National parks in Thailand
National parks in Thailand are defined as an area of least ten square kilometres that contains natural resources of ecological importance or unique beauty, or flora and fauna of special importance. Currently there are 102 national parks (including 21 marine national parks). Often forest parks are miscalled as national parks as well, however those are less protected and governed by the provincial administration.
The parks are administrated by the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department (DNP), which is part of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE). The department was newly created in 2002, and took over the national parks from the Royal Forest Department of the Ministry of Agriculture.
The first national park was Khao Yai in 1961, when the National Park Act B.E. 2504 was passed. The first marine park was Khao Sam Roi Yot, established in 1966. In 1993 the administration of the national parks was split into two divisions, one for the terrestrial and one for the marine parks.
Controversies about Thailand's national parks include excessive development and private concessions. Ko Samet, and other island-based national parks, are particularly impacted by private concessions, often in the form of excessive bungalow developments. Further, many of the northern parks are greatly impacted by illegal swidden farming and poaching.
There are 33 national parks and three marine parks in the process of creation, and are scheduled to be officially gazetted in the future. |
Haeo Suwat waterfall in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand's first national park, designated in 1961.
How to Travel in National Park
|
|
National Park is an area that contains natural resource of ecological importance or unique beauty such as beautiful scenery, waterfall, caves, and mountains, or flora and fauna of special importance.
National Parks of Thailand offer the visitors tremendous variety of attractions, in addition, they consists of ecologically, economically and scientifically valuable plants and animals. Most of Thailand National Parks are blessed with natural beauty and historical importance. The geology, landscape and natural beauty of the parks was recognized by visitor, both locally and internationally. Their appearances are self-interpretive.
National Parks, in the sense of protected areas, play significant roles in maintaining ecological stability and preserving biological diversity. These protected areas also are excellent places for recreation and education. Up to now, the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department has established 103 national parks .
According to the necessity and importance of conservation of biological and ecological diversity of nature and resource, pushed the Royal Forest Department to establish many national parks covering every part of country, from the highest peak of
mountain in the Doi Inthanon National Park to the lowest area of river and sea such as Krabi National Park continuously covering sea coast and mid-sea of the Surin Islands National Park.
Regarding the diversity of species and genetics, actually the Thai academic knowledge of plant and animal species is very limited and consequently sometime is the cause of pitfall of nature and resource management. However, the conservation of natural habitats of these species and genetics in the national park boundaries throughout the country could make a confidence to our children that some varieties of wild species would be conserved at some degree. In addition, some academic research promotion is parallelly proceeded and hoped that one day Thailand would be ready and able to efficiently use this nature and biological resources diversity.
Another valued nature and resource of Thai national parks is the natural-born things which are very unique in the world or so called the natural and resource uniqueness of geological form, for example the 75 million years of shell cemetery of the Nhopharat-Thara-Phi Phi Islands National Park, the James Bond Island of the Phang Nga National Park, the exotic stalactite cave of the Jalermratanakosin National Park, Hin Ngam beach of Taru Tao National Park, the button rock terrace and cracked rock terrace of Phu Hin Rongra National Park, the cliff rock of Rom Sak Cliff and the right place of the 3-leaf pine tree on the cliff of Phu Kradeung National Park.
These prominent of nature and resources, if be destroyed, we could not recreate them by a big money at all and also our proudest possession of these nature and resources would be gone forever. The other side of these valued nature and resources which we don't have too much in the Thai national parks are the natural and resource culture of original communities. For example Chaw Le of Surin Islands National Park, Taru Tao National Park and Lanta Islands National Park, Sa Kai Wild Negrito of Taleban National Park , or the mountain tribe community which the traditional of living style and culture of these communities would gradually dilute, so the left communities are the uncomparable valued thing that we must conserve.
And the last thing is the historical nature and resources which exists here since the age of prior historical record, such as color paint picture at Pha Tam National Park or evidence and dinosaur fossil at Phu Wiang National Park or even some historical evidence which is very important for our nation appearing on many national parks, for example Khuha Khareuhash Throne at Khaow Sam Roi Yod National Park, Phra Nang Raue Lom at Priow Waterfall National Park and the political jail at Taru Tao National Park. Therefore, these nature and resources conserving for our children in Thai national parks are very difficult for us to evaluate them as a value of money. |
|
| Name |
Province |
| Thung Salaeng Luang |
Phitsanulok, Phetchabun |
| Nam Nao |
Phetchabun |
| Doi Inthanon |
Chiang Mai |
| Doi Khuntan |
Lamphun, Lampang |
| Lan Sang |
Tak |
| Ramkhamhaeng |
Sukhothai |
| Doi Suthep-Pui |
Chiang Mai |
| Sri Satchanalai |
Sukhothai |
| Mae Ping |
Lamphun, Tak, Chiang Mai |
| Wiang Kosai |
Phrae, Lampang |
| Namtok Mae Surin |
Mae Hong Son |
| Taksin Maharat |
Tak |
| Klong Lan |
Kamphaeng Phet |
| Phu Hin Rong Kla |
Phitsanulok, Loei |
| Mae Yom |
Phrae |
| Mae Wong |
Kamphaeng Phet, Nakhon Sawan |
| Namtok Chat Trakan |
Phitsanulok |
| Kaeng Chet Khwae |
Phitsanulok |
| Chae Son |
Lampang |
| Sri Lanna |
Chiang Mai |
| Doi Luang |
Chiang Rai, Phayao, Tak |
| Klong Wang Chao |
Kamphaeng Phet, Tak |
| Aob Luang |
Chiang Mai |
| Sa La Win |
Mae Hong Son |
| Khun Chae |
Chiang Rai |
| Huay Nam Dang |
Chiang Mai |
| Lam Nam Nan |
Phrae, Uttaradit |
| Yab Mog |
Phetchabun |
| Mae Moei |
Tak |
| Doi Phukha |
Nan |
| Mae Phang |
Chiang Mai |
| Phu Zang |
Chiang Rai, Phayao |
| Chiang Dao |
Chiang Mai |
| Mae Wa |
Lampang, Tak |
| Name |
Province |
| Khao Yai |
Nakhon Ratchasima, Saraburi, Prachinburi |
| Phu Kradung |
Loei |
| Phu Phan |
Sakon Nakhon, Kalasin |
| Phu Rua |
Loei |
| Tat Ton |
Chaiyaphum |
| Kaeng Tana |
Ubon Ratchathani |
| Thab Lan |
Nakhon Ratchasima, Prachinburi |
| Phu Kao-Phu Phan Kam |
Khon Kaen |
| Phu Chong-Na Yoi |
Ubon Ratchathani |
| Huay Huat |
Nakhon Phanom, Sakon Nakhon, Mukdahan |
| Mukdahan |
Mukdahan |
| Phu wiang |
Khon Kaen |
| Phu Pha Man |
Loei, Khon Kaen |
| Pha Tam |
Ubon Ratchathani |
| Phu Sa Dok Bua |
Ubon Ratchathani, Yasothon, Mukdahan |
| Sai Thong |
Chaiyaphum |
| Na Haew |
Loei |
| Ta Pha Ya |
Sa Kaeo, Buriram |
| Khao Pravihan |
Ubon Ratchathani, Sisaket |
| Nam Phong |
Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum |
| Name |
Province |
| Namtok Phlew |
Chanthaburi |
| Erawan |
Kanchanaburi |
| Khao Chamo-Khao Wong |
Rayong, Chanthaburi |
| Khao Khitchakut |
Chanthaburi |
| Chaloem Rattanakosin |
Kanchanaburi |
| Sai Yok |
Kanchanaburi |
| Pra Budda Chai |
Saraburi |
| Kaeng Krachan |
Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan |
| Khaoen Sri Nakarin |
Kanchanaburi |
| Pang Sida |
Srakaeo, Prachinburi |
| Khao Laem |
Kanchanaburi |
| Phu Toei |
Suphanburi |
| Kuiburi |
Prachuap Khiri Khan |
| Namok Huay Yang |
Prachuap Khiri Khan |
| Name |
Province |
| Khao Luang |
Nakhon Si Thammarat |
| Khao Sok |
Surat Thani |
| Khao Panom Benja |
Krabi |
| Khao P-Khao Ya |
Phattalung |
| Si Phang-nga |
Phang Nga |
| Namtok Yong |
Nakhon Si Thammarat |
| Khao Nam Khang |
Songkhla |
| Kaeng Krung |
Surat Thani |
| Tai Rom Yen |
Surat Thani |
| Bang Lang |
Yala |
| Namtok Ngao |
Ranong, Chumphon |
| Budo-Sungai Padi |
Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala |
| Namtok Si Khid |
Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani |
| Khlong Phanom |
Surat Thani |
| Sriniat |
Phuket |
| Name |
Province |
| Mai Ta Khai |
Chiang Mai |
| Aob Khan |
Chiang Mai |
| Doi Wiang Pha |
Lampang |
| Tham Phathai |
Lampang |
| Doi Phaklong |
Phrae |
| Klong Tron |
Uttaradit |
| Sri Nan |
Nan |
| Doi Phunang |
Phayao |
| Mae Tho |
Chiang Mai |
| Namtok Pacharoen |
Tak |
| Kaeng Jegquar |
Phitsanulok, Uttaradit |
| Khun Khan |
Chiang Mai |
| Mae Ngao |
Mae Hong Son, Tak, Chiang Mai |
| Pa Mae Paem |
Chiang Rai, Phayao |
| Pu Soidao |
Uttaradit |
| Mae Charim |
Nan |
| Mae Wang |
Lampang, Lamphun |
| Mae Phasa |
Tak |
| Khunnan |
Nan |
| Nunthaburi |
Nan |
| Thong Pha Phum |
Kanchanaburi |
| Lam Klong Ngu |
Kanchanaburi |
| Namtok Klong Kaew |
Trat |
| Pa Hin Ngam |
Chaiyaphum |
| Phu Lang Ka |
Nong Khai |
| Phu Pha Lek |
Sakon Nakhon, Ubon Ratchathani |
| Phu Lang Ka |
Chaiyaphum |
| Namtok Sai Khao |
Pattani, Yala, Songkhla |
| Khao Nan |
Nakhon Si Thammarat |
| Sun Gala Khiri |
Yala, Songkhla |
| Namtok Shipo |
Pattani, Narathiwat |
| Chaloem Phrakiat Thai Prachan |
Ratchaburi |
| Hat Khanom - Mu Ko Thale Tai |
Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani |
Reference : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_parks_of_Thailand |