ThaiNGO

Duration: 1st Jan 2024 – 31th May 2024 

Major Responsibilities 
The Research Consultant/s will conduct a wildlife habitat quality assessment and wildlife utilization at Khoa Krachom Suan Pueng District, Ratchaburi Province. The study of forage species data fundamental in both forest and grassland area with potential for forage resource management to assess the suitability of initial management to find management guidelines. The assessment result will be guidelines for grassland management and practice to sustainably increase the ungulate population in Khao Krachom area. 

Background 
Khao Krachom Mountain is located in Suan Phueng district, Ratchaburi province, western Thailand at an altitude between 210 and 1132 m above sea level. The mountain is part of the Tenasserim Hills, a mountain chain that extends along approximately 1700 km from Dawna in Myanmar to the Kra Isthmus in Thailand and further south to Titiwangsa range in Malay Peninsula. Between 1913 and 1985, the government opened a tin mining concession in the Khao Krachom Mountain’s area, which caused a lot of forest clearing. Furthermore, the area around the mountain has been turned into agriculture land. After 1991, the government canceled mining concessions, causing the villagers to develop resorts for tourism within the surrounding area. In 1995, the Khao Krachom Mountain and nearby areas fell under the supervision of the Royal Thai Army and were established as a Natural History Park, initiated by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. The Park covers 210 km2 (13°31’27”–13°35’05”N and 99°09’48”–99°16’10”E) and includes all of Khao Krachom Mountain. (Kawin Jiaranaisakul, Kasetsart University and Jérôme Constant, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, 2021) Due to the tin mining concession and 
agricultural land leading to degraded land (grassland) and lack of management. Based on the primary survey found that the presence and use of grassland by wildlife, particularly sambar deer (one of tiger prey) is quite abundant. 

Scope of work 
1. To collect fundamental data for evaluating forage resource management for ungulates.  

Output / deliverable of performance and schedule 
The consultant will be expected to produce: 
a) Wildlife habitat quality assessment outline (to be approved by WWF) on or before 30 January 2024. 
b) Wildlife habitat quality assessment report will be guidelines for grassland management and practice to sustainably increase the ungulate population in Khao Krachom area comprised of; 

a. study results on forage species data fundamental in the area with potential for forage resource management  
b. wildlife utilization zone in the area. The final report will be in English and delivered on or before 15 May 2024.