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Site description (2004 baseline):
Site location and context
The IBA comprises Thung Yai-Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the largest protected areas in mainland South-east Asia, which lies along the international border with Myanmar. The site is situated within the Western Forest Complex, and adjoins Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary (IBA TH024) to the north, Huai Kha Kaeng Wildlife Sanctuary (IBA TH026) to the east, and Khao Laem (IBA TH027), Lam Khlong Ngu and Sri Nakarind (IBA TH028) National Parks to the south. The topography of the site is generally hilly or mountainous, with numerous permanent rivers and streams dividing the site into valleys and ridges. Notably, the site also includes a large central grassland plain, as well as Doi Khao Yai, one of the highest mountains in western Thailand. The principal vegetation types are hill evergreen forest (c.54,900 ha), dry evergreen forest (c.112,900 ha), mixed deciduous forest (c.164,100 ha), deciduous dipterocarp forest (c.3,600 ha), savanna woodland (c.9,900 ha), grassland (c.3,900 ha), a small area of swamp forest, and some areas of shifting cultivation (c.15,400 ha). Hill evergreen forest occupies the higher elevations, while the more level areas at moderate elevations generally support semi-evergreen forest, mixed deciduous forest and bamboo. In 1991, Thung Yai-Naresuan, together with the adjacent Huai Kha Kaeng Wildlife Sanctuary (IBA TH026), was designated as a World Heritage Site.
Thung Yai-Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the few sites in Thailand to support populations of larger-bodied birds characteristic of forest or successional habitats along undisturbed lowland waterways, such as the globally threatened White-winged Duck Cairina scutulata and Green Peafowl Pavo muticus. Other resident globally threatened species include Rufous-necked Hornbill Aceros nipalensis (which generally has a montane distribution), Plain-pouched Hornbill Aceros subruficollis and Blue-banded Kingfisher Alcedo euryzona. The latter is a Sundaic species that reaches the northernmost limit of its distribution at the site. The globally threatened Silver Oriole Oriolus mellianus has also been recorded at the site but is not confirmed to regularly occur in significant numbers.
There are historical records of other globally threatened species from the site, including Pale-capped Pigeon Columba punicea (from 1986), Masked Finfoot Heliopais personata (from 1983) and Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis (from 1984). In addition, six globally near-threatened species occur: Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis, Brown Hornbill Anorrhinus tickelli, Lesser Fish Eagle Ichthyophaga humilis, Black-and-yellow Broadbill Eurylaimus ochromalus, Green Broadbill Calyptomena viridis and Malaysian Honeyguide Indicator archipelagicus. The latter three species have a Sundaic distribution and reach their northern range limits at the site.
Doi Khao Yai supports a typically Sino-Himalayan montane avifauna, including Green Cochoa Cochoa viridis, Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush Garrulax erythrocephalus, Rusty-naped Pitta Pitta oatesi, White-necked Laughingthrush Garrulax strepitans, Rufous-throated Partridge Arborophila rufogularis and Coral-billed Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus ferruginosus
The site qualifies under criterion A3 because it supports 33 species restricted to the Sino-Himalayan Subtropical Forests (Biome 08), 22 species restricted to the Indochinese Tropical Moist Forests (Biome 09) and 11 species restricted to the Indo-Malayan Tropical Dry Zone (Biome 11).
Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals
Banteng Bos javanicus (EN)
Asian Elephant Elephas maximus (EN)
Tiger Panthera tigris (EN)
Asian Tapir Tapirus indicus (EN)
East Asian Porcupine Hystrix brachyura (VU)
Northern Pig-tailed Macaque Macaca leonina (VU)
Fishing Cat Prionailurus viverrinus (VU)
Gaur Bos frontalis (VU)
Reptiles
Elongated Tortoise Indotestudo elongata (EN)
Fish
Dwarf Botia Botia sidthimunki (CR)
Schistura jarutanini (VU)
Plants
Parashorea stellata (CR)
Anisoptera costata (EN)
Dipterocarpus alatus (EN)
Shorea roxburghii (EN)
Endocomia canarioides (VU)
Hopea odorata (VU)
Knema austrosiamensis (VU)
The IBA comprises Thung Yai-Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the largest protected areas in mainland South-east Asia, which lies along the international border with Myanmar. The site is situated within the Western Forest Complex, and adjoins Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary (IBA TH024) to the north, Huai Kha Kaeng Wildlife Sanctuary (IBA TH026) to the east, and Khao Laem (IBA TH027), Lam Khlong Ngu and Sri Nakarind (IBA TH028) National Parks to the south. The topography of the site is generally hilly or mountainous, with numerous permanent rivers and streams dividing the site into valleys and ridges. Notably, the site also includes a large central grassland plain, as well as Doi Khao Yai, one of the highest mountains in western Thailand. The principal vegetation types are hill evergreen forest (c.54,900 ha), dry evergreen forest (c.112,900 ha), mixed deciduous forest (c.164,100 ha), deciduous dipterocarp forest (c.3,600 ha), savanna woodland (c.9,900 ha), grassland (c.3,900 ha), a small area of swamp forest, and some areas of shifting cultivation (c.15,400 ha). Hill evergreen forest occupies the higher elevations, while the more level areas at moderate elevations generally support semi-evergreen forest, mixed deciduous forest and bamboo. In 1991, Thung Yai-Naresuan, together with the adjacent Huai Kha Kaeng Wildlife Sanctuary (IBA TH026), was designated as a World Heritage Site.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The main threats to biodiversity at the site include forest encroachment by shifting agriculture (especially near the border with Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary, IBA TH024), licensed and illegal mining around the wildlife sanctuary boundary, persistent poaching, forest fires and infrastructure development (roads are being built within the wildlife sanctuary). Also, tourism development is thought to have had negative impacts on the White-winged Duck population at Bung Lakatu.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Thung Yai - Naresuan (Thailand). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/thung-yai--naresuan-iba-thailand on 23/12/2024.
