Following the killing of the last rare rhinoceros in Vietnam by poachers, scientists are calling for better management at Cat Tien National Park to ensure that habitats for rare species remain protected.

A newly built road in the buffer zone in Cat Tien National Park has made it easier for illegal loggers to cut down trees in the area near the park

"Habitats lost by human exploitation of resources as well as construction of infrastructure are threatening extinction of other species, including elephants, bears and primates," said Dr Vu Ngoc Long, deputy director of the HCM City based Tropical Biology Institute.

The extinction of the Java rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus) in Vietnam has alarmed conversationists in the country.

Flora and fauna in the park\'s Cat Loc area is the natural habitat for Java rhinos as well as more than 70 species, including those on the critically endangered list of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).

On October 25, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) held a media briefing in Ha Noi, confirming that the rhino is extinct in Vietnam, following an extensive investigation that began in April last year.

The Indochine tiger, leopard, elephant and another 13 species are on the endangered list, and 12 species are on the vulnerable list of the IUCN.

Pham Thi Cam Nhung, co-ordinator of WWF Greater Mekong, said the construction of several planned power plants inside the park would reduce the habitats for flora and fauna, and increase the hunting and logging.

Nhung told a recent workshop on park management that noise from construction would create stress and lower the reproductive rate of the animals.

In addition, changes in water quantity and quality would change the habitat of these species.

"The blasts from mining to build power plants would affect rare, endemic and endangered species within a radius of 40km of the park," said Tran Van Thanh, the park\'s director.

"The construction and operation of plants inside or near the park will create pollution," he said, adding that it would also increase the number of people living in the area.

To improve management of the park, Thanh called for the co-operation of local authorities in the park\'s buffer zones. The park is located in Dong Nai Province, bordering Binh Phuoc, Lam Dong and Dak Nong provinces.

Long said he was concerned that major roads that have been built in Lam Dong Province in the park\'s buffer zone would enable loggers and hunters to enter the park more easily.

Since the completion of these roads, many trees on nearby hills have been cut down by illegal loggers.

Two power plants proposed to be built within the park would reclaim 327ha of forestland in the park and its buffer zone.

"We have lost habitats, which have led to the extinction of the Java rhinos and have threatened other rare species," said Long. "Thus, we need to ask parties who are planning construction to strictly comply with laws, protect the forest, and ban construction."