Current view: Text account
Site description (2004 baseline):
Site location and context
The IBA comprises Hat Chao Mai National Park on the west coast of peninsular Thailand. The site includes c.9,600 ha of terrestrial habitats on islands, with the remainder of the site being open sea. The terrestrial habitats present include sandy beaches, mangroves, beach forest, evergreen forest and deciduous forest on limestone outcrops. Marine habitats include coral reefs, which are mostly found in sheltered spots around islands, and seagrass beds, which are important feeding grounds for fish, prawns and Dugong Dugong dugon. Hat Chao Mai National Park is included in a 66,313 ha Ramsar Site, which also includes Ko Libong Non-hunting Area (IBA TH050) and the Trang river estuary.
The IBA is thought to support a population of the globally threatened Large Green Pigeon Treron capellei. In addition, there are unconfirmed reports of the occurrence of Malayan Peacock Pheasant Polyplectron malacense, a globally threatened species endemic to the Thai-Malay peninsula, which was known historically from peninsular Thailand, although there are no confirmed recent records. The globally near-threatened Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus, now on the verge of extinction in Thailand, was regularly recorded at the site for more than 50 years; up to five birds were recorded in the early 1980s, and a single bird was seen in April and June 1992. There is no evidence of the continued presence of the species at the site. Two other globally near-threatened species have been recorded at the site: Malaysian Plover Charadrius peronii and Mangrove Pitta Pitta megarhyncha. In addition, the diversity of wetland habitats at the site provides good habitat for migratory and resident waterbirds.
Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals
Smooth-coated Otter Lutrogale perspicillata (VU)
Bear Macaque Macaca arctoides (VU)
Plants
Aquilaria malaccensis (VU)
The IBA comprises Hat Chao Mai National Park on the west coast of peninsular Thailand. The site includes c.9,600 ha of terrestrial habitats on islands, with the remainder of the site being open sea. The terrestrial habitats present include sandy beaches, mangroves, beach forest, evergreen forest and deciduous forest on limestone outcrops. Marine habitats include coral reefs, which are mostly found in sheltered spots around islands, and seagrass beds, which are important feeding grounds for fish, prawns and Dugong Dugong dugon. Hat Chao Mai National Park is included in a 66,313 ha Ramsar Site, which also includes Ko Libong Non-hunting Area (IBA TH050) and the Trang river estuary.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Destructive fishing practices, conversion of forest to plantations, illegal timber extraction, hunting and sedimentation are the main threats to biodiversity at the site.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Hat Chao Mai (Thailand). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/hat-chao-mai-iba-thailand on 23/12/2024.
