Current view: Text account
Site description (2003 baseline):
Site location and context
The IBA comprises Boeung Veal Samnap, a permanent lake located to the east of Phnom Penh. The areas surrounding the lake become inundated when the Mekong River floods during the wet season, and thus support extensive marshes, bordered by rice cultivation. The vegetation of the marshes comprises various grasses and sedges, while other emergent species and rafts of floating vegetation cover extensive areas of the lake, there are also small areas of swamp forest trees. A number of large waterbirds regularly occur at the IBA in the wet season, including small numbers of Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis). In 2000 a colony of Darter (Anhinga melanogaster) was discovered in the IBA.
on 29 September 2002 74 Asian Openbills were recorded.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
There are many villages located close to the IBA, and the activities of local people, in particular fishing, are a source of disturbance to bird populations. Hunting is also a problem. For example, a mixed colony of Darters and flying-foxes Pteropus sp., discovered in 2000, was reported disturbed by local people collecting eggs and hunting in the following year. A further problem is invasion by the alien plant species Mimosa pigra, which is taking over large areas of the marshes, to the detriment of the natural vegetation.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
- Enforcement activities should be initiated as soon as possible focusing on hunting of wildlife (including egg and chick collection) and illegal fishing methods.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Boeung Veal Samnap (Cambodia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/boeung-veal-samnap-iba-cambodia on 25/11/2024.
