As the Dong Phaya Yen is less compact and lower in height than the mountain ranges to the north and to the south, the first roads and railroads connecting the region of Isan with the capital Bangkok were built across these mountains. Before the construction of the railroad at the beginning of the 20th century, communication between these two parts of Thailand was difficult. The survey for the building of the Northeastern Line of the State Railway of Thailand began in 1887.
These mountains, together with the Sankamphaeng Range at their southern limit, form the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex, which includes several national parks. This area was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2005.
Altogether 6,155 km2 are protected in the complex. In mid-2016 UNESCO briefly considered placing the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest on a list of endangered World Heritage sites because Thailand had not done enough to stop illegal logging of phayung (Siamese rosewood) trees.
