Current view: Text account
Site description (2003 baseline):
Site location and context
The IBA comprises of Basset Marsh, a permanent lake located along Road No. 5, about 12 km north of Phnom Penh. The areas surrounding the lake become inundated when the Tonle Sap River floods during the wet season, and thus support extensive marshes. These marshes are surrounded by agricultural land, mainly riceSmall numbers of Spot-billed Pelicans Pelecanus philippensis are regular in the wet season and Darters Anhinga melanogaster are also regular. The IBA is the only known site thus far in Cambodia where River Tern Sterna aurantia has been recorded away from the upper Mekong in the wet season. Grey-headed Fish Eagle Icthyophaga ichthyaetus has also been recorded once and is probably no more than an irregular visitor. Due to its proximity to Phnom Penh and easy access, the IBA has great potential for conservation awareness and education programmes.
Other regionally significant species were also recorded from the the site such as Asian Openbill, Glossy Ibis, River Tern, Baya Weaver, Collared Kingfisher and Grey-headed Lapwing.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
There are many villages located close to the IBA, and the activities of local people generate a high level of disturbance to bird populations.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
An assessment should be carried out of the potential of the area for the implementation of education and awareness initiatives for day visitors from Phnom Penh. This could focus on the visiting waterbirds, especially pelicans, and could potentially be carried out in conjunction with one of the local pagodas.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Basset Marsh (Cambodia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/basset-marsh-iba-cambodia on 25/11/2024.
