Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex

• Road expansion, in particular regarding Highway 304;
• Forest fragmentation, connectivity and the need for ecological corridors;
• Encroachment;
• Management Planning;
• Tourism and visitor levels;
• Dams and cattle grazing.

On 1 February 2013, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property, which provides information on impacts from expansion works on Highway 304, land encroachment and cattle grazing within components of the property, and construction of the Huay Samong Dam. A report on Environmental Mitigation Measures and Environmental Monitoring Plans related to the construction of Huay Samong Dam is annexed to the report. In addition, the State Party submitted the Environmental Impact Assessment of the Wildlife Corridor and Road Widening Project on Highway 304 to the World Heritage Centre in November 2012.  It deals with one of the sections where the road crosses the property boundaries. This report includes details and an assessment of proposed options for wildlife corridors for the expansion project from km 26 – 29 on Highway 304.

a)   Expansion of Highway 304

Highway 304 runs through the joint boundary of Khao Yai and Thap Lan National Parks in two sections, from km 26 to 29 and from km 42 to 57. The State Party reports that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the Wildlife Corridor and Road Widening Project on Highway 304 (the section from km 26 – 29) is currently with the National Environmental Board, which has requested additional information from the Department of Highways (DoH). A complete English translation of the full EIA on this section of the road expansion is yet to be received by the Committee. The English translation of the EIA attached to the current State Party report outlines options for wildlife corridor construction and identifies the most suitable option. However, it does not present an assessment of the different options, and provides only summarized information on the environmental impacts of the preferred option and the proposed mitigation measures during the construction phase. It does not present clear conclusions on impacts on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, nor does it provide details on available resources for the implementation of the proposed mitigation measures. Furthermore, it does not provide any information on mitigation measures to be implemented after the construction phase. IUCN considers that the information provided by the State Party is not sufficiently detailed to demonstrate that the expansion of Highway 304 will not have significant negative impacts on the property’s integrity and OUV.

The State Party provides details on actions implemented in regards to speed limits and their enforcement on the relevant sections of the highway that transect the property, including checkpoints and patrolling teams to monitor the speed of vehicles, traffic barriers and stops at crucial parts of the road, warning and interpretive signs at dangerous sections and limits on road access at night. The State Party reports that road # 3436 that bisects the property has been closed, with ranger stations and monitoring put in place. The World Heritage Centre and IUCN note that other roads bisecting the property remain open. Enforcement of appropriate speed limits along these routes remains important, noting that these roads are, or have the potential to be used as short cuts through the property.

b)  Encroachment

The State Party previously reported implementation of stricter measures to halt land encroachment within the property. The current report also provides details of additional efforts, including monitoring of encroachment levels (mapping expected to be completed in 2014) and strengthened enforcement measures. Proof of land ownership is still being resolved between the Department of National Parks (DNP) and the local communities with continued consultation between both the authorities and surrounding communities. The State Party indicates that encroachment has not increased since inscription of the property, in contrast to numerous reports received by IUCN indicating increasing encroachment, particularly along the northern border of Thap Lan National Park. IUCN is also concerned by recent newspaper reports indicating a weakening of efforts to address this issue, and notes that the property remains under heavy pressure from encroachment and neighbouring land use practices.

c)  Illegal logging

IUCN has received reports of increased illegal logging of Siamese rosewood by armed gangs of up to 30 individuals within the boundaries of the property, especially in Dong Yai and Ta Phraya National Parks, including the tragic death of a patrol ranger in March 2013. Reported aloewood collection in Khao Yai National Park, and to a lesser degree in the other components of the property, is also a concern. The illegal logging and international illegal trade of Siamese rosewood and other valuable timber species are directly threatening the property’s OUV and a cause for serious concern. There is an urgent need for concerted management action to address these issues and ensure that the OUV is maintained. This should also include international support, particularly from other Siamese rosewood range States, and States concerned with the illegal trade of Siamese rosewood and other valuable timber species (Cambodia, China, Lao People Democratic Republic, Thailand, and Viet Nam). The World Heritage Centre requested the State Party to provide further information on this issue on 8 April 2013. No comments have been received so far.

d)  Huay Samong Dam

The State Party confirms that construction work on the Huay Samong Dam continues and indicates that all relevant agencies are working towards mitigation of the impacts on the property’s OUV during construction. However, details on actions to limit the impact during construction are limited. The State Party states that the area of the property flooded on completion of the dam will serve as a protection zone against encroachment.

However, no details were provided on timelines for implementation of these work plans and which specific actions, if any, have already been implemented. Reports have also been received indicating that there has been no progress on assigning oversight of the dam reservoir area including providing a mandate for DNP to oversee management of the water area to prevent eventual poachers using fishing boats to enter deep into the parks. This issue has been identified as a problem at other sites where DNP does not have the authority to interdict criminals on the water as the management belongs to other authorities that do not have law enforcement authority in regards to the property. Finally, IUCN notes that consideration should be given to associated risks, such as the introduction of exotic commercial fish species into the reservoir, and would strongly advise that preventive measures are taken to avoid the introduction, intentional or accidental, of exotic fish species. The World Heritage Centre requested the State Party to provide further information on this issue on 12 April 2013. No comments have been received so far.

e)  Cattle grazing

The State Party reports that levels of illegal grazing of livestock in the property have improved with the numbers of livestock decreasing significantly in recent years in response to management efforts, and notes continued efforts to remove small subsistence cattle grazing completely from the property. However, the State Party does not make a unequivocal statement in regards to the issue of release of cattle for long term grazing by commercial agricultural companies, raised in the 2012 mission report and by the Committee. The potential impact on the property from this type of cattle grazing is significantly greater than that posed by small-scale settlements which keep cattle enclosed at night. The World Heritage Centre and IUCN consider that the issue of large numbers of cattle, free ranging throughout the area, continues to complicate the removal of smaller subsistence cattle grazing and will require a high level of political will and increased enforcement.

f)  Management Planning, including tourism planning

The State Party outlines a number of efforts to address Management Planning of the property including a revision of the original 2006 Management Plan. The first draft of the revised plan is yet to be presented for consideration by relevant national committees or the Cabinet. The State Party also provides details of a zoning system proposed for the property to assist with effectiveness of administration and operation control, and notes its willingness and interest to work with the World Heritage Centre in that regard. However, no maps or indication of when the zoning plan will be implemented or how it will be enforced are provided.

The State Party provides considerable detail and background on the issues to be considered in undertaking tourism planning, including ease of access from key transport routes and the popularity of the site due to its inscription as a World Heritage property. However, it does not provide information on the timeline for such planning or its integration into the overall Management Plan for the property.

The World Heritage Centre and IUCN note these efforts, but are concerned that insufficient management staff to oversee protection of some parks (e.g. Dong Yai and Pang Sida), as well as a lack of sufficient resources for effective anti-poaching patrols in all five component parks, are impacting on management effectiveness of the property.  In that regard, IUCN is seriously concerned about reports indicating that the populations of several key species are now very low, notably Siamese Crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis) which is reportedly on the verge of extinction, Banteng (Bos javanicus) and Tiger (Panthera tigris), whose populations in the property are estimated to be below 30 and 20, respectively.  The World Heritage Centre requested the State Party to provide further information on this issue on 12 April 2013. No comments have been received so far.

The World Heritage Centre and IUCN note the completed expansion works on sections of Highway 304 outside the property are likely to have led to an increase in traffic on all sections of the road, and until the construction of ecological corridors is completed, the impact from the existing road on the property is likely to continue. They recommend that the Committee urge the State Party to expedite the construction of ecologically effective wildlife corridors, based on detailed plans and on completed, approved EIA reports for both sections of the Highway transecting the property (26 – 29 km and 42 – 57 km).

Assessment of the scale and extent of encroachment into the current boundaries of the property is essential to improved enforcement and management. The World Heritage Centre and IUCN therefore recommend that the Committee request the State Party to prioritise completion of a detailed mapping exercise and up to date assessment of encroachment.Priority should also be given to reducing illegal grazing activities, particularly those conducted by commercial agricultural companies, and the increasingly aggressive illegal logging of valuable timber species within the boundaries of the property.

The World Heritage Centre and IUCN remain concerned by the impacts during and after construction of the Huay Samong Dam, including proposed plans for introduction of exotic species and the need for enforcement of regulations restricting access to the property once the reservoir is filled. They recommend that the Committee request the State Party to urgently complete the EIA and detailed plans for mitigation actions, including their implementation during and after the construction of the dam.

The World Heritage Centre and IUCN recommend that the Committee welcome the planned revision of the Management Plan for the property and the proposed zoning plan, and recommend that the Committee request the State Party to submit the (revised) documents, including a tourism Management Plan, to the World Heritage Centre for consideration. It is essential that the updated Management Plan sets clear priorities and includes objectively verifiable indicators and implementation timeframes.

The World Heritage Centre and IUCN consider that the property’s OUV remains under serious threat, particularly related to the expansion of Highway 304, encroachment, illegal logging of high value timber species, particularly Siamese rosewood, and sub-optimal management. They are of the view that there has been limited demonstrable progress with the implementation of the recommendations of the Committee (Decision 36 COM 7B.17)and the 2012 reactive monitoring mission, and that the current level of threat could warrant inscription of the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger if significant progress over the next 12 months cannot be demonstrated. They therefore recommend that the Committee request the State Party to invite an IUCN reactive monitoring mission to the property before its 38th session in 2014, in order to assess progress in the implementation of the recommendations, and to make a recommendation on whether the property meets the conditions for inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2014.