Coral reefs - globally pregnant diversity
The Thai Andaman Bioregion is habitation to over 300 species of the world’s 800 species of reef-building corals. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 quarter of the world’s fish species are to survive institute hither inward virtually 1,200 foursquare kilometres of coral reefs that back upwards virtually two-thirds of the multifariousness of Australia’s much larger Great Barrier Reef, which is 344,400 foursquare kilometres inward area.
Sea grass beds
Shallow waters stretching from Phang-nga Bay to Trang back upwards concentrations of of import sea grass as well as serve equally feeding grounds for the highest number of dugongs anywhere inward the the world exterior Australia.
Offshore islands
The Surin as well as Similan islands cast an extension of Myanmar’s Mergui Archipelago. Here, southern as well as northern flowing sea currents converge inward the eastern Indian Ocean as well as characteristic large underwater granite boulders. These characterize world-class diving spots noted for their multifariousness of marine fish, corals as well as crustaceans. Further south, sea currents that menstruum northwards upwards the Straits of Malacca from Republic of Indonesia as well as the South China Sea converge amongst currents from the Bay of Bengal as well as the Indian Ocean. In this odd usage of the world, Hin Daeng as well as the islands of Racha, Adang as well as Rawi boast fifty-fifty greater marine fauna diversity.
Caves as well as karsts
At Phang-nga Bay betwixt Phuket as well as Krabi province, towering karst pinnacles covered amongst scrub wood as well as plants march seawards from the north, forming caves as well as arches at sea-level as well as below. Macaques, serow as well as flight foxes are some of the distinctive fauna peculiar to this distinctive habitat. The expanse is immensely pop amongst sea canoeists. Above them, world-class stone faces offering avid climbers serious challenges as well as genuinely spectacular views.
Forests as well as swamps
Nearly 300 species as well as subspecies of wood birds ambit their southern or northern-most distributions around the Isthmus of Kra, an expanse 11 to xiii degrees due north of the equator where the Thailand peninsula is only 45 kilometres wide. This way the rainforests inward the Andaman bioregion are exceptionally various inward birdlife. The phenomenon dates from ancient times when sea levels alternately rose as well as fell, isolating the aeroplane populations of Indochina to the due north from those of the Philippines, Malaysia as well as Republic of Indonesia to the due south inward the evolutionary process.
At the Thai-Malay border, almost 600 genera of flowering plants ambit their southern or northern limits. This is show of a minute prehistoric number that shaped the unique biota of Southeast Asia. In the due south as well as the north, old-growth mangrove forests cast broad swathes, harbouring the early on life stages of every marine animal institute inward the sea.
Coastal dunes — the world’s most of import nesting sites for marine turtles
At Khao Lak, Tai Mueang as well as due north Phuket, coastal dunes protect beach forests as well as sleepy lagoons, forming some of the most of import nesting areas for leatherback as well as other turtles inward the region.
Rest stops for migrating birds as well as whale sharks
Tidal mud-flats inward the Trang, Krabi as well as Kraburi River estuaries, along amongst coastal flats inward Phang-nga Bay, are internationally of import feeding areas for migratory wader birds. Raptors usage the wood corridor leading downward the peninsula for their annual migration. In October, over a dozen species of raptors tin survive seen flight due south over Thaleban National Park. Whale sharks frequent the Andaman coastline from Oct to May. Researchers withdraw that whale shark movements are responsive to plankton levels as well as currents from the Bay of Bengal, both of which increase at this fourth dimension of year.
The natural wonders of this stretch of the Andaman coastline cast treasures that create non belong solely to whatever ane nation. Serendipitously, they are to survive institute inward Thailand but cast usage of the whole world’s heritage — a heritage for all mankind to part as well as enjoy. Promoting this notion has been a primal plank of the Andaman Bioregion Project.
Protecting as well as Preserving Thailand’s Andaman Coastline
Although parts of the Andaman coastline bring been impacted yesteryear various developmental as well as environmental pressures, as well as yesteryear tourism-related activities, 18 coastal as well as marine national parks roofing 5,380 foursquare kilometres already have some storey of official protection. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 farther 4 wetland areas are protected equally RAMSAR sites. RAMSAR is an international understanding to conserve as well as wisely usage wetlands of special significance inward 158 countries. Thailand has been a signatory to the treaty since 1998 as well as has nominated 10 sites totalling 370,600 hectares for inclusion. Two-thirds of these prevarication inward the Andaman Bioregion.
The Andaman Bioregion Project – Key Approach
The traditional approach to managing Thailand’s Andaman Coastline has been to protect this treasured laid of existing national parks. Individual parks mightiness justify nomination equally World Heritage Areas. According to marine biological scientific discipline goodness Dr Thon Thamrongnawasawat, places such equally Phang-nga Bay where karsts, mangroves, coral as well as sea grass beds meet, easily brand the inclusion score on the grounds of multifariousness alone. So besides would locales farther offshore such equally the Surin Islands, where human acquit upon is lower as well as to a greater extent than easily managed. By comparison, the Andaman Bioregion proposal inward its consummate cast is a visionary approach to managing regional multifariousness amongst a company grounding inward science. Dr James True, the plan’s original architect, says it draws lessons from managing the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem yesteryear incorporating existing protected areas equally the meat features, but including other areas equally buffers as well as special administration zones. There are also exclusion zones for areas that are heavily degraded as well as cannot survive protected.
Thais bring long considered their Andaman coastline a biological treasure. Now scientists are able to demonstrate why this is so, as well as inward as well as hence doing they are supporting its nomination equally Thailand’s 6th World Heritage Area — the kingdom’s get-go inward the marine realm.
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