Scientists report that there are still hundreds of hectares of primary forest in the inaccessible limestone karst as well as on the high mountain peaks. However, most of the forest in the nature reserve is restricted to ridges and hill tops, while valley bottoms have been cleared for wet rice cultivation and lower slopes for shifting cultivation of maize and cassava.
Three orchid species thought to be new to science were recently discovered at the site, and the site may be of importance for the conservation of a number of other plant species of conservation concern. However, because the remaining forest at the site is heavily disturbed and fragmented, and continues to be degraded as a result of human activities, it is unlikely that Pa Co-Hang Kia is of high importance for the conservation of bird and mammal species.