Prioritizing Forest Complexes of Thailand Using Landscape Metrics

Abstract

Conservation planning and protected area management at a regional landscape level require indepth understanding of landscape structure and adequate spatial information support. They can potentially be served as tools to support land managers’ decision making. This study focused on investigating of landscape composition and configuration of the 17 terrestrial forest complexes of Thailand using nine landscape metrices based on various vegetation and land cover types classified in 2000. The measured landscapesof different forest complexes were compared and prioritized based on the average scores of the metrices. The study revealed that the forest complexs was prioritized and classified into four categories including 1) the most important forest complex (Western) 2) an important forest complex (Mae Ping-Om Koi, LumNumPai-Salawin, PhuMeang-Phu Thong, PhuKhiew-Nam Naew, Dong Phayayen-KhaoYai, DoiPhuka-Mae Yom, Sri Lanna-Khun Tan and KhaengKrachan 3) a relatively important forest complex (Eastern, KlongSaaeng-KhaoSok, PhuParn and PhanomDongrak-PhaTam and 4) the least important forest complex (KhaoLuang, Chumporn, Hala-Bala and KhaoBantad). The prioritization of Thailand forest complexes with respect to landscape structure can potentially facilitateland managers to understand insightful sissues of biological conservation at a regional landscape. Improving efficiency of allocating budget and manpower according to this prioritization will also benefit conservation planning of Thailand in a long run.     

Keywords: protected areas, forest complexes, prioritization, landscape metrics