Key Biodiversity The site is of special importance for the conservation of both lowland and montane avifaunas characteristic of the Thai-Malay peninsula. The site supports several globally threatened species, including a large population of Plain-pouched Hornbill Aceros subruficollis. The Hala sector of Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary is the only site in Thailand known to support Mountain Peacock Pheasant Polyplectron inopinatum, a globally threatened, restricted-range species, restricted to the Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia Endemic Bird Area. Moreover, the Hala sector is one of only two sites in Thailand known to support the globally threatened Short-toed Coucal Centropus rectunguis, the other one being the Bala sector of Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary (IBA TH060). In addition, the site supports at least 49 globally near-threatened species, many of which are restricted to the Sundaic Lowland Forests (Biome 14). The site also supports several species characteristic of montane evergreen forest in peninsular Malaysia, including Blue Nuthatch Sitta azurea, Mountain Fulvetta Alcippe peracensis, Chestnut-capped Laugingthrush Garrulax mitratus and Black Laughingthrush G. lugubris. The site qualifies under criterion A3 because it supports one species (Mountain Fulvetta Alcippe peracensis) restricted to the Sino-Himalayan Subtropical Forests (Biome 08), one species (Masked Finfoot) restricted to the Indochinese Tropical Moist Forests (Biome 09) and 93 species restricted to the Sundaic Lowland Forests (Biome 14).