# Mae Ping National Park

Mae Ping National Park (Thai: อุทยานแห่งชาติแม่ปิง, RTGS Utthayan Haeng Chat Mae Ping, pronounced [ùt-tá-yaān hàeng châāt mâāe bping]) is the park located on the west of the ping river. With various mountainous and river terrain, the ecosystem is different in each terrain area of the park. The park is abundant in natural resources, resulting in a proposal to transfer from a protection area to a national park, also, it is known for birding due to the high elevation of the park location. The park is undergoing a wildfire problem from the elongated folk wisdom and implemented the solutions.

## Geography

Mae Ping National Park is characterized by a mountainous terrain, primarily composed of fold mountains running north to south. The highest peak, known as, "Don Huai Lao," reaches an elevation of 1,334 meters. The western boundary of the park is defined by the Mae Ping River, a significant waterway in the region. Several smaller creeks and streams originate from these mountains, eventually feeding into the Mae Ping River. These waterways contribute to the diverse habitats within the park, ranging from dry dipterocarp forests to lush evergreen forests and grasslands. The presence of limestone formations adds another layer of complexity to the terrain, creating caves and cliffs that provide shelter for various species.
The park located in the northern part of Thailand, Mae Ping National Park experiences a climate typical of the region, with three distinct seasons: rainy, cold, and hot. The presence of the mountains and extensive forest cover influences the local climate, resulting in variations in temperature and rainfall within the park itself. The average temperature in the higher elevations hovers around 25 degrees Celsius, while the lower regions near the Bhumibol Dam are slightly warmer, averaging 27 degrees Celsius. The park receives an average annual rainfall of 1,060-1,184 mm, with September being the most humid month. This seasonal variation in rainfall contributes to the dry deciduous nature of the forests, which are prone to wildfires during the dry season.
Mae Ping National Park in Northern Thailand offers a diverse array of attractions for nature enthusiasts. Thung Kik Kaeng Ko and Ko Luang Waterfall are specifically highlighted as points of interest. The dry dipterocarp forests are particularly renowned for their diverse bird species, attracting both local and international birdwatchers. Visitors can explore the park through activities like trekking, nature trails, and waterfall visits. For those interested in geology, cave exploration opportunities abound, with limestone formations such as Koh Luang Waterfall and Yang Wee Cave, featuring stalactites and stalagmites.

## History

The initial push towards the park's creation emerged in 1978 when the Tourism Promotion Board of Lamphun passed a resolution, advocating for the establishment of a forest park within the Mae Hat – Mae Ko National Reserved Forest. This resolution aimed to harness the tourism potential of the area while implementing measures for controlled and organized activities. This marked the beginning of a series of surveys and assessments to determine the area's suitability for protection.
Following the resolution, the Chiang Mai Regional Forest Office commissioned Mr. Chaliao Nimnuan to conduct an initial survey. His findings supported the establishment of a forest park, prompting a report to the Royal Forest Department. Subsequently, in 1979, the National Park Division of the Royal Forest Department tasked Mr. Sampan Midewan, another Forestry Officer, to thoroughly investigate the area. His survey, completed in June 1980, underscored the region's rich biodiversity, scenic beauty, and unique natural formations, concluding that it met the criteria for a national park designation.
The combined efforts of these surveys culminated in a pivotal decision by the National Park Board. On August 8, 1981, they officially designated the area encompassing Mae Hat and Mae Ko Forests as Thailand's 32nd national park. This significant milestone marked the culmination of years of assessments and proposals, recognizing the area's ecological and tourism value. Interestingly, the park initially bore the name "Mae Hat-Mae Ko National Park," reflecting the specific forest areas it encompassed. However, the Royal Forest Department later opted to rename it "Mae Ping National Park," acknowledging the prominent Mae Ping River as a defining characteristic of the park's western boundary and a vital component of its ecosystem. A notable event in the park's history occurred in 1994 when it underwent an expansion to incorporate Provincial Highway No. 1087. This expansion aimed to strengthen conservation efforts by curbing deforestation, preventing illegal hunting, and ensuring the sustainable management of the park's natural resources. The decision to expand the park's boundaries highlights the ongoing commitment to safeguarding the region's biodiversity and ecological integrity.

## Birding

Mae Ping National Park is a great place for birdwatching because it provides access to mature dry dipterocarp forest, a habitat that is not common among Thailand's main bird-watching locations. While this type of forest is not visually appealing to non-birders, a large number of birds who are habitat specialists live there, making it attractive to bird watchers who enjoy the diversity of different species
| Chinese Francolin | Francolinus pintadeanus |
| Red Junglefowl | Gallus gallus |
| Striated Heron | Butorides striata |
| Little Egret | Egretta garzetta |
| Eastern Cattle Egret | Bubulcus coromandus |
| Chinese Pond Heron | Ardeola bacchus |
| Black Baza | Aviceda leuphotes |
| Oriental Honey-buzzard | Pernis ptilorhynchus |
| Crested Serpent Eagle | Spilornis cheela |
| Crested Goshawk | Accipiter trivirgatus |
| Shikra | Accipiter badius |
| Japanese Sparrowhawk | Accipiter gularis |
| Rufous-winged Buzzard | Butastur liventer |
| Changeable Hawk Eagle | Nisaetus limnaeetus |
| White-rumped Falcon | Polihierax insignis |
| Collared Falconet | Microhierax caerulescens |
| Feral Pigeon | Columba livia |
| Red Collared Dove | Streptopelia tranquebarica |
| Oriental Turtle Dove | Streptopelia orientalis |
| Spotted Dove | Spilopelia chinensis |
| Zebra Dove | Geopelia striata |
| Common Emerald Dove | Chalcophaps indica |
| Orange-breasted Green Pigeon | Treron bicinctus |
| Thick-billed Green Pigeon | Treron curvirostra |
| Yellow-footed Green Pigeon | Treron phoenicopterus |
| Vernal Hanging Parrot | Loriculus vernalis |
| Grey-headed Parakeet | Psittacula finschii |
| Blossom-headed Parakeet | Psittacula roseata |
| Greater Coucal | Centropus sinensis |
| Green-billed Malkoha | Phaenicophaeus tristis |
| Asian Koel | Eudynamys scolopaceus |
| Asian Emerald Cuckoo | Chrysococcyx maculatus |
| Banded Bay Cuckoo | Cacomantis sonneratii |
| Asian Drongo Cuckoo | Surniculus lugubris |
| Large Hawk Cuckoo | Hierococcyx sparverioides |
| Mountain Scops Owl | Otus spilocephalus |
| Collared Scops Owl | Otus lettia |
| Collared Owlet | Glaucidium brodiei |
| Asian Barred Owlet | Glaucidium cuculoides |
| Spotted Owlet | Athene brama |
| Brown Boobook | Ninox scutulata |
| Large-tailed Nightjar | Caprimulgus macrurus |
| Crested Treeswift | Hemiprocne coronata |
| Himalayan Swiftlet | Aerodramus brevirostris |
| Brown-backed Needletail | Hirundapus giganteus |
| Asian Palm Swift | Cypsiurus balasiensis |
| House Swift | Apus nipalensis |
| Orange-breasted Trogon | Harpactes oreskios |
| Indian Roller | Coracias benghalensis |
| White-throated Kingfisher | Halcyon smyrnensis |
| Common Kingfisher | Alcedo atthis |
| Blue-bearded Bee-eater | Nyctyornis athertoni |
| Green Bee-eater | Merops orientalis |
| Chestnut-headed Bee-eater | Merops leschenaulti |
| Eurasian Hoopoe | Upupa epops |
| Great Barbet | Megalaima virens |
| Lineated Barbet | Megalaima lineata |
| Coppersmith Barbet | Megalaima haemacephala |
| Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker | Dendrocopos canicapillus |
| White-bellied Woodpecker | Dryocopus javensis |
| Greater Yellownape | Chrysophlegma flavinucha |
| Black-headed Woodpecker | Picus erythropygius |
| Grey-headed Woodpecker | Picus canus |
| Common Flameback | Dinopium javanense |
| Greater Flameback | Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus |
| Lesser Yellownape | Picus chlorolophus |
| Rufous Woodpecker | Micropternus brachyurus |
| Great Slaty Woodpecker | Mulleripicus pulverulentus |
| Silver-breasted Broadbill | Serilophus lunatus |
| Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike | Hemipus picatus |
| Large Woodshrike | Tephrodornis virgatus |
| Common Woodshrike | Tephrodornis pondicerianus |
| Ashy Woodswallow | Artamus fuscus |
| Common Iora | Aegithina tiphia |
| Large Cuckooshrike | Coracina macei |
| Indochinese Cuckooshrike | Coracina polioptera |
| Black-winged Cuckooshrike | Coracina melaschistos |
| Rosy Minivet | Pericrocotus roseus |
| Ashy Minivet | Pericrocotus divaricatus |
| Small Minivet | Pericrocotus cinnamomeus |
| Scarlet Minivet | Pericrocotus speciosus |
| Brown Shrike | Lanius cristatus |
| Burmese Shrike | Lanius collurioides |
| Long-tailed Shrike | Lanius Schach |
| Slender-billed Oriole | Oriolus tenuirostris |
| Black-hooded Oriole | Oriolus xanthornus |
| Black Drongo | Dicrurus macrocercus |
| Ashy Drongo | Dicrurus leucophaeus |
| Bronzed Drongo | Dicrurus aeneus |
| Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo | Dicrurus remifer |
| Hair-crested (Spangled) Drongo | Dicrurus hottentottus |
| Greater Racket-tailed Drongo | Dicrurus paradiseus |
| White-browed Fantail | Rhipidura aureola |
| Malaysian Pied Fantail | Rhipidura javanica |
| Black-naped Monarch | Hypothymis azurea |
| Eurasian Jay | Garrulus glandarius |
| Red-billed Blue Magpie | Urocissa erythroryncha |
| Rufous Treepie | Dendrocitta vagabunda |
| Eastern Jungle Crow | Corvus levaillantii |
| Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher | Culicicapa ceylonensis |
| Black-headed Bulbul | Pycnonotus atriceps |
| Black-crested Bulbul | Pycnonotus flaviventris |
| Red-whiskered Bulbul | Pycnonotus jocosus |
| Sooty-headed Bulbul | Pycnonotus aurigaster |
| Stripe-throated Bulbul | Pycnonotus finlaysoni |
| Streak-eared Bulbul | Pycnonotus blanfordi |
| Puff-throated Bulbul | Alophoixus pallidus |
| Grey-eyed Bulbul | Iole propinqua |
| Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica |
| Asian House Martin | Delichon dasypus |
| Red-rumped Swallow | Cecropis daurica |
| Striated Swallow | Cecropis striolata |
| Yellow-bellied Warbler | Abroscopus superciliaris |
| Yellow-streaked Warbler | Phylloscopus armandii |
| Radde's Warbler | Phylloscopus schwarzi |
| Yellow-browed Leaf Warbler | Phylloscopus inornatus |
| Two-barred Warbler | Phylloscopus plumbeitarsus |
| Thick-billed Warbler | Phragamaticola aedon |
| Rufescent Prinia | Prinia rufescens |
| Grey-breasted Prinia | Prinia hodgsonii |
| Common Tailorbird | Orthotomus sutorius |
| Pin-striped Tit Babbler | Macronus gularis |
| Puff-throated Babbler | Pellorneum ruficeps |
| White-crested Laughingthrush | Garrulax leucolophus |
| Yellow-eyed Babbler | Chrysomma sinense |
| Plains Nuthatch | Sitta neglecta |
| Velvet-fronted Nuthatch | Sitta frontalis |
| Common Hill Myna | Gracula religiosa |
| Common Myna | Acridotheres tristis |
| Eyebrowed Thrush | Turdus obscurus |
| Oriental Magpie Robin | Copsychus saularis |
| White-rumped Shama | Copsychus malabaricus |
| Asian Brown Flycatcher | Muscicapa dauurica |
| Verditer Flycatcher | Eumyias thalassinus |
| Hill Blue Flycatcher | Cyornis banyumas |
| Tickell's Blue Flycatcher | Cyornis tickelliae |
| Siberian Rubythroat | Calliope calliope |
| Taiga Flycatcher | Ficedula albicilla |
| Blue Rockthrush | Monticola solitarius |
| Pied Bushchat | Saxicola caprata |
| Eastern Stonechat | Saxicola stejnegeri |
| Blue-winged Leafbird | Chloropsis cochinchinensis |
| Golden-fronted Leafbird | Chloropsis aurifrons |
| Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker | Dicaeum cruentatum |
| Ruby-cheeked Sunbird | Chalcoparia singalensis |
| Purple Sunbird | Cinnyris asiaticus |
| Olive-backed Sunbird | Cinnyris jugularis |
| Little Spiderhunter | Arachnothera longirostra |
| Eurasian Tree Sparrow | Passer montanus |
| White-rumped Munia | Lonchura striata |
| Scaly-breasted Munia | Lonchura Punctulata |
| Grey Wagtail | Motacilla cinerea |
| White Wagtail | Motacilla alba |
| Paddyfield Pipit | Anthus rufulus |
| Olive-backed Pipit | Anthus hodgsoni |

## Flora
### Deciduous Forest

Mae Ping National Park is largely dominated by deciduous forests, which compose approximately 80% of the park's total forested area. These deciduous forests are particularly prominent in mountainous regions with sandy soil and elevations below 1,000 meters above sea level. The remaining 20% of the park's forests comprise evergreen forests.
Notable tree species found within this forest type include:
* Burma Sal
* Burmese Sal
* Dipterocarpus tuberculatus
* Hairy Keruing
* Quercus kerrii Craib
* Phyllanthus emblica
* Lannea coromandelica
* Terminalia alata Heyne
* Canarium subulatum
* Strychnos nux-vomica
* Melientha suavis Pierre
Lower-growing plants in the Deciduous Dipterocarp Forest include:
* Phoenix acaulis
* Cycads
* Pueraria candollei
* Ground Orchids

### Mixed Deciduous Forest
#### Another significant forest type within the park is the Mixed Deciduous Forest, found in plains and along mountain slopes at elevations between 450 and 800 meters.

This forest type is characterized by tree species such as:
* Teak
* Iron Wood
* Dalbergia cultrata Graham
* Canarium subulatum
* Millettia brandisiana
* Burma Padauk
* Schleichera oleosa
* Dalbergia dongnaiensis
* Vitex pinnata

#### The understory of the Mixed Deciduous Forest features plants like

* Bauhinia saccocalyx Pierre
* Thyrsostachys siamensis Gamble
* Bambusa bambos
* Bambusa nutans
* Phoenix acaulis
* Pueraria candollei
* Myrica esculenta
* Colona flagrocarpa

#### The park's evergreen forests encompass both Dry Evergreen Forest and Tropical Rain Forest.

These forests are primarily located in narrow valleys and along creeks. Some of the plant species found within this forest type are:
* Hopea odorata
* Black Rosewood
* Mangifera caloneura
* Irvingia malayana
* Spondias pinnata
* Beleric myrobalan

### Grassland

Mae Ping National Park also features grasslands, notably Thung Kik and Thung Na Ngu. These grasslands are situated on hillsides at an elevation of approximately 550 meters above sea level. The soil in these areas is primarily sandy clay or gravel. Due to their composition, these grasslands are susceptible to wildfires, which occur frequently. Sparsely distributed perennial plants such as Semecarpus cochinchinensis Engl., Terminalia alata Heyne, and Terminalia chebula are found in these grasslands, while the ground cover consists of Phoenix acaulis, Imperata cylindrica, Myrica esculenta Buch, and White Angel.

## Fauna

Mae Ping National Park supports a diverse range of animal life.

### Mammals

Source:
* Burmese Hare
* Indian Muntjac
* Banteng
* Asiatic Black Bear
* Serows
* Chinese Goral
* Fishing Cat
* Red Junglefowl
* Small Indian Civet
* Viverricula indica
* Indo-Chinese Lutung
* Gibbons
* Golden Jackal
* Squirrels
* Crab-Eating Mongoose
* Slow Loris
* Rhesus Macaque
* Lar Gibbon
* Wild Boar
* Malayan Porcupine
* Civet
* Common Palm Civet

### Reptiles

Source:
* Ground Lizard
* Clouded Monitor Lizard
* Malayan Pit Viper
* Oriental Garden Lizard
* Many-Lined Sun Skink
* Common Water Monitor Lizard
* Giant Asian Pond Turtle
* Soft-Shelled Turtle
* Painted Keelbacks
* Dwarf Snakehead

### Amphibians

Source:
* Common Asian Toad
* Rana limnocharis
* Spotted Narrow-Mouthed Frog
* Green-Backed Frog
* Horseface Loach

### Aquatics

Mae Ping National Park's waterways, particularly the Mae Ping River, are home to a variety of freshwater fish species, including
* Nile Tilapia
* Striped Catfish
* Siluridae
* Cyprinidae
* Goby
* Giant Gourami
* Macronema Catfish
* Hampala Barb

## Wildfire

A significant factor contributing to the frequent wildfires in Mae Ping National Park is the local communities' reliance on fire for various activities, often stemming from deeply ingrained beliefs and economic needs. For instance, locals often set fire to the forest floor, believing it enhances mushroom growth, a practice deemed detrimental by experts and unsupported by scientific evidence. Additionally, the common practice of burning fields after harvest to clear weeds and debris further escalates the risk of uncontrolled fires. The use of fire for hunting, intended to flush out animals, also significantly contributes to the occurrence of these wildfires. These practices, while deeply rooted in tradition and essential for local livelihoods, pose considerable challenges to wildfire prevention.
To mitigate these risks, Mae Ping National Park has implemented a multifaceted approach to wildfire prevention. The park utilizes firebreaks as a primary strategy, creating cleared corridors of land to contain the spread of fire. However, the effectiveness of firebreaks depends on their length, strategic placement, and maintenance, which can be limited. Another strategy involves reducing flammable materials, focusing on the abundant dry leaves covering the forest floor. Prescribed burns are also employed under controlled conditions to clear these fuel sources. However, this method requires meticulous planning and execution to prevent them from escalating into uncontrolled wildfires. A more sustainable approach encourages the cultivation of Termitomyces mushrooms. These mushrooms thrive on dead leaves, offering a natural way to reduce fuel while generating income for local communities, thereby lessening their dependence on fire-dependent foraging. The park also emphasizes communication and awareness about fire risks through a dedicated LINE Official Account. This platform shares real-time fire data from reliable sources like NASA FIRMS, CUSense, and Windy, enabling quicker responses to potential fire outbreaks. Complementing this is a Facebook Marketplace, connecting local mushroom sellers with wider markets to promote the economically viable and sustainable cultivation of Termitomyces mushrooms.