Diversity depends on scale in the forests of the Central Highlands of Vietnam

Tropical forests are among the most diverse and threatened ecosystems. The montane forests in the Central Highlands of Vietnam have outstanding biodiversity and unique species, yet we know little about them. This study characterised the natural forest in Dam Rong, Ha Nung and Yok Don. We identified six discrete communities and their indicator species. The Highland Floodplain forest had tree species richness of up to 22 species/400 m2 and 70 species/ha. The lowland forests of Yok Don had three distinct communities, despite having the lowest mean species richness (5 species/400 m2), highlighting that biodiversity should be assessed at multiple scales. This study illustrates the high species richness of the forests of Vietnam, and provides an important record of tree species (including rare and threatened species). Our community determinations can be used in future conservation management planning.