Home to more than 800 species of fauna and located in northeast Thailand, Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex (DPKY-FC) covers 615,500 hectares and comprises five almost contiguous Protected Areas; Khao Yai National Park, Thap Lan National Park, Pang Sida National Park, Ta Phraya National Park, and Dong Yai Wildlife Sanctuary. It lies in an east-west alignment along and below the Korat Plateau, the southern edge of which is formed by the Phanom Dongrek escarpment. Borders the Cardamom Mountains biogeographic unit. Internationally important for its biodiversity and the conservation of globally threatened and endangered mammal, bird and reptile species, the property is home to one critically endangered (Siamese Crocodile), four endangered (Asian Elephant, Tiger, Leopard Cat, Banteng) and 19 vulnerable species. Khao Yai National Park at the western end of the complex. The complex spans 230 kilometers from Ta Phraya National Park on the Cambodian border in the east. The property falls inside the Central Indochina biogeographic unit.

• Khao Yai National Park
• Doi Suthep
• Kaeng Krachan National Park
• Kaeng So Pha Waterfall
• Baan Kang Wat
• Sai Yok National Park
• Giant Chiang Mai Tree House
• Phutthabucha Road Night Bazaar

The property protects some of the largest remaining populations in the region of many important wildlife species and is the only known location where White-headed and Pileated Gibbon species have overlapping ranges and interbreed. Criterion (x): The Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex (DPKY-FC) contains more than 800 fauna species, including 112 species of mammals, 392 species of birds and 200 reptiles and amphibians. The property is internationally important for the conservation of globally threatened and endangered mammal, bird and reptile species that are recognised as being of outstanding universal value. The waterfalls and creeks within the property, together with the variety of flora and fauna and dramatic forested landscapes, attract millions of visitors every year for recreation and education purposes. The Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex, with its high annual rainfall, acts as a critically important watershed for Thailand, draining into and feeding five of the country’s major rivers: Nakhon Nayok river, Prachin Buri river, Lamta Khong river, Muak Lek river, and Mun river.

Resorts Near Kanchanaburi

This includes 1 critically endangered, 4 endangered and 19 vulnerable species. In addition to the resident species the complex plays an important role for the conservation of migratory species, including the endangered Spot-billed Pelican and critically endangered Greater Adjutant. The unique overlap of the range of two species of gibbon, including the vulnerable pileated gibbon, further adds to the global value of the complex. The property contains the last substantial area of globally important tropical forest ecosystems of the Thailandian Monsoon Forest biogeographic province in northeast Thailand, which in turn can provide a viable area for long-term survival of endangered, globally important species, including tiger, elephant, leopard cat and banteng. Comprising five almost contiguous protected areas and spanning 230 km between Ta Phraya National Park on the Cambodian border in the east and Khao Yai National Park to the west, the boundaries of Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex follow contour lines that were originally drawn around remaining areas of forest and natural habitats, resulting in a well defined but complicated boundary.

The overall size of the property adequately ensures complete representations of habitats and ecological processes, and with-well defined topographic, climatic and vegetal east-west gradients, it contains all major habitat types of eastern Thailand. There are significant areas of primary forest in each of the component protected areas of the complex, with moist and dry evergreen forests occurring in all the Protected Areas of the complex. As the last major area of extensive forests in northeastern Thailand, surrounded by almost completely converted landscapes, human pressures are significant and diverse including roads, incursions, tourism, and poaching. Overall, the property represents a complex mosaic of all vegetation and habitat types remaining in northeast Thailand, including rainforest habitats, reflecting not only successional processes but also landform and soil diversity. Maintaining and re-establishing connectivity between the different ecological components of the complex remains a concern and a priority for the managing agency due to its direct impact on the integrity and value of the property. More than 80% of Khao Yai National Park remains covered in evergreen or semi-evergreen forest, with much of it tall, good quality primary forest.