KAENG KRACHARN FOREST COMPLEX
APINYA WIPATAYOTIN
Thailand plans to apply for natural World Heritage status for the Kaeng Kracharn forest complex, which covers a pristine tropical forest area in Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan provinces. Songtham Suksawang, director of the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department's national park research division, said the forest is worthy of World Heritage status due to its high ecological value.
''The forest complex is home to several wildlife species, including tigers and birds. There are also many plant species endemic to the forest such as Magnolia mediocris and Magnolia gustavii, which are flower species, and climbing plant species called tang panoen tung [Trichosanthes phonsenae],'' he said.
The agency will nominate the Kaeng Kracharn forest complex, along with 17 marine sites known as the Andaman complex, to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) by the end of the year.
The process will take about two years before Unesco's World Heritage Committee takes up the Thai nominations for consideration, said Mr Songtham.
If approved, the Kaeng Kracharn forest complex will become the country's third natural World Heritage site after the Thungyai-Huay Kha Khaeng wildlife sanctuary (1991) and the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai forest complex (2005).
The Kaeng Kracharn forest complex comprises three national parks, including Kaeng Kracharn national park _ the country's biggest park _ and a wildlife sanctuary park covering 482,225 hectares.
A recent study of the Kaeng Kracharn forest found a number of critically endangered species of wild animals. The study also found 91 species of mammals and 461 types of birds, which is more than half of all bird species recorded worldwide.
Every year the World Heritage Committee reviews applications for World Heritage status and puts out a new list. This year the 32nd session will be held in Quebec, Canada, from July 2-10.
A total of 14 natural sites and 33 cultural sites are nominated for World Heritage status this year.
The Thai delegation joining the Quebec meeting will update the committee about the construction of a wildlife corridor to link Khao Yai and Tap Lan national parks, said Mr Songtham.
The committee has recommended Thailand install the wildlife crossing at the World Heritage site of Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai to help wild animals cross a road that runs through the forest complex in the eastern provinces.
Mr Songtham said that the Highways Department had shortlisted three models of the wildlife crossing and had been studying the environmental impact of each model
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