Biodiversity & Conservation of Thai flora

Wichan Eiadthong Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University: fforwce@ku.ac.th

中国科学院生物多样性委员会 Biodiversity Committee，Chinese Academy of Sciences

2016-11-29 Beijing, China

C

ontents

• Physical features of Thailand

• Forest types in Thailand

• Biodiversity of Thai flora

• Thai Phytogeography

• Plant conservation

Physical features of Thailand Thailand's 514,000 km2 lie

in the middle of mainland South Asia.

Topographic features of Thailand's terrain are high mountains, a central plain, and an upland plateau. Mountains cover much of northern Thailand and extend along the Myanmar border down through the Kra isthmus and the Malay peninsula.

Inthanon national park: The highest of Thailand 2,565 m

Ao Phang Nga national park

Phu Kradung national park

Paddy field in central plain

Physical features of Thailand

Average annual rainfall in Thailand

Tropical moist evergreen forest at Naka wildlife sanctuary, Ranong province

Forest types in Thailand A

.T

ropi

cal d

ecid

uous

fore

sts

Dry deciduous dipterocarp forest Tropical mixed deciduous forest

Savannah forest

Dipterocarpus intricatus (yang krad)

Tectona grandis (Teak)

Forest types in Thailand B

. Tro

pica

l eve

rgre

en f

ores

ts

Tropical montane evergreen forest Tropical pine forest

Tropical dry evergreen forest Tropical moist evergreen forest

Forest types in Thailand B

. Tro

pica

l eve

rgre

en f

ores

ts

Mangrove forest Tropical swamp forest

Tropical beach forest Karst vegetation

Forest area in Thailand

Forest area in Thailand

Source: ONEP, 2014

Forest area in each province of Thailand

Source: Parnell et al.,2003

Biodiversity of Thai flora Pl

ant S

pecie

s div

ersit

y Plant groups Common name No.Species

Cyanophyta blue green algae 272

Chlorophyta green algae 497

Chromophyta colour algae 385

Phaeophyta brown algae 48

Rhodophyta red algae 132

Bryophyta mosses & allies 820

Psilophyta whisk-ferns 2

Lycophyta club mosses 40

Sphenophyta horsetails 2

Pteridophyta ferns 568

Pinophyta gymnosperms 35

Magnoliophyta flowering plant 16,463

Modified from Office of Environmental Policy and Planning (2000)

Biodiversity of Thai flora Table

Groups

Thailand China1)

Families Species Families Species

Bryophyte 52 652 151 3,045

Pteridophyte 132 658 176 2,124

Gymnosperms 6 35 8 227

Angiosperms 275 16,4632) 257 29,716

Plan

t Spe

cies d

iver

sity

Data source: 1) Wang et al., 2015

2) Campbell et al., 2010

The plant diversity of Thailand is being documented by a major long-term project which was initiated in 1957–58 under named of Flora of Thailand project. It has resulted in accounts of c. 30–40% of the angiosperm flora in Thailand, with estimates of the size of the flora varying from c. 10,000–12,500 species (Santisuk et al., 1991; Parnell, 2000).

Flora of Thailand

Phytogeography of Thailand

Thailand has located in Paleotropical kingdom, cover 2 regions; Indochinese & Malesian.

Indochinese

Malesian

Phytogeography of Thailand

• Upper areas of Kra Isthmus belong to Indochinese region

• Lower areas of Kra Isthmus belong to Malesian region (Malay province)

Phytogeography of Thailand

Kra Isthmus

Kangar-Pattani line

Richness of flowering plant genera in Malesian region

Sources: van Welzen et al., 2005

Source: Parnell et al.,2003

Collection density of Thai flora specimens

Mean collection density = 72.24 collections per 100 km2

Endemic plant species in Thailand

Source: ONEP, 2014

Endemic plant species in Thailand

Typhonium saraburiensis ARACEAE

Cycas patrea CYCADACEAE

Endemic plant species in Thailand

Magnolia sirindhornae MAGNOLIACEAE

Paphiopedilum sukhakulii ORCHIDACEAE

Sirindhornia mirabilis H.A.Pedersen & Suksathan

ORCHIDACEAE

Sirindhornia is a genus of flowering plants in the orchid family., "named in honour of Sirindhorn Princess

Endemic plant species in Thailand

Plant Conservation in Thailand

• Thailand has developed the national policies strategies and action plan (NBSAP) on the conservation and sustainable use of Biodiversity since 1998, according to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

• Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) are concerned with the preservation, conservation, rehabilitation of natural resources and environment, management and sustainable use of resources and implementation of other government services, according to the law that prescribes the powers and duties of MONRE and other government agencies affiliated with it.

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE)

MNRE agencies are concerned mainly on plant conservation as included; 1.Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) 2. Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNPWP) 3. Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) 4. Royal Forest Department (RFD) 5. Botanical Garden Organization (State Enterprises under MONRE)

Protected Areas in Thailand

Protected area types Sites Areas (Km2)

National park 108 53,557.13

Wildlife sanctuary 55 35,748.81

Non-hunting area 56 4,346.46

Forest park 102 958.40

Protected Areas in Thailand

National parks in Thailand

Protected area types Sites

Areas (Km2)

National park 108 53,557.13

Wildlife sanctuary 55 35,748.81

Non-hunting area 56 4,346.46

Forest park 102 958.40

Wildlife sanctuary in Thailand

Protected area types Sites

Areas (Km2)

Wildlife sanctuary 55 35,748.81

Wildlife sanctuary 55 35,748.81

Non-hunting area 56 4,346.46

Forest park 102 958.40

Thank you for your attention &

Chinese Academy of Science