This document analyzes forest conversion in Thap-lan National Park in Thailand after it received World Heritage inscription in 2006. Satellite imagery from 2006 and 2014 was used to map forest types and land use changes. The results show shifts between different forest types and an increase in agricultural area. Forecasts to 2034 predict continued loss of natural forest and expansion of agricultural land if risks are not addressed.

1. The Forest Conversion in Thap-lan
National Park after World Heritage
Inscription
THAMMANOON TEMCHAI 1 SONGTAM SUKSAWANG2
1 Chief, National Park and Protected Area Innovation Center.
Phetchaburi Province
2 Expert for Forest and Wildlife conservation, DNP

2. DPKY World Heritage site
Khaoyai NP.
Thap Lan NP.
Pang Sida NP.
Ta phraya NP.
Dong Yai WS.

3. The Objectives
Study on The Forest Conversion in
Thap-lan National Park after World
Heritage Inscription (2006 – 2014)
Mapping the risk area
Create new forest type map of the
PA in Dong PhayaYen – Khaoyai
Forest Complex

4. Method
 Informed by LANDSAT satellite imagery
 Classification of plant Community and
other Land use patterns were analysed
by comparing the imagery during 2006
and 2013.

6. The Results
Forest types in Thap-lan NP
Land use change
Risk areas

7. ดิบแล้งต่า (Lower dry evergreen f.)
ดิบแล้ง (Dry evergreen f.)
ดิบแล้งผสมไผ่ (Df. mixed with bamboo)
ดิบชื้น (Moist evergreen f.)

8. ป่าเต็งรัง (Dry dipterocarp f.)
ป่าละเมาะ (Scrub f.)
ป่าฟื้นสภาพ (Secondary f.)
เบญจพรรณ (Mixed deciduous f.)

9. พื้นที่เกษตรกรรม(Agricultural area)ทุ่งหญ้า (Range land)
สวนยูคาลิปตัส (Eucalyptus plantation)

10. Area of focus
for this
presentation

11. Land use in Thap-Lan NP. In
2014

12. Land Use Area (Ha) Area (Rai) Percent
cover
Moist evergreen forest 2,511.00 15,693.75 1.11
Dry evergreen forest 92,100.33 575,627.06 40.55
Lowland dry evergreen
forest 41,403.78 258,773.63 18.23
Dry evergreen forest
mixed with bamboo 15,176.43 94,852.69 6.68
Mixed deciduous forest 6,365.07 39,781.69 2.80
Dry dipterocarp forest 9,405.99 58,787.44 4.14
Secondary forest 6,902.82 43,142.63 3.04
Scrub forest 846.99 5,293.69 0.37
Forest plantation 681.21 4,257.56 0.30

13. Land Use Area (Ha) Area (Rai)
Percent
cover
Eucalyptus plantation 3,043.26 19,020.38 1.34
Range land 4,300.65 26,879.06 1.89
Old clearing area 140.04 875.25 0.06
Open area 87.39 546.19 0.04
Road area 13.41 83.81 0.01
Water body 1,739.52 10,872.00 0.77
Agrcultural area 38,300.58 239,378.63 16.86
Paddy field 3,408.03 21,300.19 1.50
Urban area 672.21 4,201.31 0.30
Government housing 14.58 91.13 0.01
Total 227,113.29 1,419,458.06 100.00

14. 2014
2006

15. Wang Nam Khiew Subdistrict
2006 2014

16. Land Use
Area (Ha) Percent cover Percent
Change2006 2014 2006 2014
Moist evergreen forest 2,511.63 2,511.00 1.106 1.106 0.000
Dry evergreen forest 91,555.02 92,100.33 40.312 40.553 -0.240
Lowland dry evergreen forest 41,123.79 41,403.78 18.107 18.230 -0.123
Dry evergreen forest mixed with
bamboo 15,195.78 15,176.43 6.691 6.682 0.009
Mixed deciduous forest 6,671.52 6,365.07 2.938 2.803 0.135
Dry dipterocarp forest 9,359.10 9,405.99 4.121 4.142 -0.021
Secondary forest 5,749.92 6,902.82 2.532 3.039 -0.508
Scrub forest 1,942.02 846.99 0.855 0.373 0.482
Forest plantation 621.45 681.21 0.274 0.300 -0.026

17. Land Use
Area (Ha)
Percent
cover Percent
Change2006 2014 2006 2014
Eucalyptus plantation 5,512.05 3,043.26 2.427 1.340 1.087
Range land 3,159.81 4,300.65 1.391 1.894 -0.502
Old clearing area 140.04 140.04 0.062 0.062 0.000
Open area 87.39 87.39 0.038 0.038 0.000
Road area 13.41 13.41 0.006 0.006 0.000
Water body 1,706.22 1,739.52 0.751 0.766 -0.015
Agrcultural area 37,673.82 38,300.58 16.588 16.864 -0.276
Paddy field 3,408.03 3,408.03 1.501 1.501 0.000
Urban area 672.21 672.21 0.296 0.296 0.000
Government housing 10.08 14.58 0.004 0.006 -0.002
Total 227,113.29 227,113.29 100.000 100.000

25. • Positive trend
3,275.01 Ha (20,468.81 Rai)
• Negative trend
1,781.19 Ha (11,132.44 Rai)

26. Thap – Lan Np
From Past to Future
- forecasts

27. 2014
2006

28. 2019
2024

29. 2029
2034

30. 2014 (ปัจจุบัน)
2034 (อีก 20 ปี
ข้างหน้า)

31. 2006 2014
Wang Nam Khiew subdistrict

32. 20342029
20242019

33. 2006
2014
Lam Plai Mas Reservoir

34. 2024
2019

35. 2034
2029

36. 0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
100000
Moistevergreenf.
Dryevergreenf.
Lowerdryevergreenf.
Dryevergreenwithbamboo
Mixeddeciduousf.
Drydipterocarpf.
Secondaryf.
Scrubf.
Forestplantation
Eucalyptusplantation
Rangeland
Governmenthousing
Oldclearingarea
Openarea
Roadarea
Waterbody
Agriculturearea
Paddyfield
Urban
Area(Ha) Forecasts to Thap Lan NP landuse trend

37. 0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
100000
Moistevergreenf.
Dryevergreenf.
Lowerdryevergreenf.
Dryevergreenwithbamboo
Mixeddeciduousf.
Drydipterocarpf.
Secondaryf.
Scrubf.
Forestplantation
Eucalyptusplantation
Rangeland
Governmenthousing
Oldclearingarea
Openarea
Roadarea
Waterbody
Agriculturearea
Paddyfield
Urban
Area(Ha)
Forecasts to Thap Lan NP landuse trend
2510.6
2510.7
2510.8
2510.9
2511
2511.1
2511.2
2511.3
2511.4
2511.5
2511.6
2511.7
Area(Ha)
Moist evergreen f.

38. 0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
100000
Moistevergreenf.
Dryevergreenf.
Lowerdryevergreenf.
Dryevergreenwithbamboo
Mixeddeciduousf.
Drydipterocarpf.
Secondaryf.
Scrubf.
Forestplantation
Eucalyptusplantation
Rangeland
Governmenthousing
Oldclearingarea
Openarea
Roadarea
Waterbody
Agriculturearea
Paddyfield
Urban
Area(Ha)
Forecasts to Thap Lan NP landuse trend

39. 0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
100000
Moistevergreenf.
Dryevergreenf.
Lowerdryevergreenf.
Dryevergreenwithbamboo
Mixeddeciduousf.
Drydipterocarpf.
Secondaryf.
Scrubf.
Forestplantation
Eucalyptusplantation
Rangeland
Governmenthousing
Oldclearingarea
Openarea
Roadarea
Waterbody
Agriculturearea
Paddyfield
Urban
Area(Ha)
Forecasts to Thap Lan NP landuse trend
40800
40900
41000
41100
41200
41300
41400
41500
41600
41700
41800
Area(Ha)
Lower dry evergreen f.

40. 0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
100000
Moistevergreenf.
Dryevergreenf.
Lowerdryevergreenf.
Dryevergreenwithbamboo
Mixeddeciduousf.
Drydipterocarpf.
Secondaryf.
Scrubf.
Forestplantation
Eucalyptusplantation
Rangeland
Governmenthousing
Oldclearingarea
Openarea
Roadarea
Waterbody
Agriculturearea
Paddyfield
Urban
Area(Ha)
Forecasts to Thap Lan NP landuse trend
15080
15100
15120
15140
15160
15180
15200
15220
Area(Ha)
Dry evergreen with bamboo

41. 0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
100000
Moistevergreenf.
Dryevergreenf.
Lowerdryevergreenf.
Dryevergreenwithbamboo
Mixeddeciduousf.
Drydipterocarpf.
Secondaryf.
Scrubf.
Forestplantation
Eucalyptusplantation
Rangeland
Governmenthousing
Oldclearingarea
Openarea
Roadarea
Waterbody
Agriculturearea
Paddyfield
Urban
Area(Ha)
Forecasts to Thap Lan NP landuse trend
5200
5400
5600
5800
6000
6200
6400
6600
6800
Area(Ha)
Mixed deciduous f.

42. 0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
100000
Moistevergreenf.
Dryevergreenf.
Lowerdryevergreenf.
Dryevergreenwithbamboo
Mixeddeciduousf.
Drydipterocarpf.
Secondaryf.
Scrubf.
Forestplantation
Eucalyptusplantation
Rangeland
Governmenthousing
Oldclearingarea
Openarea
Roadarea
Waterbody
Agriculturearea
Paddyfield
Urban
Area(Ha)
Forecasts to Thap Lan NP landuse trend
9250
9300
9350
9400
9450
9500
9550
Area(Ha)
Dry dipterocarp f.

43. 0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
100000
Moistevergreenf.
Dryevergreenf.
Lowerdryevergreenf.
Dryevergreenwithbamboo
Mixeddeciduousf.
Drydipterocarpf.
Secondaryf.
Scrubf.
Forestplantation
Eucalyptusplantation
Rangeland
Governmenthousing
Oldclearingarea
Openarea
Roadarea
Waterbody
Agriculturearea
Paddyfield
Urban
Area(Ha)
Forecasts to Thap Lan NP landuse trend
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
9000
Area(Ha)
Secondary f.

44. 0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
100000
Moistevergreenf.
Dryevergreenf.
Lowerdryevergreenf.
Dryevergreenwithbamboo
Mixeddeciduousf.
Drydipterocarpf.
Secondaryf.
Scrubf.
Forestplantation
Eucalyptusplantation
Rangeland
Governmenthousing
Oldclearingarea
Openarea
Roadarea
Waterbody
Agriculturearea
Paddyfield
Urban
Area(Ha)
Forecasts to Thap Lan NP landuse trend
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
Area(Ha)
Scrub f.

45. 0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
100000
Moistevergreenf.
Dryevergreenf.
Lowerdryevergreenf.
Dryevergreenwithbamboo
Mixeddeciduousf.
Drydipterocarpf.
Secondaryf.
Scrubf.
Forestplantation
Eucalyptusplantation
Rangeland
Governmenthousing
Oldclearingarea
Openarea
Roadarea
Waterbody
Agriculturearea
Paddyfield
Urban
Area(Ha)
Forecasts to Thap Lan NP landuse trend
560
580
600
620
640
660
680
700
720
740
760
Area(Ha)
Forest plantation

46. 0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
100000
Moistevergreenf.
Dryevergreenf.
Lowerdryevergreenf.
Dryevergreenwithbamboo
Mixeddeciduousf.
Drydipterocarpf.
Secondaryf.
Scrubf.
Forestplantation
Eucalyptusplantation
Rangeland
Governmenthousing
Oldclearingarea
Openarea
Roadarea
Waterbody
Agriculturearea
Paddyfield
Urban
Area(Ha)
Forecasts to Thap Lan NP landuse trend
2500
2600
2700
2800
2900
3000
3100
3200
Area(Ha)
Eucalyptus plantation

47. 0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
100000
Moistevergreenf.
Dryevergreenf.
Lowerdryevergreenf.
Dryevergreenwithbamboo
Mixeddeciduousf.
Drydipterocarpf.
Secondaryf.
Scrubf.
Forestplantation
Eucalyptusplantation
Rangeland
Governmenthousing
Oldclearingarea
Openarea
Roadarea
Waterbody
Agriculturearea
Paddyfield
Urban
Area(Ha)
Forecasts to Thap Lan NP landuse trend
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
Area(Ha)
Range land

48. 0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
100000
Moistevergreenf.
Dryevergreenf.
Lowerdryevergreenf.
Dryevergreenwithbamboo
Mixeddeciduousf.
Drydipterocarpf.
Secondaryf.
Scrubf.
Forestplantation
Eucalyptusplantation
Rangeland
Governmenthousing
Oldclearingarea
Openarea
Roadarea
Waterbody
Agriculturearea
Paddyfield
Urban
Area(Ha)
Forecasts to Thap Lan NP landuse trend
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Area(Ha)
Government housing

49. 0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
100000
Moistevergreenf.
Dryevergreenf.
Lowerdryevergreenf.
Dryevergreenwithbamboo
Mixeddeciduousf.
Drydipterocarpf.
Secondaryf.
Scrubf.
Forestplantation
Eucalyptusplantation
Rangeland
Governmenthousing
Oldclearingarea
Openarea
Roadarea
Waterbody
Agriculturearea
Paddyfield
Urban
Area(Ha)
Forecasts to Thap Lan NP landuse trend
140.04
140.04
140.04
Area(Ha)
Old clearing area

50. 0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
100000
Moistevergreenf.
Dryevergreenf.
Lowerdryevergreenf.
Dryevergreenwithbamboo
Mixeddeciduousf.
Drydipterocarpf.
Secondaryf.
Scrubf.
Forestplantation
Eucalyptusplantation
Rangeland
Governmenthousing
Oldclearingarea
Openarea
Roadarea
Waterbody
Agriculturearea
Paddyfield
Urban
Area(Ha)
Forecasts to Thap Lan NP landuse trend
87.39
87.39
Area(Ha)
Open area

51. 0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
100000
Moistevergreenf.
Dryevergreenf.
Lowerdryevergreenf.
Dryevergreenwithbamboo
Mixeddeciduousf.
Drydipterocarpf.
Secondaryf.
Scrubf.
Forestplantation
Eucalyptusplantation
Rangeland
Governmenthousing
Oldclearingarea
Openarea
Roadarea
Waterbody
Agriculturearea
Paddyfield
Urban
Area(Ha)
Forecasts to Thap Lan NP landuse trend
13.404636
13.432797
Area(Ha)
Road area

52. 0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
100000
Moistevergreenf.
Dryevergreenf.
Lowerdryevergreenf.
Dryevergreenwithbamboo
Mixeddeciduousf.
Drydipterocarpf.
Secondaryf.
Scrubf.
Forestplantation
Eucalyptusplantation
Rangeland
Governmenthousing
Oldclearingarea
Openarea
Roadarea
Waterbody
Agriculturearea
Paddyfield
Urban
Area(Ha)
Forecasts to Thap Lan NP landuse trend
1670
1680
1690
1700
1710
1720
1730
1740
1750
1760
1770
1780
Area(Ha)
Water body

53. 0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
100000
Moistevergreenf.
Dryevergreenf.
Lowerdryevergreenf.
Dryevergreenwithbamboo
Mixeddeciduousf.
Drydipterocarpf.
Secondaryf.
Scrubf.
Forestplantation
Eucalyptusplantation
Rangeland
Governmenthousing
Oldclearingarea
Openarea
Roadarea
Waterbody
Agriculturearea
Paddyfield
Urban
Area(Ha)
Forecasts to Thap Lan NP landuse trend
36500
37000
37500
38000
38500
39000
39500
40000
40500
Area(Ha)
Agriculture area

54. 0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
100000
Moistevergreenf.
Dryevergreenf.
Lowerdryevergreenf.
Dryevergreenwithbamboo
Mixeddeciduousf.
Drydipterocarpf.
Secondaryf.
Scrubf.
Forestplantation
Eucalyptusplantation
Rangeland
Governmenthousing
Oldclearingarea
Openarea
Roadarea
Waterbody
Agriculturearea
Paddyfield
Urban
Area(Ha)
Forecasts to Thap Lan NP landuse trend
3408.03
3408.03
Area(Ha)
Paddy field

55. 0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
100000
Moistevergreenf.
Dryevergreenf.
Lowerdryevergreenf.
Dryevergreenwithbamboo
Mixeddeciduousf.
Drydipterocarpf.
Secondaryf.
Scrubf.
Forestplantation
Eucalyptusplantation
Rangeland
Governmenthousing
Oldclearingarea
Openarea
Roadarea
Waterbody
Agriculturearea
Paddyfield
Urban
Area(Ha)
Forecasts to Thap Lan NP landuse trend
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
Area(Ha)
Urban

56. Areas at risk for future land
conversion

59. Conclusio
n• Comparing forest conversion before and after
inscription as a World Heritage site, the analysis
found that forest conversion trend is positive to
Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the World
Heritage criteria
• Within the core area, an old clearing site has
been rehabilitated by a forest Plantation Project
and natural succession
• Forest loss has occurred in around the edges and
buffer zone of Thap-lan National Park, but this
might not impact the OUV of World Heritage site

60. Conclusio
n• Forecasting land use change for the next 20 years
found that future land use change in Thap-lan
National Park might have a small negative impact
on OUV
• The results of this study could be used for land use
planning in order to protect the natural World
Heritage site for the long-term

61. Acknowledgement
 Mr.Sarascha Suriyakul Na Ayuthaya
 Head of Thap-Lan Np.
 Head of Tham-Khang-Kao Non-Hunting Area
 Head of Nakhonratchasima National Parks
Innovation Center
 Clark Lab, Clark University
 Ms. Hathairat Nukool and staffs

62. www.nprcenter.com