Vietnams Green Corridor

The Green Corridor project was a four-year initiative launched in June 2004 by the WWF Greater Mekong Programme and the Thừa Thiên Huế Provincial Forest Protection Department. The project received $2 million from the Global Environment Facility, the World Wildlife Fund, and the Development Organisation of the Netherlands to protect biodiversity in Vietnam. Additional funding came from the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Concannon Foundation for primate conservation efforts and surveys. The project focused on safeguarding 1,340 square kilometers of forest in Thừa Thiên Huế Province through improved protection methods. Between 2005 and 2006, 11 new species were discovered in the Green Corridor, including two butterflies, a snake, five orchids, and three other plants, all endemic to Vietnam’s Annamite Mountains. The newly identified snake, *Hebius leucomystax*, is semi-aquatic, grows up to 80 cm, and has distinctive yellow-white stripes and red dots. Among the butterfly species was a grass skipper from the genus *Zela* and another belonging to a new genus in the Satyrinae subfamily. Three orchid species were entirely leafless, relying on decaying matter for survival, while others included an aspidistra with nearly black flowers and a new aroid species with yellow spathes. The WWF highlighted that these species face threats from illegal logging, hunting, and resource exploitation. The Thừa Thiên Huế Provincial Forest Protection Department committed to conserving the area, recognizing its importance for environmental services and sustainable development. Surveys revealed the presence of 15 reptiles and amphibians, six bird species, and Vietnam’s largest population of southern ...