Vegetation of Doi Tung, Chiang Rai Province, Northern Thailand
Maxwell, J. F. 2007. Vegetation of Doi Tung, Chiang Rai Province, Northern Thailand. Maejo International Journal of Science and Technology, 01, 10-63.
The climate of Doi Tung, Chiang Rai Province, is monsoonal with three distinct seasons, viz. cool-dry, hot-dry, and rainy. The elevation ranges from c. 350-1525m and most of the bedrock is limestone and granite. Vegetation below c. 1,000m is mostly deciduous, while above this, it is evergreen. A mixed evergreen + deciduous facies is present on the limestone peaks (up to 1,425m). Forest destruction, as well as settlements, are widespread, thus creating increasingly severe problems with water resources, soil quality and stability and biodiversity. The planting of pine monocultures, in deforested areas 20 years ago in upland granite areas, has resulted in much environmental degradation. This requires immediate rectification.
ADDENDUM: An updated and annotated species list for the paper was published in the subsequent issue of the same journal and is also accessible via the download panel.