TH011
Doi Phu Kha National Park
Doi Phu Kha National Park
Province(s):
PA Status:
EBA / SA:
Forest Complex:
Nan
National Park (1988)
none
Doi Phu Kha-Mae Yom
Criteria: A1, A3
Latitude:
Longitude:
Area:
Altitude Range:
19º36'N
100º54'E
170,400 ha
300-1,980 m asl
General Description
The IBA comprises Doi Phu Kha National Park, which adjoins Mae Jarim proposed national park (IBA TH010) to
the south. The topography of the site comprises both steep mountains and gently rolling hills, and the site contains
the headwaters of the Lam Nam Nan river. Mixed deciduous forest covers c.90% of the site, although, above
1,000 m asl, small pockets of hill evergreen forest are found. In addition, there are small amounts of dry evergreen
forest (c.700 ha) and deciduous dipterocarp forest (c.900 ha) at the site. Notably, the site supports the largest palm
forest in Thailand, covering c.428 ha. Some areas of forest have been converted to agriculture, with c.10,400 ha of
the site comprising active and fallow shifting cultivation.
Bird Fauna: Key Features
Doi Phu Kha National Park is the most important known site in Thailand for the conservation of the globally
threatened Beautiful Nuthatch Sitta formosa. This montane forest species is very rare in Thailand, and is otherwise
known only from an historical record at Mae Fang National Park (IBA TH005). The site also supports significant
populations of other montane forest residents that are known from few other sites in Thailand, including Blackthroated Tit Aegithalos concinnus, Red-faced Liocichla Liocichla phoenicea and Whiskered Yuhina Yuhina
flavicollis. In addition, the site supports Jerdon's Bushchat Saxicola jerdoni, a species characteristic of the IndoGangetic Plains (Biome 12).
Species
Beautiful Nuthatch
Sitta formosa
Season
R
Global
Threat
Status
VU
IBA
Criteria
Notes
A1, A3
The species was first recorded at c.1,940 m asl in March
2003. Subsequently, nine birds were recorded at 1,750 m
asl during April 2003, when adults were seen feeding
fledged young.
Biome-restricted Species: The site qualifies under criterion A3 because it supports 37 species restricted to the
Sino-Himalayan Subtropical Forests (Biome 08), six species restricted to the Indo-Malayan Tropical Dry Zone
(Biome 11), and one species restricted to the Indo-Gangetic Plains (Biome 12). See Appendix 3 for details.
Other Globally Threatened Species
Mammals
Species
Southern Serow Capricornis sumatraensis
Assamese Macaque Macaca assamensis
Plants
Species
Shorea roxburghii
Status
VU
VU
Species
Northern Pig-tailed Macaque Macaca
leonina
Status
VU
Status
EN
Threats to Biodiversity
The site is bordered by a major highway. Afforestation, forest encroachment, recreation and tourism are the major
threats to biodiversity at the site.
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Directory of Important Bird Areas in the Kingdom of Thailand
TH011
Doi Phu Kha National Park
Literature and Data Sources
BirdLife International (2001) Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book. Cambridge, UK:
BirdLife International.
National Park Division (2001) National parks in Thailand. Bangkok: Office of Natural Resource Conservation,
Royal Forestry Department.
Tontithadapituck, S. (2003) Report on birds seen at Doi Dong Ya Wai, Doi Phu Kha National Park, Nan province,
April 2003. Unpublished report.
Directory of Important Bird Areas in the Kingdom of Thailand
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