Thailand: Huai Chorakhe Mak Reservoir

Huai Chorakhe Mak Reservoir is an inland freshwater wetland in Mueang Buri Ram District and Sakae Phrong Subdistrict, Buri Ram Province, northeastern Thailand. Created in the mid-1970s by damming several small streams on an extensive floodplain, the site comprises open-water reservoirs with limited emergent or floating vegetation, surrounded by predominantly rice-based agricultural landscapes and small patches of dry dipterocarp woodland. The reservoir is publicly owned and designated as a Non-Hunting Area under the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, with the Wetland and Sarus Crane Conservation Centre serving as the management and awareness hub for the site.

Huai Chorakhe Mak forms part of a nationally significant wetland complex, together with Huai Talad and Sanam Bin, that supports the successful reintroduction programme for the globally threatened eastern population of the Sarus Crane. The site also supports congregations of freshwater-dependent waterbirds and provides essential ecosystem services, including water storage, food provision, flood hazard regulation, and cultural services linked to education and nature-based tourism. However, pressures from agricultural intensification, invasive species, climate-induced drought risk, and expanding tourism infrastructure pose challenges to long-term sustainability. Strengthening site management and protection, sustaining crane and biodiversity monitoring, improving invasive species management, promoting biodiversity-friendly rice farming, and enhancing low-impact ecotourism offer key opportunities to reinforce livelihoods while safeguarding the ecological integrity of this important inland wetland.

RFI Site Snapshot

City Municipality Province Region Mueang district and Sakae Phrong subdistrict, Buri Ram Province
Area Size 631 ha
Geographical Coordinates 14.90º N, 103.03º E
Conservation Designation Non-Hunting Areas
Key Habitats and Biomes Reservoirs, relatively little emergent or aquatic floating vegetation in the reservoirs and some patches of dry dipterocarp woodland, no permanent marshland, surrounded by rice agriculture
Key Ecosystem Services and Values Provisioning: freshwater, food (fish and prawns)
Regulating: flood mitigation, water flow, local climate
Cultural: ecotourism, education
Global Climate Regulation: Estimated Carbon Storage and Sequestration No data given
EAAF Species Globally significant congregations:
Sarus Crane Antigone antigone sharpii (VU)

Significant numbers:
Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans (LC)

Low numbers:
Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola (CR); migratory birds-of-prey, notably harriers Circus spp.
 Notable Biodiversity small numbers of Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola (CR)
regular congregations of several migratory birds of prey, especially Harriers Circus spp
Site Management Department of Wildlife and National Parks; Buri Ram Provincial Government; Mueang Buri Ram District Government; Sakae Phrong Tambon Administrative Organisation; Zoological Park Organization of Thailand (Sarus Crane programme)
Key Drivers of Change Agricultural intensification, invasive species, drought/climate change, tourism, fishing, killing, and harvesting of aquatic resources, and land-use change
Opportunities for RFI Interventions Strengthening site management and protection; Stronger wildlife protection and monitoring, improving ecotourism infrastructure, broadening the capacity of local communities and tourism businesses, scaling up sustainable and regenerative rice-farming, invasive species control, and better waste management
Investment Range Over Time Period $14,550,000 over 10 years

Disclaimer

The views expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) or its Board of Governors or the governments they represent. ADB does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this publication and accepts no responsibility for any consequence of their use. By making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area, or by using the term “country” in this document, ADB does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.

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Topics

  • Agriculture and Natural Resources
  • Climate Change
  • Environment
  • Regional Cooperation and Integration