IUCN Management Category IV (Managed Nature Reserve)

Biogeographical Province 4.10.04 (Thailandian Monsoon Forest)

Geographical Location Located in northern-central Thailand, in Loei Province, some 40km south of the international border with Laos. 17°03'-17°25'N, 101°17'-101°35'E

Date and History of Establishment 18 December 1974

Area 84,799ha

Land Tenure Government

Altitude Maximum elevation 1,571m

Physical Features Comprises a steep-sided sandstone plateau at 1,100m almost bisected by the north-south oriented Mae Nam Loei which flows south out of the sanctuary and thence north to the Mekong river. The massif is a southerly extension of the Himalayas and is dry with numerous sandstone outcrops and boulders that produce a variety of habitat (Sayer, 1981).

Climate There is a warm, wet season from June to November which stimulates the vegetative growth of many plant species. November to February is dry and relatively cool, with very infrequent frosts. The February to April dry season is the predominant flowering period. Between January and June the temperature rises, reaching 30°C by day in April and falling to 20°C at night (Du Puy, 1982). Rainfall is high and mists occur frequently (Sayer, 1981).

Vegetation The sanctuary supports a rich flora of both Himalayan and Indochinese origin. The slopes of the plateau support semi-evergreen forest, much of which has been logged, while the edge of the plateau is covered by short open woodland with a ground cover of grasses and occasional stands of bamboo. The plateau itself is covered by low, open shrubland interspersed with grasses, Selaginella sp. and bracken Pteridium aquilinum. The principal shrub species include Lyonia ovalifolia foliosa, Vaccinium eberhardtii (endemic), Melastoma normale, Rhododendron lyi, Lithocarpus sp., and Premna racemosa. Sandstone outcrops support the Ericaceous, lithophytic shrub Agapetes saxicola. Large flowered orchids are abundant, with some 155 species recorded and include Dendrobium infundibulum, D. unicum, D. chrysanthum, Cymbidium insigne, C. devonianum, usually associated with the Himalayas of north-east India and Assam, C. mastersii, C. lancifolium and the slipper orchids Paphiopedilum sukhakulii, endemic to northern Thailand, and P. villosum. Other interesting species recorded include the tropical mistletoe Macrosolen arvensis, Agapetes lobbii, Impatiens phulangensis and Gentiana lakshnakarae, endemic to this region of Thailand. Numerous ferns, mosses and lichens grow in the humid conditions and many orchids are epiphytic (Du Puy, 1984; Sayer, 1981).

Fauna The sanctuary supports a diverse fauna and mammals recorded in the park include an estimated 1985 population of 125 to 175 elephant Elephas maximus (E) (Dobias, 1987), tiger Panthera tigris (E), leopard P. pardus (V) and gaur Bos gaurus (V). Sambar Cervus unicolor occur at lower altitudes and Indian muntjac Muntiacus muntjak is found on the plateau. Serow Capricornis sumatraensis occupy the cliff areas (Sayer, 1981). A total of 137 resident and migrant bird species have been found. These include black eagle Ictinaetus malayensis (P.D. Round, pers. comm.) and at higher elevations silver pheasant Lophura nycthemera and grey peacock pheasant Polyplectron bicalaratum. Many smaller montane species, previously unrecorded in Loei province, occur, including golden-throated barbet Megalaima franklinii, black-throated parrotbill Paradoxornis nipalensis, lesser shortwing Brachypteryx leucophyrs and white-gorgetted flycatcher Ficedula monileger (Round, 1985).

Cultural Heritage No information

Local Human Population There is no resident human population although the sanctuary is surrounded by densely settled agricultural land (Sayer, 1981). Principal crops include maize, rice and peanuts. The sanctuary was occupied by insurgents until expulsion by military operations in 1979 (Storer, 1981).

Visitors and Visitor Facilities Prior to closure, enforced in 1978 by active insurgency, about 500-1,000 people visited the sanctuary annually. More recent figures are not available. The main access route is via the Phu Rua checkpoint and entry to the interior is restricted to foot trails. A number of bungalows have been built on the plateau at Khok Nokaban, some 8km from the headquarters, where a pair of musk deer Moschus sp. are kept (Sayer, 1981).

Scientific Research and Facilities A vegetation description is given in Du Puy (1984) and the elephant population has been surveyed in 1979 (Storer, 1981) and 1985 (Dobias, 1987). A partial inventory of the bird community has been compiled (Round, 1985).

Conservation Value No information

Conservation Management Part of the northern slopes is managed as a buffer zone and grazing is permitted. The sanctuary is valued for its rich fauna and relatively undisturbed forest (Sayer, 1981). Although isolated from the much larger Nam Nao National Park (99,00ha) and Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary (156,000ha) complex to the south, the sanctuary is identified as a key site for forest bird conservation (Round, 1985). Further, the site is a potential tourist attraction and could be a useful locality for ecological research. The park headquarters are located close to the eastern boundary (Sayer, 1981) and there are eight permanent and two temporary guard stations (Kasetsart University, 1987). The sanctuary was previously a forest reserve subject to logging, and a road, now in disrepair, gave access to the summit. Permits are required for entry into the sanctuary and marked paths have been established to reduce trampling (Du Puy, 1984). The preparation of a management plan is scheduled for 1991 (Kasetsart University, 1987).

Management Constraints An historic threat stems from insurgency which has prevented management activity. Other problems include poaching of both wildlife and plants such as orchid Paphiopedilum sukharkulii, illegal felling and uncontrolled fire on the plateau (Sayer, 1981).

Staff Comprises nine forest technicians, a single forest technical officer and 30 guards (Kasetsart University, 1987).

Budget 2,428,000 baht (US$ 88,000) in 1986 (Kasetsart University, 1987)

Local Addresses

No information

References

Dobias, R.J. (1987). Elephants in Thailand: an overview of their status and conservation. Tigerpaper 14: 19-24.

Du Puy, D. (May 1984). Flowers of the Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary. The Kew Magazine (1): 75-84.

Kasetsart University (1987). Assessment of national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and other preserves in Thailand. Draft report. Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Royal Forest Department, Office of the National Environment Board, USAID. 124 pp.

Round, P. (1985). Status and conservation of resident birds in Thailand. Association for the Conservation of Wildlife. Bangkok. 143 pp.

Sayer, J.A. (1981). A Review of the Nature Conservation and policies of the Royal Forest Department, Thailand. FAO, Rome.

Storer, P.J. (1981). Elephant populations in Thailand. A preliminary survey of wild elephant populations and their prospects for conservation in Thailand. Natural History Bulletin of the Siam Society 29: 1-30.

Date August 1987