Bangben
Location:	9°34'-9°45'N, 98°27'-98°34'E; in Kapoe District, Ranong Province, western Peninsular Thailand. The site extends north from the Khlong Kapoe to Ko Klang.
Area:	c.8,000 ha; the site includes c.30 km of coastline.
Altitude:	Sea level; rocky outcrops along the coast rise to 2Mm.
Biogeographical Province:	4.5.1.
Wetland type:	03, 04, 05, 06 & 07.
Description of site:	The estuaries of a major river, the Khlong Kapoe, and several smaller rivers to the north, with extensive mangrove swamps and intertidal mudflats. Steep, forested hills slope down to a belt of mangrove scrub, sand and mudflats up to 5 or 6 km wide, with several rocky, forest-covered outcrops at its seaward edge. The main west coast highway passes to the east of the site. There is massive freshwater run-off from the forested mountains to the east during the southwest monsoon season, especially from June to October. The sea-bed shelves fairly steeply, although there are considerable areas of shallows, 1-3m deep at mean low water. The salinity ranges from 26-35 p.p.t. (average 30.18); the average suspended sediment is 6.7-34.9 mg/1, peaking in February. There are two tides per day; the tidal amplitude at Pak Nam Ranong varies from l.6m at neap tides to 3.3m at spring tides.
Climatic conditions:	Very wet tropical monsoonal climate with an average annual rainfall of 4,320 mm, 89.6% of which falls during the southwest monsoon from May to October. The average relative humidity ranges from 88% in July, August and September to 72% in March. The mean annual temperature is 26.5°C (mean maximum 38.0°C, mean minimum 13.7°C).
Principal vegetation:	Mangrove forest and scrub, rather homogeneous in age classes and dominated by Rhizophora apiculata. Sonneratia spp, Avicennia spp, with Bruguiera, Ceriops and Xylocarpus communities along the landward edge. Aksornkoae (1982) recorded a total of 33 tree species. The forests have been logged and are now regenerating. There is a rich bloom of phytoplankton during December; phytoplankton samples show an average of 91,090 cells per litre. Inland, the hills are covered in semi-evergreen rain forest. This is being replaced on the lower slopes by slash-and-burn cultivation, such as tapioca and hill rice. The lowlands are almost entirely cultivated, supporting rubber plantations.
Land tenure:	The wetland is state owned; surrounding areas are partly private and partly state owned. Many of the state owned areas are occupied illegally.
Conservation measures taken:	Rocky wooded areas and sand beaches along the seaward edge of the site, including the hills of Khao Ao Ang and Khao Bang Ben, are included in the Laem Son National Park. Most areas of mangrove and mudflat are, however, excluded. All areas of mangrove are classified as National Reserve Forest and can legally be cut only by concessionaires.
Conservation measures proposed:	The area has been proposed as a Biosphere Reserve by the National Research Council of Thailand. The boundaries of Laem Son National Park could be extended to include additional areas of mangrove and mudflat. The area requires detailed and regular ground surveys to determine the numbers and species composition of shorebirds using the site.
Land use:	Fishing, using gill nets, long lines and scoop nets. Mangroves are cut on a rotational basis for charcoal and for timber used in construction. The area is also a major site for recreational marine angling. Cultivation, chiefly coconut palms and rubber, in surrounding areas.
Possible changes in land use:	There is likely to be an increase in tourism at the site. Bangben is also one of the sites to be considered for the development of small-scale fisheries under the FAO Bay of Bengal Programme. This seems likely to lead to a great increase in aquaculture. There is a strong likelihood of increased deforestation of hill slopes in the water catchment area.
Disturbances and threats:	Some silt enters the area from tin mining operations to the north. There is a possibility that tin mining activities will commence at the site, and there could be further clearance of mangroves for aquaculture. The mangrove community is gradually becoming impoverished as a result of repeated cutting and replacement by monocultures of Rhizophora and other species for harvest.
Economic and social values:	The mangrove resource is of major economic importance.
Fauna:	Some 45 species of fish have been found at Khlong Kapoe (Bhovichitra et al., 1982). The area is one of only four sites on the west coast of Thailand, identified during an aerial survey in October 1984, which support a concentration of over 2,000 shorebirds. A roost of 4,000 shorebirds was discovered at Khao Ao Ang (9°40'N) during the survey, with a further 290 birds at Khlong Khong (Parish & Wells, 1985). Logged mangrove in the area supports Phaenicophaeus sumatranus, Pelargopsis amauroptera, Halcyon coromanda, Mulleripicus pulverulentus and Pitta megarhyncha. Local observers have reported the occasional presence of a large, dark stork (either Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus or Leptoptilos javanicus). Bhovichitra et al. (1982) list 29 species of birds including Charadrius peronii, an uncommon resident which nests on sandy beaches. At least 11 species of mammals are known from the site, including the Slow Loris Nycticebus coucang (J. Nabhitabhata, pers. comm.). The mudflats support a high biomass of polychaetes.
Special floral values:	The area includes one of the richest and most diverse mangrove forests in Thailand.
Research and facilities:	Accommodation is available at the headquarters of Laem Son National Park. Part of the area is a test site for the Remote Sensing and Mangroves Project (1984-87) of the National Research Council. The effects of tin mining on the mangrove ecosystem in Ranong Province have been studied by Aksornkoae and Saraya (1987).
References:	Aksornkoae (1982); Aksornkoae & Saraya (1987); Bhovichitra et al. (1982); Kiankamsorn et al. (1981); Parish & Wells (1985); Whitmore (1975).
Criteria for inclusion:	1b, 2b, 3b.
Source:	Jim Jintanugool and Philip D. Round.