Thailand Marine National Parks

• The National Marine Parks provide ecotourists with the opportunity to see several major ecosystems and the distinctive plant and animal species that inhabit each of them. Thailand's Marine Parks are located in three regions of Thailand. These are [1] The Andaman Sea region on the west coast of Southern Thailand, the west coast of the Gulf of Thailand and the coast of East Thailand.
• These Marine Parks often include coastal land mass which also can be Mangrove eco-systems, Tropical Evergreen Forest, Savannah Grasslands or Wet Tropical Forest. This varies with the topography and Monsoons effect.
  
• Below the water surface are the coral reefs. Coral reefs and their marine life vary between those in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Siam. Reef species also vary depending upon the depth of the sea.
• Above the sea surface the ecosystems to see are the Karst Limestone mountains and peak like outcroppings, Mangrove and Coastal vegetation ecosystems, the Tropical Mixed Deciduous Forests, the coastal marshes and swamps and the Tropical Evergreen Forests.
  
• In detailing each Marine Park we describe where the major ecosystems are and link back for precise details on the systems and the relevant plant and animal species.

Mangrove and Coastal vegetation

• Mangroves form another floral region with distinct animals and plant life. Mangroves grow where there is brackenish water from fresh water run off to the sea and in estuaries. They can be seen in lagoons, around protected bays or inlets. They are few in species numbers but provide shelter to house a wide variety of wildlife. Mangrove clusters trap silt and organic material to accumulate nutient rich areas for animal life and particularly breeding grounds for fish and invertebrates. Mangroves also provide shelter from the effects of harsh sea water movements to provide a breal water to prevent erosion of the coast lines. The principal varieties are Black Mangrove and Red Mangrove.

Tropical Evergreen Forests

• In Tropical Evergreen Forests the trees have leaves all year. In the Marine Parks they occur from sea level to 1,000 meters. They grow in areas with an annual rain fall of 2 meters. Thus they are limited to Peninsula Thailand. The principal varities of trees here are those of the Dipterocarpaceae family. These trees grow to over 55 mters in height and have canopy of 25 to 35 meters wide. Little light filters through and below the bamboos, palms and small tress survivre in shaded light. These forests have significant variation in vegetation depending upon the height, the soil types, whether the ground is flooded or closer to swamps and rivers and also as between the elevation of the forest. Above the ground epiphytes and vines are common.

Coral reefs In Thailand's Marine Parks

• Corals are animals and not plants and coral reefs are made from colonies of coral invertebrates, each producing a calcium carbonate skeleton, its outside [ exoskeleton ]. Each species of coral produces a different shaped exoskelton, thus together forming different exoskeletons.
• Coral reefs and Coral eco-systems can be found in each of the Marine National Parks. The coral species varies in each location and with the depth of the water and the clarity of the water.
• Mu  Ko  Surin,  Mu  Ko  Similan,  Mu Ko  Lanta,  Mu  Ko  Chang  contain some of the  finest coral reefs in Thailand for their size and diversity of species. They are of International significance.