What is Biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the variety of life forms - microorganisms, flora and fauna, including humans - at all levels of organization from genes to populations, species and ecological systems existing throughout the world (“Dictionary.com"). Such diversity of life, is in essences, a legacy of evolutionary processes for this variety of life has long been and continues to be an essential resource for human survival in terms of food, medicines, housing, and clothing as well as ecological services including aesthetics and ecotourism. Thus, the development of civilizations and cultural evolution has had interdependent relations with the natural biological world.
Biodiversity in Thailand
Though Thailand is a relatively small country in size it is still rich in biodiversity. With nearly three fourths of the total land area covered with various types of tropical forests, these lands once provided terrestrial as well as aquatic habitats for life forms within the regions complex ecosystems. In addition, while this natural biology did surround the country’s communal populations, it also significantly influenced the development of folklore, cultural diversity, and traditional knowledge of the Thai peoples. In fact, such local wisdom was frequently perpetuated and passed down from generation to generation. Thus, for centuries the Thai people used to live peaceful, sustainable lives, surrounded by a beautifully balanced green environment.
That is until the 1960s, when the Thai government launched the first National Economic and Social Development Plan. A plan that would certainly expedite the process of modernization in industry and in agriculture, however, once accompanied by globalization trends in capitalism as well as unsustainable development, this plan backfired. Leading to deforestation as well as other severe environmental problems such as climate change and global warming. Nonetheless, Thailand has since had to endure tremendous loss of biodiversity and ecosystems. Thousands of species have become endangered. For some, so much so, that their species have reached critical population levels, and to this day have continued to be prone to extinction so long as insufficient actions are taken to save them. To make matters worse, such loss of biodiversity is likely to have tremendous effects - often unpredictable - on the productive lives of all living things that reside in Thailand today, with the inclusion of its people. Acquiring a basic knowledge of these living things has long become a vital importance in order for the nation to facilitate conservation and management as well as better understand how to use biological resources in a sustainable manner.
Therefore, the Special Program for Biodiversity Research and Training [ BRT ] - established in November of 1995 under the join sponsorship of TRF and BIOTEC - to support basic research in tropical biology along with studies on policy development and management of biodiversity in Thailand (CITE). Following this major step, the United Nations later declared 2010 as the "International Year of Biodiversity" to coincide with the 2010 Biodiversity Target of the Convention on Biological Diversity [ CBD ] which was adopted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development [ WSSD or “Rio+10” ] in Johannesburg, South Africa in August of 2002 (CITE). Luckily, however, as a result of the celebrations of the "International Year of Biodiversity", public awareness of the importance of biodiversity has continued to rise in many countries throughout the world, principally Thailand, as well as provide these nations with the opportunity to emphasize the vital role of biological diversity in sustaining life on Earth and supporting ecological services, human well-being, and reducing poverty.
Therefore, the Special Program for Biodiversity Research and Training [ BRT ] - established in November of 1995 under the join sponsorship of TRF and BIOTEC - to support basic research in tropical biology along with studies on policy development and management of biodiversity in Thailand (CITE). Following this major step, the United Nations later declared 2010 as the "International Year of Biodiversity" to coincide with the 2010 Biodiversity Target of the Convention on Biological Diversity [ CBD ] which was adopted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development [ WSSD or “Rio+10” ] in Johannesburg, South Africa in August of 2002 (CITE). Luckily, however, as a result of the celebrations of the "International Year of Biodiversity", public awareness of the importance of biodiversity has continued to rise in many countries throughout the world, principally Thailand, as well as provide these nations with the opportunity to emphasize the vital role of biological diversity in sustaining life on Earth and supporting ecological services, human well-being, and reducing poverty.
Species Diversity
Due to Thailand’s geographical location, the nation just so happens to be situated directly between two major biogeographical regions known as the Indochinese region in the North and the Sundaic region in the South (Somrith). In other words, when looked at as a whole, this region creates the Indomalayan Realm. However, despite the significant effects both the Indochinese and Sundaic regions have had on the nation, elements of Thailand’s flora and fauna have also been influenced by some of the biogeographical characteristics of the Indian and Palaearctic regions. In fact, the most distinct floral and fauna associations stem from six biogeographical units in particular known as the Northern Highland, the Korat Plateau, the Central Plain of the Chao Phraya River, the Southeast Upland, the Tenasserim Hills, and the South Peninsula (Somrith). A primary example of this would be the Chinese affinities that are present in many bird and mammal species that inhabit the Northern Highland region.
Royal Flora Gardens in Chiang Mai, Thailand - These gardens feature patterned acres of Thailand's most beautiful and colorful flora.
Similarly, mammal and bird specie characteristics related to those of Sundaic regions can be found in the Southern Peninsula (Somrith). Thus, due to the country’s geographical location as well as the close relationships between animal species in neighboring countries, no unique floristic elements have ever been discovered in Thailand. Based on these factors alone, it would not be unethical to characterize the nation as being a "collective center of botanical diversity” - specifically from three major regional elements: Indo-Burmese, Indo-Chinese, and Malesian (Somrith). Ergo, it is safe to say that Thailand is the geographic focal point of one of the worlds most distinct biogeographic realms which extends from Eastern India to Vietnam as well as South China (Somrith). In contrast to flora, the country’s terrestrial fauna is known to have more distinctive characteristics due the aspect of continental distribution. For instance, a unique species composition of Marine fauna can be found between the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand.
To summarize the information displayed in the table above, it is estimated that “87,500 species of animals exist in Thailand, but the described species are 18,073,” (Somrith). More importantly, this table shows the number of known Thai animal species. However, with this information it is easy to point out more specific aspects of Thailand’s animal species. In example, the majority of invertebrates found throughout the country are predominately insects. In contrast, since only about 8,700 species have so far been described, this has only accounted for 10% of the total number of species that are known to exist in Thailand today. Yet, being positioned at the center of the Southeast-Asian mainland, Thailand is surrounded by island nations which not only share flora and fauna associations, but also contain much higher numbers of endemic plant species. The continental status of Thailand is another contributing factor to the small number of endemic faunal species. To be more specific, 120 species have been found to be endemic to Thailand according to research that was recently conducted by members of the Flora of Thailand Project (Somrith).
Genetic Diversity
Over the course of the last 20 years, though significant advances in development of genetic identification techniques have been made, most of the information pertaining to genetic diversity has been confined to domestic species of commercial or agricultural importance. Also much less evidence that could indicate the prevalence of diversity in wild populations has been discovered. But overall, despite the extensive research that has been conducted on rice, Thailand has lacked sufficient knowledge of genetic diversity of both cultivated crops as well as domestic animals for quite some time. Similarly, due to the lack of diversity in breeds found, heterogeneity of domestic animals has been more comprehensively studied and documented compared to plants. However, unfortunately the more modern day knowledge of genetic diversity of domestic animals is mostly of native species due to improper documentation and assessment of the diverse genetic distinctions to be seen in species most recently introduced to Thai experts (Somrith).
Maps of Human & Physical Characteristics of Thailand
Above is a great survival guide for Thailand tourists. This infographic provides viewers with insight into how one can stay cool, make friends, and avoid hassle in Thailand.
Map Reference Infographiclist.com,. (2015). Thailand | Infographic List. Retrieved 30 January 2016, from http://infographiclist.com/tag/thailand/ |
After analyzing this map you will find that it shows not only the borders of Thailand and major cities, but also many of the physical features of the land such as deserts, rivers, and the elevation throughout the country.
Highest Point — Doi Inthanon [ 2,576 meters ] Lowest Point — Gulf of Thailand [ 0 meters - sea level ] Map Reference Media.maps.com,. (2016). Retrieved 30 January 2016, from http://media.maps.com/magellan/Images/thailandrah.gif The map above highlights the forested regions of Thailand as well as the distribution of several types of forests that can be found in vast regions throughout the physical landscape of this nation including tropical rain forest, tropical evergreen seasonal forest, tropical semi-deciduous forest, and pine forest.
Map Reference Englander, P. (2016). Checklist of Online Vegetation and Plant Distribution Maps. Vm136.lib.berkeley.edu. Retrieved 29 January 2016, from http://vm136.lib.berkeley.edu/EART/vegmaps.html |
Bibliographical References
(2015). Retrieved November 15, 2015, from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/biodiversity
Chayamarit, D. (n.d.). Biodiversity Conservation in Thailand: A National Report. Retrieved November 15, 2015, from https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/th/th-nbsap-01-en.pdf
Khammuean, K. (2012, December 25). Royal Pavilon @ The Royal Flora Ratchaphruek;Chiangmai Thailand. Retrieved November 15, 2015, from https://www.flickr.com/photos/kwanchai_k/9313747036
Chayamarit, D. (n.d.). Biodiversity Conservation in Thailand: A National Report. Retrieved November 15, 2015, from https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/th/th-nbsap-01-en.pdf
Khammuean, K. (2012, December 25). Royal Pavilon @ The Royal Flora Ratchaphruek;Chiangmai Thailand. Retrieved November 15, 2015, from https://www.flickr.com/photos/kwanchai_k/9313747036