Covering an area of 189,431 rai from southof Muang district to north of Kaper district,Ranong Biosphere Reserve, or the NgaoMangrove Forest Research Centre, mostlyconsists of mangrove forests and the sea.It is divided into three zones according togeography, condition of the forests and landusage. The core area, covering 40,762 raiof unspoiled mangroves, is surrounded bywaterways and the sea and suitable as ahabitat for baby marine animals. The bufferzone covering an area of 108,038 rai is mainlycomposed of mangroves, shrimp farms andfarmland. The transition zone, covering an areaof 40,631 rai, comprises roads, farmland,old mines and houses. Hailed by the Unescoas one of the most fertile mangroves in theAsia-Pacific Region, the site is the home tomore than 20 rare kinds of plants, including a200-year-old kongkang bai lek (true mangrove)and a 300-year-old taboon dam (black tuft) tree.Wildlife like pu kam dab (fiddler crabs), maehob (mud lobsters), ling samae (the crab-eatingmacaque) and nak (otters) as well as birds likethe red kingfisher, the brown winged kingfisherand pittas can be seen in the area. Visitors canstroll the 2km nature trail there with the help ofofficers as knowledgeable guides.