Central Indochina dry forests
Central Indochina dry forests | |
---|---|
Ecology | |
Realm | Indomalayan |
Biome | tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests |
Borders | List
|
Geography | |
Area | 444,000 km2 (171,000 sq mi) |
Countries | |
Conservation | |
Conservation status | vulnerable |
The Central Indochina dry forests are a large tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests ecoregion in Southeast Asia.
Location and description
The ecoregion consists of an area of plateau and low river basin in Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar and includes:
- In Thailand the large Khorat Plateau, the higher elevation plains of the Chao Phraya River basin, the foothills of the Tenasserim Hills and other dry areas of the lower slopes of the Khun Tan, Phi Pan Nam and Phetchabun mountain ranges of the north of the country.
- In central and southern Laos the wide valley of the Mekong river system.
- In Cambodia a large area of the dry plains of the northern, eastern, and south-central parts of the country.
- In Vietnam the uplands of the upper Tonlé San and Srepok Rivers.[1]
- Adjacent neighboring parts of eastern Myanmar
These are the drier areas of
Great swathes of this ecoregion are densely populated and are used for agriculture or urban development, especially in Thailand.
Flora
While some large areas do remain in northeastern Cambodia, much of the original
Fauna
The remaining forests are home to some large mammals including Asian elephants (Elephas maximus), wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee), Eld's deer (Cervus eldii) and three species of wild cattle the gaur (Bos gaurus), the banteng (Bos javanicus) and the kouprey (Bos sauveli). Large herds of these grazing animals were once widespread across the region and were preyed upon by tigers (Panthera tigris), clouded leopard (Felis nebulosa), leopards (Panthera pardus) and dhole (wild dogs) (Cuon alpinus). Both loss of habitat and hunting have seriously reduced numbers of all these animals many of which are endangered with the kouprey very rare and other species such as the Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus), Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) and Schomburgk's deer (Cervus duvaucelli schomburgki) now extinct in the region.
Other mammals of the region include the
There are 500 species of bird in the region including the critically endangered and possibly extinct white-eyed river martin (Pseudochelidon sirintarae), the endemic grey-faced tit-babbler (Macronous kelleyi) and the endangered or threatened Bengal florican (Eupodotis bengalensis), greater adjutant (Leptoptilos dubius) and white-shouldered ibis (Pseudibis davisoni). Other birds of the remaining woodlands of the area include the silver pheasant (Lophura nycthemera), Siamese fireback (Lophura diardi), Mrs. Hume's pheasant (Syrmaticus humiae), grey peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron bicalcaratum), sarus crane (Grus antigone), great hornbill (Buceros bicornis), Austen's brown hornbill (Anorrhinus austeni), and wreathed hornbill (Aceros undulatus).
The reptile and amphibian populations require further study but most likely include endemic species such as a critically endangered Cantor's giant soft-shelled turtle (
Threats and preservation
Active preservation is required to keep large tracts of the remaining habitat intact and connected rather than being broken into small patches. This is particularly important for the survival of the remaining tiger populations in the wild. About 6% of the area is protected with the largest areas including
See also
References
- ^ "Central Indochina dry forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.