FOREST TYPES
There are five main forest types
in Doi Inthanon.
-1- The lower slopes contain Dry
Dipterocarp Forest, which is a deciduous forest containing mostly trees
in the Dipterocarp family. The soil is extremely poor clay and limestone.
The lack of biodiversity in the plant community limits the biodiversity
of the animal community, and the forest there is often remarkably quiet.
-2- Above the Dry Dipterocarp Forest
is the Mixed Deciduous Forest, which contains both deciduous and
evergreen species, including native pine.This forest type is an "ecotone"
between the Dry Dipterocarp below and the Evergreen above. Biodiversity
here is quite high.
-3- The Mix Deciduous Forest gradually
fades into Hill Evergreen Forest. The lower reaches contain pines,
the upper reaches consist primarily of oak and chestnut species.
There are two kinds of Hill Evergreen Forest, Moist and Dry.The park contains
primary Moist Hill Evergreen Forest above 2,000 meters and primary Dry
Hill Evergreen Forest in the Mae
Pan Falls area.
-4- Gallery Forests line the
banks of streams and rivers, remaining green throughout the year.
Gallery Forests provide an important habitat for many species of birds
and mammals.
-5- There are a number of Pine Plantations
in the park, planted by the Royal Forestry Department.These are artificial
forests, but they are quite useful in protecting the soil and keeping
the mountain green.
