World Heritage Identification Number: 1461
World Heritage since: 2021
Category: Natural Heritage
WHE Type: Protected Areas & National Parks
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇹🇭 Thailand
Continent: Asia
UNESCO World Region: Asia and the Pacific
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Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex: A Biodiverse Haven Amidst Human Rights Concerns
The Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021, is a testament to the rich biodiversity found within the Tenasserim mountain range in Thailand. This expansive forest complex spans across the Thailand-Myanmar border, sharing boundaries with the Tanintharyi Nature Reserve. Its designation as a World Heritage Site underscores its significant role in preserving global biodiversity, yet it remains entangled in controversies surrounding human rights violations against the indigenous communities residing within its borders.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
The site is located along the Thailand side of the Tenasserim mountain range, part of a north-south granite and limestone mountain ridge running down the Malay Peninsula. Located at the cross-roads between the Himalayan, Indochina, and Sumatran faunal and floral realms, the property is home to rich biodiversity. It is dominated by semi-evergreen/dry evergreen and moist evergreen forest with some mixed deciduous forest, montane forest, and deciduous dipterocarp forest. A number of endemic and globally endangered plant and wildlife species have been reported in the property, which overlaps with two Important Bird Areas (IBAs) and is noted for its rich diversity of birdlife, including eight globally endangered fauna species. The property is home to the critically endangered Siamese Crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis), the endangered Asiatic Wild Dog (Cuon alpinus), Banteng (Bos javanicus), Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus), Yellow/Elongated Tortoise (Indotestudo elongata), and the endangered Asian Giant Tortoise (Manouria emys), as well as several other vulnerable species of birds and mammals. Remarkably, it is also home to eight cat species: the endangered tiger (Panthera tigris) and Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus), the near-threatened Leopard (Panthera pardus) and Asian Golden Cat (Catopuma temminckii), the vulnerable Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosi) and Marbled Cat (Pardofelis marmorata), and the least concerned Jungle Cat (Felis chaus) and Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis).
UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site
Criterion (x): KKFC hosts a remarkable range of mammals, birds and reptiles from this region and is considered as one of the top 500 most irreplaceable protected areas in the world for the conservation of mammal, bird and amphibian species. The property is characterised by six forest types, dominated by semi-evergreen, dry evergreen and moist evergreen forests and complemented by mixed deciduous forest, montane forest, and deciduous dipterocarp forest. The property represents a meeting point of several zoogeographical realms and floristic provinces being the northernmost point for many species from the south and conversely the southernmost point for species from the north. In addition to this macro scale diversity, the diverse geological characteristics and highly variable topography contribute to an exceptionally high habitat diversity at the micro scale. The property’s rich biodiversity is demonstrated by the presence of at least 459 known wild animal species, as well as by 81 rare species, and 48 endemic species. The property is home to a large number of threatened and rare plant species, some of which are extinct elsewhere. Prunus kaengkrachanensis stands out as a rosaceous plant species discovered in 2015 and endemic to KKFC. Further critical species include Champi Doi (Magnolia gustavii), and Agarwood (Aquilaria malaccensis) and Kamettia chandeei of the dogbane family. The species Geostachys smitinandii of the ginger family is found only in the KKFC and the Dong Phayayen – Khao Yai Forest Complex Natural World Heritage site of Thailand. The property is also the world’s only home to the plant species Trichosanthes phonsenae from the cucumber family first discovered in 2003. KKFC also maintains healthy populations of globally important and threatened wildlife species. A complete suite of top carnivores has been identified in the area, including eight species of Felidae (cat species), including tiger (Panthera tigris). The property stands out as one of the last few places where the Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis) is still present in the wild. It is home to the Sunda Pangolin (Manis javanica), Elongated Tortoise (Indotestudo elongata), Asian Giant Tortoise (Manouria emys) as well as Banteng (Bos javanicus), Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus), Dhole (Cuon alpinus), Asian Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus), Malay tapir (Tapirus indicus), Mainland Serow (Capricornis sumatraensis), Gaur (Bos gaurus) and Stump-tailed Macaque (Macaca arctoides).
Encyclopedia Record: Kaeng Krachan National Park
Kaeng Krachan National Park is the largest national park of Thailand. It is on the border with Burma, contiguous with the Tanintharyi Nature Reserve. It is a popular park owing to its proximity to the tourist town of Hua Hin. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 26 July 2021, despite concerns from the OHCHR around the human rights violations of the indigenous people that live in the park.Additional Site Details
Area: 408,940 hectares
Number of Components: 1
Coordinates: 12.8656666667 , 99.4001666667
IUCN World Heritage Outlook
The 2025 Conservation Outlook on Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex reports the following assessment:
Source: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) · View assessment
Image
© JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/), CC BY-SA 3.0 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)
World Heritage Research
Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.
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Sheareromyces aquibella Abdel-Wahab, Maharachch. & E. B. G. Jones 2026, comb. nov.
A new fungal genus, Sheareromyces aquibella, is introduced to distinguish it from the previously described Aniptodera chesapeakensis. This discovery resolves long-standing taxonomic confusion within the genus Aniptodera, which was found to be polyphyletic. The study reclassifies A. aquibella based on its unique morphological characteristics, such as thin-walled ascospores with bipolar appendages and clavate to balloon-shaped asci, and its exclusive occurrence in freshwater habitats. The research leveraged phylogenetic analysis and morphological comparisons to establish Sheareromyces as a distinct genus, addressing gaps left by previous studies that lacked sequence data for many Aniptodera species.
Dayarathne, M. C., Jones, E. B. G., Bahkali, A. H., Devadatha, B., Hyde, K. D., Abdel-Wahab, M. A., Calabon, M. S., Correia, P., Abdel-Aziz, F. A., Bakhit, M. S., Sakayaroj, J., Prematunga, C., Caeiro, M. F., Azevedo, E., Asghari, R., Apurillo, C. C. S., Bhagya, A. T., Aumentado, H. D., Mukhopadhyay, S., … Pang, K.-L. (2026). Sheareromyces aquibella Abdel-Wahab, Maharachch. & E. B. G. Jones 2026, comb. nov. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.20850255
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Caryanda beybienkoi Storozhenko 2005
Scientists have discovered and described the female of Caryanda beybienkoi, a species of orthopteran insect previously known only from its male holotype found in Thailand's Kaeng Krachan National Park. This finding, based on specimens collected from Ratchaburi Province, confirms the species' conspecific status through key morphological traits such as bright red antennae and distinctive bicolor hind tibiae (blue basally, red apically). The study employed detailed anatomical comparisons, including measurements of body structures like the pronotum, tegmen, and ovipositor, to characterize the female's morphology—previously unknown. Habitat observations revealed the species perching on grasses in open grassland areas. This discovery enhances our understanding of Caryanda diversity within Thailand's UNESCO-listed Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex.
Dawwrueng, P., Storozhenko, S. Y., & Suwannapoom, C. (2026). Caryanda beybienkoi Storozhenko 2005. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.21176677
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Cryptocephalomorpha thom Choi, Nomura & Park 2026, sp. nov.
Researchers have identified and described a new species of Cryptocephalomorpha beetle, named Cryptocephalomorpha thom, distinguished by its large size (over 6 mm) and unique morphological traits. This discovery is notable for combining the robust body structure typical of larger congeners with reduced elytral chaetotaxy found in smaller Oriental species. The species was recognized through a comparative analysis of external diagnostic characters, including body shape, coloration, elytral lateral structure, and sexual dimorphism, which were consistent across specimens from Cambodia and Thailand. The study employed detailed morphological examinations and measurements to differentiate C. thom from known congeners, particularly C. maxima, highlighting its incurved elytral margin and absence of the elytral lateroapical seta. The research also noted sexual dimorphism in abdominal sternite VI and tarsal adhesive setae, providing further evidence for conspecificity.
Choi, J. B., Nomura, S., Kwon, T., Choi, E., & Park, J. K. (2026). Cryptocephalomorpha thom Choi, Nomura & Park 2026, sp. nov. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.21302742
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A new and exceptional species of Breynia (Phyllanthaceae, Phyllantheae) from southwestern Thailand
Researchers have identified a new and exceptional species of Breynia, named B. aberrans, within the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex in southwestern Thailand. This discovery, supported by molecular and morphological data, places the species within the subgenus Sauropus and distinguishes it with unique features such as asperities along one-sided branches, distinct leaf blade shapes, and pistillate flowers characterized by a long-ovoid ovary, sturdy style, and three upright stigmas. Unlike other Breynia species, B. aberrans is unlikely to be pollinated by Epicephala moths, suggesting a unique reproductive strategy. The study utilized a combination of nuclear (ITS, PHYC) and chloroplast markers (matK, accD-psaI, trnS-trnG) for phylogenetic reconstruction, contributing valuable insights into the biodiversity of the Kaeng Krachan National Park.
Bouman, R. W., van Welzen, P. C., & Tagane, S. (2026). A new and exceptional species of Breynia (Phyllanthaceae, Phyllantheae) from southwestern Thailand. Blumea - Biodiversity, Evolution and Biogeography of Plants. https://doi.org/10.3767/blumea.2026.70.03.03
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A new species of the genus Scorpiops Peters, 1861, subgenus Euscorpiops Vachon, 1980 from Thailand (Scorpiones, Scorpiopidae)
Researchers have identified and described a new species of scorpion, Scorpiops (Euscorpiops) krachansp. nov., within the Scorpiopidae family, found exclusively in Kaeng Krachan National Park, Thailand. This tiny, sexually dimorphic species—characterized by elongated male pedipalps and a distinct trichobothrial pattern—represents a potential endemic addition to Thailand's scorpion fauna. The study, based on specimens from Phetchaburi Province, compares its ecological and distributional traits with related Scorpiops species, offering insights into its unique morphology and possible evolutionary significance within the region.
Nawanetiwong, W., Košulič, O., Warrit, N., Lourenço, W. R., & Ythier, E. (2024). A new species of the genus Scorpiops Peters, 1861, subgenus Euscorpiops Vachon, 1980 from Thailand (Scorpiones, Scorpiopidae). ZooKeys, 1193, 161–170. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1193.113398
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Review of the genus Statherotis Meyrick, 1909 (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Olethreutinae) from Thailand, with description of a new species
A new species of moth, Statherotis muangmaithongi, has been discovered within the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex in Thailand. This find increases the known diversity of the genus Statherotis to five species in Thailand. The research provides detailed illustrations of the adult moth and its genitalia, along with a key to identify all Statherotis species found in the country. The study contributes to the taxonomic understanding of Lepidoptera, particularly within the Olethreutinae subfamily, which is predominantly distributed in the Oriental region.
PINKAEW, N., MUADSUB, S., & JAIKLA, S. (2024). Review of the genus Statherotis Meyrick, 1909 (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Olethreutinae) from Thailand, with description of a new species. Zootaxa, 5536(4), 536–550. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5536.4.2
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Prevalence of culicine salivary antibodies in non‐human primates living in national parks in Thailand
Researchers found that macaques in Thailand's national parks exhibit high antibody titers against salivary gland extracts (SGEs) from culicine mosquitoes, with significant variations observed between species and locations. Notably, a stronger immune response to Aedes albopictus was detected in dengue virus 3-positive Macaca arctoides from Kaeng Krachan, suggesting potential cross-reactivity between mosquito species due to shared proteins in crude SGEs. The study highlights the role of macaques as reservoir hosts and emphasizes the risk of pathogen transmission to visitors via mosquitoes, underscoring the need for preventive measures in tourist areas.
Aguila, A. M. A., Boonnak, K., Tongthainan, D., Reamtong, O., Suthisawat, S., Likhit, O., Fungfuang, W., Hii, J., & Sriwichai, P. (2024). Prevalence of culicine salivary antibodies in non‐human primates living in national parks in Thailand. Medical and Veterinary Entomology, 39(2), 278–290. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/mve.12779
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