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Site description (2004 baseline):
Site location and context
The IBA comprises HRH Princess Sirindhorn Wildlife Sanctuary, commonly known as Pa Phru To Daeng, which includes the largest remaining peatswamp forest in Thailand. The site is located c.7 km from the east coast of peninsular Thailand, close to the international border with Malaysia. The peatswamp forest is developed on the site of a shallow inland sea that subsequently became a freshwater lake. While the topography of the eastern part of the site is characterised by a flat plain, the western part is dominated by a range of low mountains. The site supports approximately 7,870 ha of relatively undisturbed peatswamp forest, comprising primary and secondary peatswamp dominated by Melaleuca spp., shrub swamp, freshwater swamp forest and seasonally inundated forest. Characteristic species include Neesia malayana, Dacryodes incurvata, Alstonia spp., Koompassia malaccensis and Goniothalamus giganteus. Degraded swamp forest covers a further c. 6,800 ha of the site, and there is a small amount of forest dominated by Melaleuca cajuputi in the north. The site also supports a distinctive short sward vegetation community, which includes Eleocharis dulcis and Marcaranga spp. In 2001, HRH Princess Sirindhorn Wildlife Sanctuary was designated as a Ramsar Site.
The peatswamp forest at the site is an important habitat for the globally threatened Masked Finfoot Heliopais personata, which is thought to be a non-breeding visitor but may, potentially, breed at the site. Previously, the site supported a small breeding population of the globally threatened Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus. However, the species is not known to have bred at the site since 1997. The site supports a rich lowland forest avifauna, with 29 globally near-threatened species, many of which are restricted to the Sundaic Lowland Forests (Biome 14). Of these species, the site is of particular note for Malaysian Blue Flycatcher Cyornis turcosa, as it is the only site in Thailand where it breeds.
The site qualifies under criterion A3 because it supports one species (Masked Finfoot) restricted to the Indochinese Tropical Moist Forests (Biome 09) and 61 species restricted to the Sundaic Lowland Forests (Biome 14).
Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals
Otter-civet Cynogale bennettii (EN)
Flat-headed Cat Prionailurus planiceps (VU)
Reptiles
Spiny Turtle Heosemys spinosa (EN)
Giant Asian Pond Turtle Heosemys grandis (VU)
Black Marsh Turtle Siebenrockiella crassicollis (VU)
Plants
Dipterocarpus chartaceus (CR)
Shorea roxburghii (EN)
Intsia bijuga (VU)
Mangifera pentandra (VU)
Pholidocarpus macrocarpus (VU)
The IBA comprises HRH Princess Sirindhorn Wildlife Sanctuary, commonly known as Pa Phru To Daeng, which includes the largest remaining peatswamp forest in Thailand. The site is located c.7 km from the east coast of peninsular Thailand, close to the international border with Malaysia. The peatswamp forest is developed on the site of a shallow inland sea that subsequently became a freshwater lake. While the topography of the eastern part of the site is characterised by a flat plain, the western part is dominated by a range of low mountains. The site supports approximately 7,870 ha of relatively undisturbed peatswamp forest, comprising primary and secondary peatswamp dominated by Melaleuca spp., shrub swamp, freshwater swamp forest and seasonally inundated forest. Characteristic species include Neesia malayana, Dacryodes incurvata, Alstonia spp., Koompassia malaccensis and Goniothalamus giganteus. Degraded swamp forest covers a further c. 6,800 ha of the site, and there is a small amount of forest dominated by Melaleuca cajuputi in the north. The site also supports a distinctive short sward vegetation community, which includes Eleocharis dulcis and Marcaranga spp. In 2001, HRH Princess Sirindhorn Wildlife Sanctuary was designated as a Ramsar Site.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Illegal logging, drainage, forest fires and livestock grazing are the main threats to the peatswamp forest at the site, with forest fires being especially frequent along the southern edge of the site. Land encroachment and conversion of forest to rubber plantations and orchards are additional threats to natural habitats at the site, while over-exploitation of forest products, including hunting, are major threats to plant and animal populations.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Chaloem Pra Kiet (Pa Phru to Daeng) (Thailand). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/chaloem-pra-kiet-(pa-phru-to-daeng)-iba-thailand on 23/12/2024.
