View Point

Bua Thong Waterfall

Wang Thong Waterfall

Chet Si Spring

          The survey area is bordered on the east by a mountain range and on the southwest by valleys. The map depicts land use zones and forests, with the National Reserved Forest designated as a zone C conservation area. On the east side of the ridge are, the Mae Taeng and Khun Mae Kuang forests, and on the westis a dune forest. There is a plain with a very small river which is incompatible with agriculture due to the gravelly nature of the soil and  the shallow topsoil, which is easily is broken. The area is generally between 380 and 947 meters above sea level, with the highest summit being Doi Phi Tak Pha at  947 meters. The area with the lowest elevation is the Huai Mae Pon Reservoir and the surrounding areaat approximately 380 meters abovesea level. The trenches of various mountains, which form streams and rivers, are significant tributaries for  the Ping River.

       A survey was undertaken of the Namtok Bua Tong - Nam Phu Chet Si National Park area in Chiang Mai Province, Northern Thailand. The climate was indentified as a tropical monsoon, influenced by the southwest monsoon (wind and rain) during the summer and the northeast monsoon during the winter. The are three distinct seasons.

       Two Types of Forest
       1. Alower evergreen forest or Tropical rain forest is found on slopes approximately 350 meters above sea level as this area is quite humid. They are surrounded by deciduous trees and are located near the river, including .Chukrasia velutina, or the December Tree, Baccaurea ramiflora Lour Diospyros pubicalyx, Siphonodon celastrineus, Dipterocarpus urbinatus, Dipterocarpus costatus, Toona ciliata, Javan Cedar, Hopea odorata, Evergreen Chinkapin, Dracontomelon dao, Duabanga grandiflora Walp, Tetrameles nudiflora, Golden Fig, Eagle Wood, and Cinnamon,

       2. Deciduous forests are found in a variety of forms, including mixed deciduous and deciduous dipterocarp forests.

        2.1 Moist upper mixed deciduous forest (Mixed deciduous forest) occurs between 350 and 600 meters elevation, and are sparsely forested, They have a large amount of fertile soil and are home to 16 plant species, 15 genera, and 12 families including Anacardiaceae, Dipterocarpaceae, Anacardiaceae, Fabaceae, Combretaceae, Teak, Xylia xylocarpa, Burma Padauk, Bombox anceps, Dalbergia assamica, Dalbergia dongnaiensis, Schleichera oleosa, Cassia fistula, Terminalia alata Heyne, Spondias bipinne, Heyne, and Dongna. Certain sections of the forest are changing to become more like a deciduous dipterocarp forest.

       2.2 Deciduous Dipterocarp Forest: It is found on the plains as well as at nearly all elevations. It can thrive between 600 and 900 meters on shallow gravel land with a low fertility levels. A preliminary survey of the deciduous dipterocarp forest revealed the presence of 17 plant species, 11 genera, and 11 families, with the most common family is Dipterocarpaceae, followed by Anacardiaceae, Fabaceae, Combretaceae, Burma Sal, Burmese Sal, Hairy Keruing, Dipterocarpus tuberculatus, Melanorrhoea ustata, Gardenia sootepensis, and various stinging plants were discovered, as well as other lower ground plants such as Cycas siamensis. Merkus Pine (Pinus merkusii Jungh & De Vriese) was discovered at around 700 meters abovesea level.

 Wildlife Resources:
Wildlife found in the area can be divided into five groups:
         1. Birds are the most common and abundant animals, includings doves, Green Pigeons, falcon, Nightjar, Scops Owl, Stripe-Throated Bulbul, Red-Whiskered Bulbul, Sooty-Headed Bulbul, Coucals, White-Rumped Shama, Greater Racket-Tailed Drongo, Oriole, Scaly-Breasted Partridge, Myna, Sunbird, Woodpecker, Minivet, peacocks, parrots, Malkoha, and wildfowl.
          2. Mammals, including Indian Muntjac, wild boars, monkeys, the Common Palm Civet, Dhole, Hog-Badger, Jungle Cat, Porcupine, Mongoose, Pteromyini, chipmunks, squirrels,  and bats.
            3. Amphibians, including Asian Leaf Turtles, Soft-Shelled Turtles, , Capped Frogs, Limnonectes blythii, Stalked Frogs, Toads, and Crabs.
            4. Reptiles such as   the Burmese python, King Cobra, Cobra, Malayan Pit Viper, Banded Krait, Sumatran Green Pit Viper, Tokay Gecko, Chameleon, Skink, and Clouded Monitor Lizard.
             5. Fish seen included the Snakehead fish, Catfish, Striped Snake-Head Fish, Dwarf Snakehead, Minnow, Spotted Spiny Eel,  Stream Barilius, Wrestling Halfbeak, Garden Eel, and Walking Fish.