Western Forest Complex Thailand
Biodiversity corridors can be continuous strips
of land or 'stepping stones' that are patches of suitable habitat
used to improve ecological coherence and for combating fragmentation.
They provide functional linkages between core protected areas stimulating
or allowing species migration between areas.
In the selection of biodiversity conservation landscapes in the GMS, careful attention has been given to efforts already undertaken by GMS countries in collaboration with various conservation organizations, such as:
- BirdLife International
- Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund (CEPF)
- International Centre for Environment Management (ICEM)
- Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)
- World Conservation Union (IUCN)
- Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
- World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
In particular, the identification of the 9 biodiversity conservation landscapes was based on the following criteria:
- the presence of landscape species
- ecological processes that occur over large spatial areas
- globally important species that will be affected by development and require urgent conservation
- representation of the ecoregions in the GMS
- areas falling within the GMS economic corridors
- areas affected by the zone of influence along a major transnational road in the GMS
- in a designated hotspot
- able to support landscape species and ecological processes
- important for their ecological services.
- Western Forest Complex [ Thailand and Myanmar ]
- Tonle Sap Inundation Zone [ Cambodia ]
- Cardamom and Elephant Mountains [ Cambodia ]
- Northern Plains Dry Forests [ Cambodia ]
- Eastern Plains Dry Forests [ Cambodia and Vietnam ]
- Tri-Border Forests [ Laos and Vietnam ]
- Central Annamites [ Laos and Vietnam ]
- Northern Annamites [ Laos and Vietnam ]
- Mekong Headwaters [ Yunnan China and Myanmar ] ''.
For further information about Western Forest Complex Thailand go to http://www.westernforest.org/ or to http://www.adb.org/Projects/.
The Western Forest Complex is one of nine Biodiversity Conservation Landscapes strategized by Asia Deveolment Bank as showen on its map below. The western Forest Complex straddles two countries, Thailand and Myanmar, and in Thailand comprises 19 national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. It is a main biodiversity conservation corridor of the region and includes 18,730 square kilometers. It is one of the largest protected territories in South East Asia. The geography of the Western Forest Complex ranges from lowlands to high mountains. Because of its large size, it supports a rich large mammal fauna, including tiger, leopard, dhole, clouded leopard, 10 species of primates ( all five of the region’s macaques ), gaur, banteng, water buffalo, elephant, tapir, and four of Thailand’s five deer species. All together 153 mammal species, 490 bird species, 41 reptiles and 108 species of fish are confirmed in the area.
Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks of the Western Forest Complex in Thailand:
- Salakpra Wildlife Sanctuary
- Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary
- Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary
- Khao Sanampriang Wildlife Sanctuary
- Um Phang Wildlife Sanctuary
- Erawan National Park
- Chaloem Rattanakosin National Park
- Sai Yok National Park
- Si Nakharin National Park
- Khlong Lan National Park
- Mae Wong National Park
- Phu Toei National Park
- Khlong Wang Chao National Park
- Khao Laem National Park
- Thong Pha Pum National Park
- Lam Khlong Ngu National Park
- Mae Nam Phachi Wildlife Sanctuary
- Kaeng Krachan National Park
In South East Asia regional economic development is cross border. However Biodiversity and conservation does not follow political boundaries. Accordingly within the Greater Mekong Region an initiative for recognition of biodiversity conservation corridors has been formulated and is being implemented. ''Regional economic corridors are expected to play a crucial role in delivering the development agenda in the Greater Mekong Subregion ( G.M.S. ). But there is concern that increasing development activities in the economic corridors may adversely affect critical ecosystems and high value biodiversity areas resulting in fragmentation of natural landscapes.
This would undermine the functioning and performance of the region's ecosystems, thereby threatening long-term socio-economic development and environmental security of the Subregion.
The proposed G.M.S. biodiversity conservation corridor initiative is to support the broad-based agenda of sustainable development identified by the G.M.S. countries.
Landscape species require large spatial areas of contiguous habitat, or core areas connected by habitat linkages or corridors to meet their natural ecological and behavioral requirements.
Today human-induced habitat loss and fragmentation are seen to be major threats to biodiversity conservation. One way of mitigating the negative effects of fragmentation is to improve habitat connectivity.