Rakhine hills semi-evergreen dry forest

Description

A semi-evergreen forest that occurs at mid- elevation across the Rakhine hills. This area experiences an annual seasonally dry period, typically extending up to 7 months between November to May each year, followed by monsoonal rains. Rainfall is typically around 2,000 mm to 2,800 mm, and local elevation and moisture gradients are likely the primary factors that influence its distribution (Wolfhart et al., 2010). It co-occurs with Rakhine dry coastal deciduous and Rakhine hills Bamboo Brake, which occurs at lower elevation and in the coastal lowlands and is distinguished by a very strong browning during the dry season, reflecting most species completely losing their leaves.

Assessment summary

Analyses of the distribution of primary forest suggest that this ecosystem has been degraded over an extent sufficient to meet the D3 category thresholds for Vulnerable. Our climate suitability model suggests this ecosystem is threatened by climate change, although uncertainty is broad enough to span category thresholds for Least Concern to Vulnerable. No time-series spatial data was found to assess Criterion A. Thus, the ecosystem is assessed as Vulnerable under D3. Vulnerable.