Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex

Location and Values: The Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex is located on the Thai side of the Tenasserim mountain range which runs down the Malay Peninsula between Thailand and Myanmar. It supports an exceptionally rich biodiversity on account of its rugged topography and location at the cross-roads of the Himalayan, Indochina, and Sumatran faunal and floral realms. The site ranges in altitude from around sea level to 1,231m and is characterised by six distinct forest types including various evergreen and mixed deciduous forest types, montane forest, and deciduous dipterocarp forest.

A number of rare, endemic and globally threatened plant and animal species are known from the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex, some of which have become extinct elsewhere.  The area is noted for its rich diversity of birdlife, including globally threatened species (such as Great, Hemeted, Wreathed and Plain-pouched Hornbills, Crested Partridge, Buff-rumped and Great-slaty Woodpeckers, Silver Oriole, Spot-bellied Eagle Owl, White-fronted Scops Owl, Tenggara Hill Myna, Blue Pitta, Greater-green and Blue-winged Leafbirds and Grey Peacock-Pheasant) .  The site also supports healthy populations of threatened reptile and mammal species and is one of the last places where the Siamese crocodile is still present in the wild, alongside Elongated Tortoise and Asian Giant Tortoise. A complete suite of top carnivores inhabits the area, with eight species of cats including tiger. The Forest Complex is also home to Sunda Pangolin, Banteng, Asian Elephant, Dhole, Asian Black Bear, Malay tapir, Mainland Serow, Gaur and Stump-tailed Macaque.

Conservation Status and Prospects.  According to IUCN’s Conservation Outlook Assessment (2025) the conservation status of the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex is ‘good, with some concerns’. The IUCN report recognizes that the core habitats and biodiversity of the site are largely intact and endangered species such as the Siamese crocodile and tiger are being successfully protected. However, there is increasing pressure from poaching, forest fires, and land conversion, particularly around the site’s periphery. These threats are being actively managed and are considered relatively low level, but the site remains vulnerable. The most serious potential threat stems from a proposed reservoir in the Mae Nam Phachi Wildlife Sanctuary (outside the site), which could impact critical ecological corridors and the neighbouring Karen indigenous communities.

Other issues affecting the conservation of the site include the difficulty of integrating management of a number of different units under various designations and authorities.  There have also been recent concerns regarding the rights of indigenous communities with some controversial forced relocations from the area and limited stakeholder consultation and participation in management decision-making. Finally the IUCN report notes the potential to incorporate other ecologically-important adjoining areas into the World Heritage Site in future, including the area between Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex and the Myanmar border, as well as the Kui Buri Forest Reserve.

LINKS:

Google Earth

UNESCO Official Website

IUCN Conservation Outlook

Birdlife IBA/KBA