Current view: Text account
Site description (2003 baseline):
Site location and context
The IBA is situated on the Attapu plain, immediately outside of Dong Ampham National Protected Area, in southern Lao P.D.R. The vegetation of the IBA is dominated by dry dipterocarp forest, with smaller patches of mixed deciduous forest. Although the IBA is, in general, very dry, with a gravelly substrate and few permanent watercourses, there are a number of seasonal pools of varying sizes scattered throughout it (Davidson
et al. 1997). The major permanent watercourses in the IBA are the Xe Khaman, which flows through the centre, and the Xe Xou, which flows through the south. The avifauna of the IBA is characteristic of dry forest landscapes in central Indochina. The IBA is thought to support small numbers of White-rumped Vulture
Gyps bengalensis and Red-headed Vulture
Sarcogyps calvus. While, by itself, the IBA is almost certainly not large enough to support viable populations of these two species in the long-term, it forms part of a network of sites throughout southern Lao P.D.R. and northern Cambodia that may be able to. In addition, the IBA may be used, at least periodically, by large waterbirds (R. J. Timmins
in litt. 2002). Furthermore, the rivers within the IBA are known to support Lesser Fish Eagle
Ichthyophaga humilis, and may also be important for a number of other riverine species.
Non-bird biodiversity: Davidson et al (1997) recorded one species of primate in the IBA site: Rhesus/Long-tailed Macaque Macaca mulatta/fascicularis. However, the author suggested that the species is likely to be Long-tailed Macaque.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The major threats to biodiversity at the IBA are clearance of forest for agriculture and human settlements, timber extraction and hunting, of which the last is probably the main threat to the remaining vultures. Underlying all these threats is human population expansion. The Attapu plain is currently under consideration as a resettlement area. Such a large increase in the human population in and around the IBA, combined with associated road and other infrastructure developments, would very likely to lead to increased pressure on natural resources (Davidson et al. 1997)
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Attapu Plain (Laos). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/attapu-plain-iba-laos on 25/11/2024.
