Mu Ko Surin (15123)
Thailand, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: Mu Ko Surin
Central coordinates: Latitude: 9.4167, Longitude: 97.8500
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 350
Area of KBA (km2): 35.66123
Protected area coverage (%): 95.80
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA comprises Mu Ko Surin National Park, which is located in the Andaman Sea, c.60 km off the west coast of peninsular Thailand and just a few kilometers south of the Thailand-Myanmar border. The national park comprises five main islands and a marine component of 10,300 ha. The coastline of the islands is characterised by white sandy bays and rocky headlands. The islands are generally covered in lowland forest, with beach forest (including Terminalia catappa and Thespesia populnea) backing the shoreline, and patches of mangrove (including Rhizophora apiculata and Bruguiera gymnorrhiza) in the bays.
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 supports the globally threatened Large Green Pigeon Treron capellei, plus two globally near-threatened species: Beach Thick-knee Esacus magnirostris and Nicobar Pigeon Caloenas nicobarica. Beach Thick-knee is known from only one other site in Thailand, while Nicobar Pigeon is otherwise known only from a few other archipelagos in the Andaman Sea. In addition to these species, the site also supports resident populations of several species that are nationally threatened or near-threatened in Thailand, including Green Imperial Pigeon Ducula aenea, Pied Imperial Pigeon D. bicolor and Orange-breasted Pigeon Treron bicincta. Furthermore, the beaches at the site are a migratory stopover for several shorebird species, such as Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres and Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii. Non-bird biodiversity: Plants Dipterocarpus grandiflorus (CR) Anisoptera costata (EN) Dipterocarpus costatus (EN) Vatica cinerea (EN) Borassodendron machadonis (VU) Dipterocarpus retusus (VU)
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The IBA comprises Mu Ko Surin National Park, which is located in the Andaman Sea, c.60 km off the west coast of peninsular Thailand and just a few kilometers south of the Thailand-Myanmar border. The national park comprises five main islands and a marine component of 10,300 ha. The coastline of the islands is characterised by white sandy bays and rocky headlands. The islands are generally covered in lowland forest, with beach forest (including Terminalia catappa and Thespesia populnea) backing the shoreline, and patches of mangrove (including Rhizophora apiculata and Bruguiera gymnorrhiza) in the bays.
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 33 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 33 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 33 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Degradation of coral reefs through destructive fishing practices, such as dynamite fishing, is one of the main threats to biodiversity at the site. Another main threat is unsustainable tourism development, including damage to reefs from anchoring boats, pollution, coral harvesting and seashell collection.
Additional information
References: Bird Conservation Society of Thailand Bulletin 17(4) (April 2000). Bird Conservation Society of Thailand Bulletin 18(5) (May 2001). BirdLife International (1998) Proceedings of the Thailand IBA workshop, Bangkok, November 1998. Unpublished report. Brockelman, W. Y. (1977) To what fate, the Surin Islands? Natural History Bulletin of the Siam Society 26: 247-251. Brockelman, W. Y. and Nadee, N. (1977) Preliminary survey and bio-geographic analysis of the birds of the Surin Islands. Natural History Bulletin of the Siam Society 26: 211-226. National Park Division (2001) National parks in Thailand. Bangkok: Office of Natural Resource Conservation, Royal Forestry Department. Round, P. D. (1988) Resident forest birds in Thailand: their status and conservation. Cambridge, UK: International Council for Bird Preservation. UNEP/World Conservation Monitoring Center website http//:www.wcmc.org.uk/protected_areas