@THAILAND
Rich in biodiversity, Kaeng Krachan forest complex will be offered for World Heritage status, writes Chaiwat Satyaem
Kaeng Krachan is another prime forest complex in terms of richness and quality of bio-diversity in the country whose application is being prepared for listing as a World Heritage site.
It has been said that the renowned Thung Yai Naresuan and Huay Kha Khaeng forests - both World Heritage sites - were natural gems. Now Kaeng Krachan is about to gain the same status as its application is being prepared for such a listing as well.
The Kaeng Krachan forest complex - encompassing the Kaeng Krachan National Park, the Mae Nam Pha Chi Wildlife Sanctuary, the Kui Buri National Park and the Chalerm Phrakiat Thai Prachan National Park - is a massive oxygen pumping machine stretching from Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi to Prachuap Khiri Khan in the upper southern region.
As the Thung Yai Naresuan and Huay Kha Khaeng band together to create the Western Forest Complex, the Kaeng Krachan complex provides the setting further south for the kind of fauna and flora that can hardly be found elsewhere.
The Kaeng Krachan complex is a huge 2,914 sq km forest on the eastern side of the Tanaosri mountain range.
The complex includes the catchment areas of Phetchaburi and Pran Buri rivers and is home to numerous species of plants and wildlife.
The forests are also home to tigers, leopards, bantengs, gaurs and wild elephants. There are also over 400 species of birds, including Rachet-tailed treepies, which exist only in Thailand.
Apicha Yusomboon, chief of the Kaeng Krachan National Park in Phetchaburi province, said the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department was compiling all the needed information demanded by the World Heritage panel in charge of considering the application.
The key information is the rare species of plants and wildlife, as well as endemic species, found in the region.
Mr Apicha said the Kaeng Krachan forest complex is the largest and the most fertile forest complex in Thailand as evergreen forests account for 60% of its total area with extraordinary biological diversity.
There are 91 species of mammals and 461 species of birds.
Also native to the forest is a creeper plant "Taeng Phanoen Thung" (Trichosanthes phonsenae) which thrives along with other rare plants like "Jam Pee Phet" (Magnolia mediocris) and "Jam Pee Doi" (Magnolia gustavil).
Many new species of plants have been discovered in the forest, Mr Apicha said.
The forest complex is also just one of the world's three habitats for freshwater crocodiles, or Siamese crocodiles, which are a critically endangered species.
Photographic evidence has confirmed that Siamese crocodiles live along a specific stretch of the Phetchaburi river.
Thamnoon Temchai, assistant chief of the Kaeng Krachan National Park, said there may be around three or four Siamese crocodiles up to three metres long.
Local officials found their eggs buried on the banks of the Phetchaburi river in the Kaeng Krachan National Park last month.
He said the national park and the Wildlife Conservation Society of Thailand are drawing up measures to protect the Siamese crocodiles in the park.
Mr Thamnoon said the Kaeng Krachan forest complex was unique in itself for it combines the unique features of the northern, eastern and southern forests.
The national park authorities will soon make an inventory of valuable natural resources in the forest complex, which will be used to back its application for the World Heritage listing.
Kiartisak Klomsakul, a conservationist in Phetchaburi, pointed out that its registration would lead to more resources in the forest complex being made available for conservation.
At the moment there is a severe shortage of rangers to effectively patrol the forests. There is only enough budget to hire 300 of them.
However, he said the World Heritage status could also bring with it forestry management problems which could go against the local way of life.
He said it was also possible some foreign vested interests would arrive in the guise of World Heritage management and exploit the abundant resources of the forest complex.
 |
| The Kaeng Krachan forest complex is teeming with biological diversity and a huge variety of flora and fauna. |
Four white elephants give park's image a boost
 |
| A sea of mist usually greets visitors at daybreak on Khao Phanoen Thung mountain in the Kaeng Krachan National Park. — Photos by THAWATCHAI KEMGUMNERD |
 |
| This pristine pool is open to everyone at the Pa La-u waterfall. |
PHETCHABURI : Thanks to its rich biodiversity and abundant nature, Kaeng Krachan National Park is recognised as one of the major centres of ecosystem diversity in Asia.
In the past, Kaeng Krachan forests, formerly known as "Pa Tonnam Phet" were rarely mentioned in travelogues by well-known trekkers, said Samart Muangmaithong, a former chief of the national park.
The discovery of four white elephants - believed to bring prosperity to the monarchy - helped raise the forests' profile.
However, encroachment by farmers, illegal logging, and the Kaeng Krachan dam construction have shrunk the size of forests.
Mr Samart said His Majesty the King raised concerns about the heavy deforestation and destruction of water sources for the Phetchaburi river, during his royal visit in 1979.
The King advised officials to commission a comprehensive survey of the lush forest in the following year.
In 1981, forested areas in Nong Ya Plong, Kaeng Krachan, and Tha Yang districts were declared as Kaeng Krachan National Park.
Later, the forested areas in Prachuap Khiri Khan's Hua Hin district were annexed into the national park at the request of Hua Hin residents.
Mr Samart, who was park chief at the time, said he came up with the idea of developing the forests into a tourist magnet to give people a chance to experience the natural features of the national park.
In 1990, the discovery of Ratchet-tailed Treepie birds at the national park helped put the park on the bird-watching map.
According to the Bird Conservation Society of Thailand, the national park is home to 430 bird species, the highest number of any forest in Thailand.
At least 97 species of mammals, or one-third of those found across Thailand, are native to the national park.
In 2001 and 2003, the park joined hands with the Wildlife Conservation Society and King Mongkut's University of Technology Thon Buri to survey the forest.
They found 32 large mammals which are classified as threatened species. Fourteen rare species of carnivore also roam the forests. - Chaiwat Satyaem
Prev
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
Next
