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Western Forest Complex (Thailand/Myanmar)

Western Forest Complex (including the Tanintharyi Forest Complex in Myanmar)

Country: Thailand and Myanmar

Provinces/Districts: Karen State, Tak, Kamphaeng Phet, Nakhorn Sawan, Uthai Thani, Kanchanaburi, Suphan Buri (Thailand); Mon State, Tenasserim (Myanmar).

This biodiversity conservation landscape consists of the Western Forest Complex in Thailand and the southern section of the adjacent Tanintharyi Forest Complex in Myanmar. Both ecoregions support globally outstanding levels of species richness The Kayah-Karen Montane Rain Forests ecoregion ranks among the highest for bird and mammal species richness in Indochina.

The region has a highly dissected topography, with Paleozoic limestone hills characterized by overhanging cliffs, sinkholes, and caverns. Thus, seasonal rainfall, elevation, substrate, and biogeography all contribute to the forest diversity of these ecoregions.

The landscape includes one of Thailand's most important protected areas complexes, comprising of Khao Laem National Park (NP), Khaoen Si Nakerin NP, Erawan NP, Khlong Lan NP, Mae Wong NP, Klong Wang Chao NP, Sai Yok NP, Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary (WS), Huai Kha Khaeng WS, and Thung Yai Naresuan WS.

This protected areas complex, lying along the international boundary with Myanmar, is contiguous with intact forests in Myanmar, and has been identified as being extremely important for conservation of elephants and tigers. Among the notable birds of conservation significance are the Globally Threatened Plain-pouched hornbill and the largest population of the Critically Endangered Gurney's Pitta.

Key Conservation Issues and Threats to Biodiversity
The major threats to this landscape include habitat degradation from logging and shifting cultivation. Forests are being rapidly cleared for intensive, cash crop agriculture.

Increasing population pressure has forced itinerant farmers to reduce the cycle of cultivation-fallow periods and pushed them deeper into the forest where old-growth forests are being cleared. Hunting is also a major threat in this region.

Impact of the GMSEC
The East West GMSEC lies across the northern part of the landscape, and crosses several protected areas in the Western Forest Complex.

Although the transnational road from Bangkok to Yangon skirts the northern boundary of the landscape, the zone of influence will intrude into it.

There is one operational dam within the landscape.