Current view: Text account
Site description (2004 baseline):
Site location and context
The IBA comprises Bung Khong Long Non-hunting Area, one of the largest lakes in north-eastern Thailand. The lake measures 13 km in length, is 2 km in width at its widest point, and covers c.2,200 ha. The lake is shallow, with an average water depth of 0.5 to 1 m, and a maximum depth of 6 m. The lake has expanded northwards since 1982, when a dam and sluice were built at its southern extremity. The southern two-thirds of the lake has a relatively steep shoreline with little peripheral aquatic vegetation, while the northern third is dominated by emergent and floating vegetation and includes five small islands, on one of which there is some evergreen forest. Around 380 ha of marshland lie immediately to the north of the lake. The vegetation surrounding the lake includes cultivated land and fallow fields, mango orchards, and rubber and Eucalyptus plantations. In addition, a small patch of deciduous dipterocarp forest is found to the north-west of the lake. The Mekong River, which forms the international border with Lao P.D.R., lies 15 km to the east of the site. Bung Khong Long Non-hunting Area was designated as a Ramsar Site in 2001.
The site is important for both resident and wintering waterbirds, particularly herons, egrets and ducks. At least seven species of duck occur at the site, the most notable of which is the globally threatened Baer's Pochard Aythya baeri. There is also an historical record of the globally near-threatened Ferruginous Pochard Aythya nyroca from the site. Furthermore, the site is important for breeding Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio and Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus.
Non-bird biodiversity: Plants
Afzelia xylocarpa (EN)
Anisoptera costata (EN)
Hopea odorata (VU)
The IBA comprises Bung Khong Long Non-hunting Area, one of the largest lakes in north-eastern Thailand. The lake measures 13 km in length, is 2 km in width at its widest point, and covers c.2,200 ha. The lake is shallow, with an average water depth of 0.5 to 1 m, and a maximum depth of 6 m. The lake has expanded northwards since 1982, when a dam and sluice were built at its southern extremity. The southern two-thirds of the lake has a relatively steep shoreline with little peripheral aquatic vegetation, while the northern third is dominated by emergent and floating vegetation and includes five small islands, on one of which there is some evergreen forest. Around 380 ha of marshland lie immediately to the north of the lake. The vegetation surrounding the lake includes cultivated land and fallow fields, mango orchards, and rubber and Eucalyptus plantations. In addition, a small patch of deciduous dipterocarp forest is found to the north-west of the lake. The Mekong River, which forms the international border with Lao P.D.R., lies 15 km to the east of the site. Bung Khong Long Non-hunting Area was designated as a Ramsar Site in 2001.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Over-fishing and destructive fishing practices, illegal hunting (including egg collection), harvesting, logging, water pollution, excessive growth of aquatic plants, sedimentation, and land encroachment from the expanding adjacent communities are all threats to the site and its avifauna.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Bung Khong Long (Thailand). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/bung-khong-long-iba-thailand on 22/11/2024.
