Doi Phukha (15090)
Thailand, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: Doi Phukha
Central coordinates: Latitude: 19.0667, Longitude: 101.0667
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 300 to 1980
Area of KBA (km2): 1729.56736
Protected area coverage (%): 94.38
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA comprises Doi Phu Kha National Park, which adjoins Mae Jarim proposed national park (IBA TH010) to the south. The topography of the site comprises both steep mountains and gently rolling hills, and the site contains the headwaters of the Lam Nam Nan river. Mixed deciduous forest covers c.90% of the site, although, above 1,000 m asl, small pockets of hill evergreen forest are found. In addition, there are small amounts of dry evergreen forest (c.700 ha) and deciduous dipterocarp forest (c.900 ha) at the site. Notably, the site supports the largest palm forest in Thailand, covering c.428 ha. Some areas of forest have been converted to agriculture, with c.10,400 ha of the site comprising active and fallow 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: Doi Phu Kha National Park is the most important known site in Thailand for the conservation of the globally threatened Beautiful Nuthatch Sitta formosa. This montane forest species is very rare in Thailand, and is otherwise known only from an historical record at Mae Fang National Park (IBA TH005). The site also supports significant populations of other montane forest residents that are known from few other sites in Thailand, including Black-throated Tit Aegithalos concinnus, Red-faced Liocichla Liocichla phoenicea and Whiskered Yuhina Yuhina flavicollis. In addition, the site supports Jerdon's Bushchat Saxicola jerdoni, a species characteristic of the Indo-Gangetic Plains (Biome 12). The site qualifies under criterion A3 because it supports 37 species restricted to the Sino-Himalayan Subtropical Forests (Biome 08), six species restricted to the Indo-Malayan Tropical Dry Zone (Biome 11), and one species restricted to the Indo-Gangetic Plains (Biome 12). Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals Southern Serow Capricornis sumatraensis (VU) Assamese Macaque Macaca assamensis (VU) Northern Pig-tailed Macaque Macaca leonina (VU) Plants Shorea roxburghii (EN)
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The IBA comprises Doi Phu Kha National Park, which adjoins Mae Jarim proposed national park (IBA TH010) to the south. The topography of the site comprises both steep mountains and gently rolling hills, and the site contains the headwaters of the Lam Nam Nan river. Mixed deciduous forest covers c.90% of the site, although, above 1,000 m asl, small pockets of hill evergreen forest are found. In addition, there are small amounts of dry evergreen forest (c.700 ha) and deciduous dipterocarp forest (c.900 ha) at the site. Notably, the site supports the largest palm forest in Thailand, covering c.428 ha. Some areas of forest have been converted to agriculture, with c.10,400 ha of the site comprising active and fallow shifting cultivation.
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 50 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 50 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The site is bordered by a major highway. Afforestation, forest encroachment, recreation and tourism are the major threats to biodiversity at the site.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Agro-industry farming | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation areas | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: BirdLife International (2001) Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book. Cambridge, UK: BirdLife International. National Park Division (2001) National parks in Thailand. Bangkok: Office of Natural Resource Conservation, Royal Forestry Department.