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Ranong

This biosphere reserve is situated 650 km south of Bangkok and covers about 30,000 hectares, of which 40% is a marine area. It consists of a narrow coastal plain characterized by many waterways and mangrove forests, reaching out to the sea towards seagrass beds at a depth of 10 meters. The Njao and Laem Son National Park are contiguous to Ranong and hence there is a continuum of protected habitats going from the mountain ecosystem down to the coast and sea. More than 300 animal species have been identified, including the dugong (Dugong dugon), and no less than 24 species of mangroves.

There are some 4,000 people living in the biosphere reserve, who live mainly from fishing and a shrimp farm (1997). Tourism is little developed yet, but there is a good potential. The Ranong Mangrove Research Center has a long history of scientific research in this area, covering topics such as mangrove reforestation and rehabilitation, as well as human health and sanitation. It is estimated that some 10,000 research workers and students have visited or worked at the Center during the past five years. Read more about this reserve on the UNESCO Biosphere Reserves website.