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Site description (2004 baseline):
Site location and context
The IBA comprises Khao Laem National Park, which is situated in the Tenasserim range. The site is located in the Western Forest Complex, and is contiguous with Thung Yai-Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary (IBA TH025) to the north and Lam Khlong Ngu National Park to the south. The site includes the catchments of several rivers, including the Kwai Noi, which feeds Khao Laem reservoir (c.38,800 ha). The topography of the site is dominated by a chain of steep limestone mountains, which traverse the site on a north-south axis. The site also includes more gently sloping, forested lands around Khao Laem reservoir. Vegetation at the site chiefly comprises deciduous forest types, which cover c.94,100 ha, with smaller areas of hill evergreen forest, dry evergreen forest and bamboo.
The site supports a small population of the globally threatened Plain-pouched Hornbill Aceros subruficollis. There is also an historical record of the globally vulnerable Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher Rhinomyias brunneata from 1987. Two globally near-threatened species have also been recorded at the site, Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis and Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster, although neither have been regularly recorded in significant numbers. Khao Laem National Park also supports a number of species restricted species to the Indochinese Tropical Moist Forests (Biome 09).
The site qualifies under criterion A3 because it supports 12 species restricted to the Indochinese Tropical Moist Forests (Biome 09).
Non-bird biodiversity: Asian Elephant Elephas maximus (EN)
Tiger Panthera tigris (EN)
Southern Serow Capricornis sumatraensis (VU)
Dhole Cuon alpinus (VU)
East Asian Porcupine Hystrix brachyura (VU)
Northern Pig-tailed Macaque Macaca leonina (VU)
Plants
Dipterocarpus gracilis (CR)
Parashorea stellata (CR)
Dipterocarpus alatus (EN)
Aglaia perviridis (VU)
Dipterocarpus retusus (VU)
Hopea odorata (VU)
The IBA comprises Khao Laem National Park, which is situated in the Tenasserim range. The site is located in the Western Forest Complex, and is contiguous with Thung Yai-Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary (IBA TH025) to the north and Lam Khlong Ngu National Park to the south. The site includes the catchments of several rivers, including the Kwai Noi, which feeds Khao Laem reservoir (c.38,800 ha). The topography of the site is dominated by a chain of steep limestone mountains, which traverse the site on a north-south axis. The site also includes more gently sloping, forested lands around Khao Laem reservoir. Vegetation at the site chiefly comprises deciduous forest types, which cover c.94,100 ha, with smaller areas of hill evergreen forest, dry evergreen forest and bamboo.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Hunting, burning, illegal logging and encroachment by agriculture are the main threats to biodiversity at the site. Tourism development also represents another potential threat, particularly rafting, and sightseeing around Khao Laem reservoir.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Khao Laem (Thailand). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/khao-laem-iba-thailand on 23/11/2024.
