The IBA comprises a relatively uninhabited stretch of the west coastline of peninsular Thailand, from the Palian estuary to the Phak Bara estuary. Along this stretch of coastline, six large rivers discharge into the Andaman Sea. Habitats at the site comprise mangroves, mudflats and a small area of sandy beach. Mangrove species include Bruguiera cylindrica, Rhizophora spp., Avicennia alba, Xylocarpus granatum and X. moluccensis.
Key biodiversity
Palian Lang-ngu is an important site for migratory waterbirds, and is thought to regularly support over 20,000 congregatory waterbirds. At least 90 bird species have been recorded at the site to date, many of which utilise the invertebrate-rich mudflats and mangroves as feeding areas. The only globally threatened species to be recorded at the site is Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus, although it is not thought to regularly occur in significant numbers.
Non-bird biodiversity: No information is available about other globally threatened species at the site
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The mangroves at the site are threatened by conversion into aquaculture and illegal logging (part of the area was formerly a logging concession); these threats are being exacerbated by expansion of human settlements in the area. In addition, hunting is a threat to the populations of some species at the site.
