Hat Nopharat Thara - Mu Ko Phi Phi (15126)
Thailand, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: Hat Nopharat Thara - Mu Ko Phi Phi
Central coordinates: Latitude: 7.8833, Longitude: 98.8333
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 498
Area of KBA (km2): 68.83889
Protected area coverage (%): 30.85
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA comprises Hat Nooparat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, which is situated off the west coast of peninsular Thailand. The majority of the site consists of a 32,600 ha marine component, although it also includes the Ko Phi Phi archipelago and the rocky mainland coast around Krabi town. The islands of the Ko Phi Phi archipelago comprise limestone extrusions with tall cliffs, fringed by sandy beaches and surrounded by coral reefs. Small areas of primary forest remain on the steeper, less accessible island slopes. There is a significant human population within the national park.
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: Hat Nooparat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park is a very important non-breeding site for the globally critical Christmas Island Frigatebird Fregata andrewsi, which is not known to regularly occur in significant numbers at any other site in the country. The site regularly supports significant numbers of a number of other seabird species, including Lesser Frigatebird F. ariel, Common Tern Sterna hirundo, Black-naped Tern S. sumatrana and Bridled Tern S. anaethetus. In addition, the globally vulnerable Pale-capped Pigeon Columba punicea occurs at the site, as does the globally near-threatened Nicobar Pigeon Caloenas nicobarica. Furthermore, the site supports an important breeding population of the nationally threatened Pied Imperial Pigeon Ducula bicolor. Non-bird biodiversity: Fish Freshwater Sawfish Pristis microdon (CR) Plants Shorea roxburghii (EN) Aglaia chittagonga (VU)
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The IBA comprises Hat Nooparat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, which is situated off the west coast of peninsular Thailand. The majority of the site consists of a 32,600 ha marine component, although it also includes the Ko Phi Phi archipelago and the rocky mainland coast around Krabi town. The islands of the Ko Phi Phi archipelago comprise limestone extrusions with tall cliffs, fringed by sandy beaches and surrounded by coral reefs. Small areas of primary forest remain on the steeper, less accessible island slopes. There is a significant human population within the national park.
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 5 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 5 | |
| Forest | 5 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 85 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Unsustainable tourism development is the main threat to biodiversity at the site. The site is extremely popular with tourists, and the natural habitats and wildlife populations at the site are threatened by the development of tourism infrastructure, disturbance and pollution. Over-fishing is an additional threat to the marine ecosystem at the site.
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. Marine National Park Section (2001) Nopparat Tara-Mu Kho Phi Phi National Park annual report 2001. Bangkok: Natural Resources Bureau, Royal Forestry Department. 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