The Bach Ma area has long been noted for its rich
biodiversity. One reason is that, within a relatively small area, the area
supports a wide range of habitat types, from coastal lagoons to montane forest.
Additionally, Bach Ma is situated at a biogeographically boundary between
northern and southern
The main forest types found within the national park are
lowland evergreen forest below 900 m, and montane evergreen forest above this
elevation. Plant species richness within remaining forest areas is, however,
still high, and the wider Bach Ma-Hai Van area is considered to be one of seven
globally important Centres of Plant Diversity in
The mammal fauna of Bach Ma is incompletely known, and only
48 species have so far been confirmed to occur at the national park. However, a
large number of mammal species of conservation concern have been recorded at
Bach Ma National Park, for example, Red-shanked Douc Pygathrix nemaeus and a
species of gibbon.
To date, 249 bird species have been recorded at Bach Ma
National Park, and the number of species recorded in the wider Bach Ma-Hai Van
area totals 330. The national park lies at the southern extent of the Annamese
Lowlands Endemic Bird Area and is known to support populations of at least four
of the restricted range species found in this EBA: Annam Partridge Arborophila
merlini, Crested Argus Rheinardia ocellata, Short-tailed Scimitar Babbler
Jabouilleia danjoui and Grey-faced Tit Babbler Macronous kelleyi. In addition,
the national park supports a population of an endemic subspecies of Silver
Pheasant Lophura nycthemera beli. Also of great conservation importance was the
record, in May 1998, of Edwards’s Pheasant Lophura edwardsi, 1 km outside of
the buffer zone of Bach Ma National Park. This globally endangered species was
believed extinct until its rediscovery at Phong Dien and Dakrong proposed
nature reserves in 1996. Because of its importance for globally threatened and
restricted-range bird species, Bach Ma qualifies as an Important Bird Area.