughan-Taylor, A.

Credits: Vaughan-Taylor, A.

Credits: Vaughan-Taylor, A.

Credits: Vaughan-Taylor, A.

Firstly,  the forested areas are cleared for land for these new immigrants and for their agriculture production.  In addition, to better support the agriculture production of the population living here, infrastructural developments such as the building of dams and roads place a  destructive threat to biodiversity as there is an indefinite loss of habitat. Dams affect the rivers in these regions by flooding, altering water flow and disrupting the migration and movement of fishes. Also, roads open up remote areas that were once inaccessible. This leads to increased opportunities for hunting as well as further migration of people into remote parts of the region and thus the destruction of habitat cycle continues.

Secondly, the economies of Vietnam and Laos depends heavily on timber and thus logging activities are prevalent in the Annamite regions, causing further destruction to the habitat.