Tanintharyi Sundaic lowland evergreen forest

Description

This ecosystem occurs at low elevations (mostly <200 m, Connette et al., 2016 to <160 m, Eames et al., 2005) across Tanintharyi state, south of around 14.5 degrees latitude. It may extend to up to around 640 m in some areas (Kress et al., 2003). Highly diverse, with a very tall, dense and closed canopy of many co-existing dipterocarp species. Canopy height may extent 25- 70 m. Epiphytes are abundant, buttressed roots common, lianas and ferns are present. Diversity in flora species is extremely high, and a diverse fauna is also present and including a large number of mammal and bird species. Distribution is largely defined by mean monthly rainfall in excess of mean evapotranspiration, generally around 100 mm per month. Considered one of the largest remaining lowland forests in the Indochinese and Sundaic regions of Southeast Asia (De Alban et al., 2018).

Assessment summary

This ecosystem is threatened by forest clearing for a range of commodities. Although no data is available to assess loss in the extent of this ecosystem since 2000, we use primary forest data to assess declines of primary forest extent within the distribution of the ecosystem. Our analyses suggest that a reduction of primary forest in this ecosystem of >50% has occurred since 1750, meeting the category threshold for Vulnerable (D3). Additionally, recent trends in primary forest extent suggest considerable ongoing degradation of this ecosystem, and when projected to a 50 year time frame it is estimated that a decline of 39.6% of primary forest is likely to occur (D2b). Vulnerable.