LA012
Dong Ampham


Site description (2003 baseline):

Site location and context
The IBA is located within Dong Ampham National Protected Area, in southern Lao P.D.R. The topography of the IBA is predominantly hilly, although elevations rise to over 2,000 m asl in the north-east of the IBA, along the international border with Vietnam. The major vegetation types in the IBA are semi-evergreen forest and dry evergreen forest, although there are also patches of secondary vegetation following shifting cultivation (Davidson et al. 1997). The IBA is believed to support a significant population of Black-hooded Laughingthrush Garrulax milleti. In addition, the IBA is thought to support nationally important populations of Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis and Brown Hornbill Anorrhinus tickelli, although the maintenance of contiguous areas of natural habitat outside of the IBA may be essential to the long-term conservation of both species. The IBA also supports a number of globally threatened mammal species, including a gibbon species Hylobates sp. (Davidson et al. 1997).



Key biodiversity
Status of Black-hooded Laughingthrush uncertain due to the short period of time spent at the species preferred altitude, but probably locally common. (Davidson et al. 1997)

Non-bird biodiversity: Davidson et al. (1997) reported that four important species of fauna persist at the IBA site: Sun Bear U. malayanus, Leopard Cat P. bengalensis, Golden Cat C. temminckii, Clouded Leopard P. nebulosa. However, their abundances were not estimated. Also, another four species were reported occur at the area by local people, but no futher confirmed information: Dhole C. alpinus, Asiatic Black Bear U. thibetanus, Leopard P. pardus, Tiger P. tigrisDavidson et al. (1997) reported that two species of primate occur in the IBA: Douc Langur Pygathrix nemaeus and Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon Hylobates gabriellae. Also, Bear Macaque was reported to occur in the area but there was no confirmation.More studies are reqired to confirm status of the globally threatened turtle and crocodile species in the area.Davidson et al. (1997) found out that Asian Elephant Elephas maximus and Southern Serow Naemorhedus sumatraensis may persist in the IBA area.



Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Major threats to biodiversity at the IBA include subsistence hunting and commercial hunting, of which the latter is perhaps a greater threat, due to the existence of a cross-border trade in wildlife and the fact that species of conservation concern, such as primates, are specifically targeted. Another major threat is clearance of forest for shifting cultivation, which is being exacerbated by an increasing human population in the area. Shifting cultivation is encroaching the mature evergreen forest within the IBA, and has resulted in succession by fire-climax pine woodland in some areas (Davidson et al. 1997)




Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Dong Ampham. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/dong-ampham-iba-laos on 19/03/2024.