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Protected areas > Mae Nam Phachi
Wildlife Sanctuary
The approximately 500 square km Maen Nam Phachi Wildlife Sanctuary is
located in Ratchaburi province immediately north of the
Kaeng Krachan National Park.
History
Established in 1978, three years before the Kaeng Krachan National Park - to the south, now the biggest national park in Thailand - has been proclaimed.
Characteristics
The sanctuary is contiguous with the Kaeng Krachan National Park for much of
its southern boundary. The wildlife sanctuary has the same habitat types -
ie. hill evergreen forest, dry evergreen forest, mixed deciduous forest -,
flora, and fauna as the larger national park and there is some movement of
larger mammals and birds between the two areas. Much of the natural evergreen
forest in the two protected areas is intact.
The western section of the two protected areas are bordered by large
expanses of relatively
undisturbed forest in Myanmar. This effectively increases the conservation
estate, allowing
animals to move across the border and enhancing the biodiversity value of
the area. Kaeng Krachan and Mae Nam Phachi are linked by forests both in
Thailand and Myanmar to the large Huai Kha
Khaeng/Thung Yai Naresuan Complex
further north. This whole extended area with
its high biological value is important for the protection of the Kaeng
Krachan National Park and
West Peninsular watershed.
Access to the wildlife sanctuary
Mae Nam Phachi is a wildlife sanctuary, which is much more strictly
protected area than a national park. Wildlife sanctuaries are designated to
allow as free and undisturbed movement of animals as possible. Therefore
they are open mainly for educational or scientific research or for
volunteering. Special permit is necessary to enter a wildlife sanctuary. |
