Data Zone
Country/territory: Cambodia
IBA criteria met: A4i (2003)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 10,561 hectares (105.61 km2)
Site description (2003 baseline)
The IBA comprises the Koh Rong archipelago a group of islands situated in the mouth of Kampong Saom bay, 20 km west of Sihanoukville. The largest islands are Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samlem, while smaller islands include Koh Ta and Koh Pos. The islands are characterized by sandy beaches, rocky shores, coral reefs (which are often degraded), and small areas of mangrove and seagrass. The vegetation of the islands is dominated by evergreen forest, although this is degraded by logging in many places. The sandy beaches, which fringe the islands, are important breeding sites for Malaysian Plover Charadrius peronii.
Key biodiversity
8 Lesser Frigatebirds, 1 Bridled Tern and 1 Peregrine Falcon were recorded on 23 February 1999.
Non-bird biodiversity: Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) (Phay Somany, Department of Fisheries, pers. comm.).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Koh Rong Archipelago (Cambodia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/koh-rong-archipelago-iba-cambodia on 24/12/2024.