|
Beung
Si Fal
|
|
|
Location:
|
16°25'N, 100°20'E; one km southwest of the town of Phichit, Phichit Province. |
|
Area:
|
810 ha. |
|
Altitude:
|
35m. |
|
Biogeographical
Province:
|
4.5.1. |
|
Wetland
type:
|
14. |
|
Description
of site:
|
A permanent, freshwater lake, its associated marshes and adjacent rice paddies, situated approximately two km from the Mae Nain Nan and lying on the outskirts of the town of Phichit. The lake is fringed with emergent vegetation in some parts. It is fed by overspill from the River Nan during the late rainy season, and there is no major outflow. The average depth of water is 1.5m (maximum 3.0m). |
|
Climatic
conditions:
|
Tropical monsoonal climate with an average rainfall of 1,792 mm. The mean annual temperature at Nakhon Sawan, 60 km to the south, is 28.3°C. |
|
Principal
vegetation:
|
There are small areas of Arundo donax and Cyperus spp around the lake margins. The floating vegetation includes Nelumbo nucifera, Lemna minor and Eichhornia crassipes. Surrounding areas are almost entirely under cultivation, mainly for rice. |
|
Land
tenure:
|
The wetland is in public ownership; surrounding areas are privately owned residential areas, commercial properties and rice paddies. |
|
Conservation
measures taken:
|
Fishing is forbidden in approximately 24 hectares of the lake. The lake was recently cleared of much vegetation in order to create areas of open water. |
|
Conservation
measures proposed:
|
The site has been proposed as a Non-Hunting Area. |
|
Land
use:
|
Fishing and cultivation of lotus. The northern end of the site is a public amenity, with gardens, picnic areas and paved access around it. The wetland is surrounded by rice paddies (one crop of wet-season rice per year), and there is a town market nearby. |
|
Possible
changes in land use:
|
None known the authorities intend to preserve the lake as a major tourist attraction. |
| Disturbances and threats: | None known. |
| Economic and social values: | Recreation and tourism. The lake is a major social amenity. |
| Fauna: | The lake has been stocked with common species of food fish. Usage of the area by wintering wildfowl is increasing markedly with improved protection, and the site now supports some 5,000-10,000 roosting Dendrocygna javanica outside the breeding season. Tachybaptus ruficollis breeds, and two or three species of Egretta are non-breeding visitors. Other waterfowl recorded include Gallinula chloropus, Porphyrio porphyrio and Metopidius indicus. |
| Special floral values: | None known. |
| Research and facilities: | The provincial fisheries station for Phichit Province is sited at the lake. The site is occasionally visited by Brother David Ogle and colleagues of the Nakhon Sawan Bird Club. |
| References: | |
| Criteria for inclusion: | 2b. |
|
Source:
|
Jira Jintanugool and Philip D. Round. |