Current view: Text account
Site description (2003 baseline):
Site location and context
The IBA comprises an extensive area of wetlands between the Mekong and Bassac Rivers. The vegetation of the IBA is dominated by seasonally inundated shrub and savanna swamp, which is surrounded by agricultural land. During the wet season, the IBA is inundated, and is characterised by large areas of deep, open water, with substantial areas of emergent, floating and submerged aquatic vegetation. The IBA supports large numbers of commoner waterbirds, as well as small numbers of Darter Anhinga melanogaster, Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis and Asian Golden Weaver Ploceus hypoxanthus. In addition, the IBA regularly supports more than 1% of the Asian biogeographic population of Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybridus).
Other significant assemblage of waterbird species are 2000 Pond Heron species, 600 Intermediate Egrets, 230 Pheasant-tailed Jacanas and 85 Black-winged Stilts. Many shorebird species also occur in the area such as Black-taile Godwit, Marsh Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Asiatic Golden Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover etc.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The inhabitants Prasat Tuyo fishing village depend on the natural resources of the IBA, and their activities are potentially a source of disturbance to waterbird populations. A more serious threat to biodiversity at the IBA is hunting of waterbirds, particularly the use of poison.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Recommendations Enforcement activities should be initiated as soon as possible focusing on hunting of waterbirds and illegal fishing methods.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Bassac Marsh (Cambodia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/bassac-marsh-iba-cambodia on 23/11/2024.
