Luang Prabang montane rain forests | |
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Ecology | |
Realm | Indomalayan |
Biome | Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests |
Borders | |
Geography | |
Area | 71,743 km2 (27,700 sq mi) |
Country | Thailand, Laos, Vietnam |
Coordinates | 19°N103°E / 19°N 103°E |
Conservation | |
Protected | 18.9% [1] |
The Luang Prabang montane rain forests ecoregion (WWF ID: IM0121) covers elevations over 800 meters in the Luang Prabang mountains that straddle the border between northern Thailand and north-central Laos, and the highlands that stretch eastward across north-central Laos. While much of the forest cover has been degraded, there are still large areas of relatively untouched forest. [2] [3] [1]
The Luang Prabang Range is the easternmost of the north-south mountain ranges of northern Thailand. Together with the highlands of north-central Laos they form an ecoregion of very high rainfall (2,000-3,000 mm/year) during the May to October rainy season, and a relatively long dry season during the rest of the year.
The ecoregion grades into the montane Northern Indochina subtropical forests to the northeast and the Northern Annamites rain forests to the east. dry forests covers the lower-elevation Khorat Plateau to the south and the Chao Phraya lowlands to the west. The Northern Khorat Plateau moist deciduous forests are a transition between the Luang Prabang forests and the Khorat Plateau's dry forests, and the Northern Thailand-Laos moist deciduous forests cover the foothills and river valleys to the north and west of the Luang Prabang forests. [2]
The climate of the ecoregion is Tropical monsoon climate (Köppen climate classification (Aw)). This climate is characterized by relatively even temperatures throughout the year (all months being greater than 18 °C (64 °F) average temperature), and a pronounced dry season. The driest month has less than 60 mm of precipitation, but more than (100-(monthly average)/25) mm. The dry month usually at or right after the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. [4] [5] Rainfall in the mountains of northern Laos can average 2,000-3,000 mm/year. [2]
There is not one single type of rainforest in the ecoregion. Rather, there are many different forest communities reflecting location, elevation, and local climate. [2] Starting at 800 meters elevation, the lower tropical seasonal rainforest becomes the montane rainforest, with a dominant canopy of Dipterocarpus turbinatus (source of keruing wood), and Wax tree ( Toxicodendron succedaneum ). Also present at this transitional level are palm trees such as the Sugar palm ( Arenga pinnata ). At elevations of 1,500 meters, broadleaf evergreen forests of Castanopsis hystrix are found. The low, open nature of the forest may be due to past clearing or fire. At these levels there are also conifer hardwood forests of Quercus griffithii (an oak with an oblong crown) and Keteleeria ( Keteleeria evelyniana ). Thinner soils support Engelhardia on granitic soils, or Khasi pine ( Pinus kesiya ) on clay or sandstone. [2]
Due to the relative isolation of the area, there are significant populations of rare large mammals including the critically endangered Red-shanked douc, the endangered Asian elephant, and the endangered Eld's deer. Over 540 bird species are known to have territory extending into the ecoregion.
18.9% of the ecoregion is in protected areas. Protected areas in the ecoregion include:
The Phetchabun mountains are a mountain massif in Phetchabun, Phitsanulok, Loei and Chaiyaphum Provinces, Thailand. It consists of two parallel mountain chains, with the valley of the Pa Sak River in the middle.
The South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests is an ecoregion in the Western Ghats of southern India with tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests. This biome covers the Nilgiri Hills between elevation of 250 and 1,000 m in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu states.
The Annamite Range or the Annamese Mountains is a major mountain range of eastern Indochina, extending approximately 1,100 km (680 mi) through Laos, Vietnam, and a small area in northeast Cambodia. The mountain range is also referred to variously as Annamese Range, Annamese Mountains, Annamese Cordillera, Annamite Mountains and Annamite Cordillera. The name "Annam" is the Vietnamese pronunciation and terminology of Chinese: 安南, meaning "the tranquil south" referring to Vietnam. The French adopted the word and used "Annamese" or "Annamite" to refer to the Vietnamese.
The Northern Indochina subtropical forests are a subtropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion of northern Indochina, covering portions of Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, and China's Yunnan Province.
Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary in northern Thailand, located in the Phu Luang mountain area, in the south of Loei Province. The area around the mountain is part of the Luang Prabang montane rain forests ecoregion.
Doi Phu Kha National Park covers parts of 8 districts in the Luang Prabang Range, Nan Province, Northern Thailand and has rich natural resources. It is Northern Thailand's largest National park and rivers such as Nan River and Pua River, have their sources within the area of the range under the protection of the park limits. Khun Nan National Park is located north of the park area.
Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park is a protected area in northern Laos, covering 4,107.1 km2 (1,585.8 sq mi) in three provinces: Houaphan, Luang Prabang, and Xieng Khouang. It was designated a national park in 2019, and was previously designated a national protected area. The protected area included a 3,000 km2 (1,200 sq mi) core area where human access and wildlife harvest is prohibited and a 2,950 km2 buffer area where pre-existing villages are allocated land for subsistence living.
Phu Ruea, is a 1365 m high mountain in Loei province, Thailand. It is in Phu Ruea district. This mountain is part of the Phetchabun Mountains, a massif forming a natural boundary between northern Thailand and Isan. The peak rises seven kilometers north of Highway 203, between Loei town and Phetchabun. The name of the mountain comes from the fact that it looks like an upside down boat from certain angles.
The Luang Prabang Range, named after Luang Prabang, is a mountain range straddling northwestern Laos and Northern Thailand. Most of the range is located in Sainyabuli Province (Laos), as well as Nan and Uttaradit Provinces (Thailand), with small parts in Phitsanulok and Loei Provinces. Several rivers such as the Nan, Pua and Wa rivers, have their sources in this range. Phu Fa waterfall, the biggest and the tallest waterfall in Nan Province, is also located in these mountains. This range is part of the Luang Prabang montane rain forests ecoregion.
Khun Nan National Park is a protected area on the western side of the Luang Prabang Range in the Thailand-Laos border area, on the Thai side of the ridge. It is named after Khun Nan subdistrict (tambon) of Chaloem Phra Kiat District of Nan Province and includes parts located in Bo Kluea District. The park is located north of the Doi Phu Kha National Park and was established in 2009 with an area of 153,982 rai ~ 249 square kilometres (96 sq mi).
Nam Poui National Biodiversity Conservation Area is a protected area in the Sayaboury Province of the Lao P.D.R. It is named after Nam Poui village, also known as "Muang Pieng" and is one of the 21 National Biodiversity Conservation Areas (NBCA) established by the Lao government. The NBCA is located in the forested mountains of the Luang Prabang Range and shares a border with Thailand and three other national parks. It is part of the Luang Prabang montane rain forests ecoregion.
Saiyabuli province is a province in northwest Laos. Saiyabuli town is the capital of the province. Saiyabuli is the only Lao province that is completely west of the Mekong River.
Luang Prabang is a province in northern Laos. Its capital of the same name, Luang Prabang, was the capital of the Lan Xang Kingdom during the 13th to 16th centuries. It is listed since 1995 by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site for unique architectural, religious and cultural heritage, a blend of the rural and urban developments over several centuries, including the French colonial influences during the 19th and 20th centuries. The province has 12 districts. The Royal Palace, the national museum in the capital city, and the Phou Loei Protected Reserve are important sites. Notable temples in the province are the Wat Xieng Thong, Wat Wisunarat, Wat Sen, Wat Xieng Muan, and Wat Manorom. The Lao New Year is celebrated in April as The Bun Pi Mai.
The Kayah–Karen montane rain forests is a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion on Mainland Southeast Asia. The montane rain forests cover several connected mountain ranges, including the Daen Lao Range, the Dawna Range, the Karen Hills, the Khun Tan Range, and the Thanon Thong Chai Range.
The Northern Annamites rain forests ecoregion covers the rugged and relatively unexplored northern Annamite Mountains of central Laos and Vietnam. There are high numbers of endemic plant species, and the relative remoteness and isolation of the area supports many rare and endangered animals. Rainfall is somewhat less than the lowland rainforest of the lower elevations in Vietnam, and the temperatures slightly cooler due to the higher elevation.
The Northern Khorat Plateau moist deciduous forests ecoregion covers a small area on the border between northeastern Thailand and Laos, in the transition zone between the drier Khorat Plateau to the south and the wetter Annamite Range and Luang Prabang Range mountains to the north. Much of the ecoregion has been converted to agriculture along the floodplain of the middle course of the Mekong River.
The Northern Thailand–Laos moist deciduous forests ecoregion follows the upper course of the Nan River in northern Thailand and the Mekong River in Laos. This area has the highest proportion of tree cover in Thailand, with many forests dominated by Teak. The river valleys have been under pressure from human use: agriculture, teak plantations, and hunting have reduce plant and animal presence.
The Eastern Java-Bali rain forests ecoregion covers the lowland areas of the eastern half of the island of Java, and the island of Bali, in Indonesia. This ecoregion is distinct from the Eastern Java-Bali montane rain forests, which exists at higher elevations where mountain forest habitat dominates. Very little of the natural lowland rainforest remains in its pre-human settlement state.