Luang Prabang montane rainforests
The Luang Prabang montane rainforests, located in north-central Laos and extending into parts of Thailand and Vietnam, represent a diverse and ecologically rich biome characterized by rugged landscapes and high biodiversity. This region, encompassing approximately 27,700 square miles (71,800 square kilometers), features various forest types, including open montane forests and mixed conifer-hardwood forests, shaped by its monsoon climate that delivers substantial rainfall concentrated in a short season. The flora predominantly consists of hardwood species, with notable trees like beech and laurel, while diverse fauna includes over 500 bird species and several endangered animals, such as the Asian elephant and the Himalayan black bear.
Despite being minimally exploited, the montane rainforests face increasing pressure from human activities, including agricultural expansion, infrastructure development, and tourism. Traditional agricultural practices, such as swidden farming, have altered land cover, and recent economic development initiatives pose significant threats to the integrity of these forests. Protected areas exist within this biome, such as the Nam Phouy National Biodiversity Conservation Area, aimed at preserving its ecological value. The region's inaccessibility has limited extensive research, leaving much of its ecological knowledge uncharted. As conservation efforts continue, understanding the balance between human needs and environmental preservation remains crucial for the future of the Luang Prabang montane rainforests.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Luang Prabang montane rainforests
- Category: Forest Biomes.
- Geographic Location: Asia.
- Summary: This rich and rugged biome in north-central Laos as well as parts of Thailand and Vietnam is under pressure from human activities.
The Luang Prabang Montane Rainforest biome is situated in the central massif or highlands of southeast Asia, comprising portions of Laos and Thailand. Its area in total extends across 27,700 square miles (71,800 square kilometers) mainly in north-central Laos and, depending on definition, also includes areas in the northeastern Isan region of Thailand and some mountains of Vietnam.
The biome consists of several ecological types, which merge with one another, as well as with the subtropical rainforest to the north, and the northern Annamite rainforest region of Vietnam to the east. It contains both open montane and open conifer forests, and also mixed conifer-hardwood forests. As part of a monsoon area, the region receives 7 to 10 feet (2 to 3 meters) of rain annually, but this is concentrated in a comparatively short season; most of the year, it is dry.
Flora and Fauna
Hardwood forests here are dominated by members of the beech family (Fagaceae) and the laurel family (Lauraceae). Where evergreen forests have been degraded above a height of 3,300 feet (1,000 meters), these species have been supplanted by the broadleafed evergreen Castanopsis hystrix, together with the Indian gooseberry or aamla (Phyllanthus emblica), which is attracting attention for potential medicinal uses.
Slightly lower, in the range of 2,600 feet (800 meters) elevation, another transitional phase is seen with the emergence of various palms, along with the Keruing (Dipterocarpus turbinatus) and wax trees (Toxicodendron succedanea), which are common across southeast Asia.
The nature of the tree cover depends on both the elevation of the land and the nature of the soil. Research indicates that some mountain-dwelling agriculturalists have extensive knowledge of the soils present and their implications for plant growth, but much of this knowledge has yet to be captured and codified.
More than 500 species of birds are known to have ranges within the Luang Prabang montane rainforest, but the lack of systematic surveying means that it is not known whether any are unique to the area. The inaccessibility of the region contributes to the lack of research, as do the lack of domestic technical capacity, the low level of importance attached to such activities in the post-revolutionary period (after 1975), and the low status historically accorded to upland people.
To date, in the Luang Prabang montane region, the forests have been minimally exploited, and it is believed that this represents one of the best possibilities for the preservation of large animals in the area, including the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), silvered leaf monkey (Semnopithecus francoisi), Himalayan black bear (Ursus thibetanus), and tiger (Panthera tigris). Extensive surveying of the region, which has not yet taken place, presumably would reveal the presence of other species, including some that have not yet been observed.
A camera trap survey revealed some of the important carnivores that dwell in the area. Many of these animals are relatively rare or unknown in other parts of Asia. Animals captured by the camera included Owston's civet, the marbled cat, and the golden cat.
Human Impact
Luang Prabang is a province centered in north-central Laos. Its provincial capital is an ancient and sacred city with the same name; it is currently being developed as a significant tourism destination. Laos is a landlocked country with a sparse population, much of which is concentrated in valley areas.
Historically, people displaced by arriving migrants have been forced upslope and have adapted their agricultural patterns accordingly. They have been joined by migrating ethnic groups, which have not always been officially integrated into the state, and have continued with swidden or slash-and-burn agriculture in the forested mountains. Previously, some tribes grew opium in upland areas, but this rarely occurs now. Not all agriculture in the region is beneficial. There remain clear signs of past swiddening on an extensive scale that has led to changes in the permanent land cover.
In surrounding forests in the greater Mekong subregion, notably in Thailand and Vietnam, shifting agriculture has caused the degradation of rainforest areas; only some 30 percent remains in a recognizable state in those areas. Intensification of existing agricultural activities in the Luang Prabang region is likely to result in the same degree of degradation. Increasing competition for land in Laos, which may occur if current intentions for economic development, transportation infrastructure construction, and investment by Chinese corporations continue, is likely to result in the conversion of much existing montane rainforest to scrubland.
In addition to land degradation, threats include the construction of dams for the production of hydroelectricity; hunting for exotic animal products destined mainly for the Chinese market; and the general process of economic development represented by the building of the Asian Highway Network. Potential impact of climate change on forest lands remains unclear. Currently, protected areas in the Luang Prabang Montane Rainforests biome include the Nam Phouy National Biodiversity Conservation Area, the Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park, and the Phu Soi Dao National Park.
Bibliography
Kobor, Peter. "A Redefinition of Umbrageocoris with New Species and New Combinations (Heteroptera, Lygaeoidea, Geocoridae)." Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift, vol. 69, no. 2, 2022, pp. 139-50. DOI: 10.3897/dez.69.85584. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Saito, Kazuki, Bruce Linquist, Bouanthanh Keobualapha, Tatsuhiko Shiraiwa, and Takeshi Horie. “Farmers’ Knowledge of Soils in Relation to Cropping Practices: A Case Study of Farmers in Upland Rice-Based Slash-and-Burn Systems of Northern Laos.” Geoderma 136, nos. 1–2 (2006).
Souvanthong, Pleng. Shifting Cultivation in Lao PDR: An Overview of Land Use and Policy Initiatives. London: International Institute for Economic Development, 1995.
Walker, Andrew. The Legend of the Golden Boat: Regulation, Trade, and Traders in the Borderlands of Laos, Thailand, China, and Burma. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1999.
Wikramanayake, Eric. “Luang Prabang Montane Rainforests.” One Earth, www.oneearth.org/ecoregions/luang-prabang-montane-rainforests/. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.