The IBA comprises Khao Banthad Wildlife Sanctuary, which is situated in the mountain range that runs from north to south through southern peninsular Thailand. The topography of the site is dominated by an area of limestone hills, which form the headwaters of a number of perennial streams, which flow into both the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. The vegetation at the site is dominated by semi-evergreen forest, with hill evergreen forest at higher elevations. The largest areas of level lowlands (below 200 m asl) in the south of the site are now mostly deforested.
Key biodiversity
The site supports a rich lowland forest avifauna, including the globally threatened Wallace's Hawk Eagle Spizaetus nanus. In addition, the site supports 32 globally near-threatened species, most of which are restricted to the Sundaic Lowland Forests (Biome 14). These include Wrinkled Hornbill Aceros corrugatus, which is now close to extinction in Thailand. Hill evergreen forest at the site supports an endemic race of Golden-throated Barbet Megalaima franklinii trangensis, which is unrecorded elsewhere. In addition, there are also historical records of Blue-banded Kingfisher Alcedo euryzona (from 1984), White-fronted Scops-Owl Otus sagittatus (from 1934) and Gurney's Pitta Pitta gurneyi (from 1909).
Biome-restricted Species: The site qualifies under criterion A3 because it supports 65 species restricted to the Sundaic Lowland Forests (Biome 14).
The IBA comprises Khao Banthad Wildlife Sanctuary, which is situated in the mountain range that runs from north to south through southern peninsular Thailand. The topography of the site is dominated by an area of limestone hills, which form the headwaters of a number of perennial streams, which flow into both the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. The vegetation at the site is dominated by semi-evergreen forest, with hill evergreen forest at higher elevations. The largest areas of level lowlands (below 200 m asl) in the south of the site are now mostly deforested.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Hunting, illegal logging, over-exploitation of forest products and agricultural encroachment (especially rubber plantations) are the main threats to biodiversity at the site. There are many human settlements around the site, thus pressure on the lower elevation forests around the fringes is especially heavy.
