Om Koi (15083)
Thailand, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: Om Koi
Central coordinates: Latitude: 17.6167, Longitude: 98.5833
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 385 to 1929
Area of KBA (km2): 1057.50617
Protected area coverage (%): 93.21
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA comprises Om Koi Wildlife Sanctuary, which is located in the Mae Ping-Om Koi Forest Complex. To the east the site is contiguous with Mae Ping National Park, while, to the south, it is contiguous with Mae Tuen Wildlife Sanctuary. The area is partly mountainous, with steep topography and deep valleys in some places, but also supports some more gently sloping hills and plains. Habitats present comprise extensive areas of lowland mixed deciduous forest and deciduous dipterocarp forest, hill evergreen forest, which dominates above 1,200 m in the western part of the site, some coniferous forest, and various successional habitats resulting from shifting cultivation.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas) The site has been reviewed and re-confirmed as a KBA in the process of compiling the revised 2011 CEPF Ecosystem Profile for the Indo-Burma Hotspot.
Additional biodiversity: The site lies within the Myanmar-Thailand Mountains Secondary Area (SA080), and is one of only three IBAs in Thailand known to support Burmese Yuhina Yuhina humilis, the restricted-range species that defines this Secondary Area. In addition, there is an historical record of the globally vulnerable Grey-sided Thrush Turdus feae from 1982, and three globally near-threatened species have also been recorded at the site: Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis, Brown Hornbill Anorrhinus tickelli and Red-headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus. The latter species, which was recorded at the site in 1996 and 1997, is on the verge of extinction in Thailand. There is also an unconfirmed report of the globally vulnerable Giant Nuthatch Sitta magna from the site. The site qualifies under criterion A3 because it supports 15 species restricted to the Indo-Malayan Tropical Dry Zone (Biome 11). Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals Asian Elephant Elephas maximus (EN) Tiger Panthera tigris (EN) Gaur Bos frontalis (VU) Asian Gold(EN) Cat Catopuma temminckii (VU) Eurasian Otter Lutra lutra (VU) Bear Macaque Macaca arctoides (VU) Northern Pig-tailed Macaque Macaca leonina (VU) Long-tailed Goral Naemorhedus caudatus (VU) Fishing Cat Prionailurus viverrinus (VU) Asiatic Black Bear Ursus thibetanus (VU)
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The IBA comprises Om Koi Wildlife Sanctuary, which is located in the Mae Ping-Om Koi Forest Complex. To the east the site is contiguous with Mae Ping National Park, while, to the south, it is contiguous with Mae Tuen Wildlife Sanctuary. The area is partly mountainous, with steep topography and deep valleys in some places, but also supports some more gently sloping hills and plains. Habitats present comprise extensive areas of lowland mixed deciduous forest and deciduous dipterocarp forest, hill evergreen forest, which dominates above 1,200 m in the western part of the site, some coniferous forest, and various successional habitats resulting from shifting cultivation.
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 50 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 50 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Part of the site was formerly a logging concession. Shifting cultivation, agricultural intensification (especially in level lowland areas), competition from introduced animal species, hunting and firewood collection are the main threats to biodiversity at the site. Access to forested areas of the site by local communities has been is facilitated by the Bhumiphom dam, which was constructed in 1963.
Additional information
References: BirdLife International (1998) Proceedings of the Thailand IBA workshop, Bangkok, November 1998. Unpublished report. BirdLife International (2001) Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book. Cambridge, UK: BirdLife International. Chairat, R. (1997) Goral Naemorhedus caudatus ecology. Masters thesis submitted to Kasetsart University. Kasetsart University Forestry Faculty (1992) The master plan of Om Koi Wildlife Sanctuary, Chiang Mai province (1993-1995). Bangkok: Kasetsart University. Round, P. D. (1988) Resident forest birds in Thailand: their status and conservation. Cambridge, UK: International Council for Bird Preservation. Wildlife Conservation Division (2000) Basic data for wildlife sanctuaries in Thailand. Bangkok: Office of Natural Resources Conservation, Forestry Department.