Current view: Text account
Site description (2003 baseline):
Site location and context
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.
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.).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
With the exception of Koh Rong, the islands are mainly uninhabited, apart from a small military base on Koh Rong Samlem. Threats to biodiversity at the IBA include human disturbance, especially from fishing activities, and, potentially egg and chick collection by local people. Tourism development, particularly on Koh Pos, is a potential future threat, as it could disturb breeding beaches for Malaysian Plover.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Recommendations- Any tourism infrastructure development in the area should not be undertaken without a full environmental impact assessment and a proper understanding on the potential negative effects on the potentially fragile coastal ecosystem.
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 25/12/2024.
