Mae Yom (15095)
Thailand, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: Mae Yom
Central coordinates: Latitude: 18.7167, Longitude: 100.2333
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 200 to 1396
Area of KBA (km2): 497.40191
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA comprises Mae Yom National Park, which is contiguous with Doi Phu Nang proposed national park (IBA TH015) to the north. The site includes a substantial portion of the Mae Yom river valley. The dominant vegetation type at the site is mixed deciduous forest, while hill evergreen forest is found in the foothills, and deciduous dipterocarp forest occurs in the low-lying plains. One of the most notable features of the site is a 4,800 ha tract of natural Teak Tectona grandis forest; by far the largest (and also considered the richest) natural Teak forest remaining in Thailand. At least part of the site was formerly under a logging concession.
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: Mae Yom National Park is an important site for the conservation of the globally threatened Green Peafowl Pavo muticus. This species was formerly widespread along the Mae Yom river but disappeared due to hunting, logging and encroachment. Its rediscovery at the site, in March 1996, led to a wide-ranging survey for the species and other pheasants in northern Thailand, which located a population of over 200 individuals, shared between Mae Yom National Park and two other IBAs: Wiang Lor Wildlife Sanctuary and adjacent area to the east (TH014) and Doi Phu Nang (TH015). In addition, there is a record of the globally threatened Silver Oriole Oriolus mellianus from the site, and the globally near-threatened White-rumped Falcon Polihierax insignis also occurs. Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals Gaur Bos frontalis (VU) Asian Gold(EN) Cat Catopuma temminckii (VU) Dhole Cuon alpinus (VU) Northern Pig-tailed Macaque Macaca leonina (VU) Asian Black Bear Ursus thibetanus (VU) Reptiles Big-headed Turtle Platysternon megacephalum (EN) Plants Afzelia xylocarpa (EN) Anisoptera costata (EN)
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The IBA comprises Mae Yom National Park, which is contiguous with Doi Phu Nang proposed national park (IBA TH015) to the north. The site includes a substantial portion of the Mae Yom river valley. The dominant vegetation type at the site is mixed deciduous forest, while hill evergreen forest is found in the foothills, and deciduous dipterocarp forest occurs in the low-lying plains. One of the most notable features of the site is a 4,800 ha tract of natural Teak Tectona grandis forest; by far the largest (and also considered the richest) natural Teak forest remaining in Thailand. At least part of the site was formerly under a logging concession.
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 50 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 50 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The site is bisected by a highway, which has several human settlements along it. Communities living in these settlements have encroached on Green Peafowl breeding habitat near the Mae Yom river, converting forest into agricultural land. Other major threats to biodiversity at the site include hunting and forest fire. Despite the designation of the site as a national park, timber extraction still takes place illegally within its boundaries. In addition, the key conservation features of the site are threatened by a proposed hydro-electric dam development, which would inundate valley bottoms that support Teak forest and are important for Green Peafowl.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Energy production & mining | Renewable energy | Only in the future | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: BirdLife International (2001) Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book. Cambridge, UK: BirdLife International. Center for Conservation Biology (1995) Kang Sua Ten Water Development Project survey of Nntural teak forests in Thailand. Report to the World Bank by the Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, and the Forest Resources Inventory Group. Manopravit, P. (1996) Green Peafowl discovery on the Yom river. Bangkok: Seub Nakhasathein Foundation. National Park Division (2001) National parks in Thailand. Bangkok: Office of Natural Resource Conservation, Royal Forestry Department. Seub Nakhasathein Foundation, Bird Conservation Society of Thailand, the Association for the Conservation of Wildlife and Wildlife Fund Thailand (1996) Biodiversity survey of Mae Yom National Park. Unpublished report.