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Site description (2003 baseline):
Site location and context
This IBA comprises a contiguous area of open deciduous dipterocarp forest extending from the western parts of Lomphat Wildlife Sanctuary, to the north and west, as far as the confluence of the Sesan and Srepok Rivers. The Srepok River and its associated riverine vegetation is integral to the IBA, and both banks of the river are included within the IBA. The section of the Srepok included in the IBA is c.200 m wide, with a rocky substrate with associated shrubs. The vegetation of the IBA is dominated by , although mixed deciduous forest and, less commonly, semi-evergreen forest, also occur. Seasonal streams, often flanked by gallery forest, are found throughout the IBA, and there are numerous pools, mostly seasonal. These pools are typically less than 100 m in diameter but are often associated with large seasonal meadows, which can be several hundred metres in length. The IBA supports one of the most intact remaining examples of the bird community of the dry forests of central Indochina. The seasonal meadows are important nesting areas for Sarus Crane Grus antigone, while the pools are important for a number of large waterbirds, including Giant Ibis Pseudibis gigantea and Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus. Also, the IBA includes Trapeang Rokar, an area of wetlands between the Srepok and Sesan Rivers, where White-shouldered Ibis Pseudibis davisoni was observed in 1998. The Srepok River supports a number of riverine species, including Masked Finfoot Heliopais personata and the recently described Mekong Wagtail Motacilla samveasnae. The relative abundance of large ungulates means that the IBA has greater potential to support viable populations of White-rumped, Long-billed and Red-headed Vultures Gyps bengalensis, G. indicus and Sarcogyps calvus than most other areas in mainland South-east Asia.
Other regionally significant bird species recorded: Woolly-necked Stork (at least 22 birds, May 1998 (Timmins and Men Soriyun in prep.), Green Imperial Pigeon, Oriange-breasted Green Pigeon, Alexandrine Parakeet, Streak-throated Woodpecker, Great Slaty Woodpecker, Golden crested Myna.
Non-bird biodiversity: Timmins and Men Soriyun (in pre.) recorded prints probably from Gaur (Bos saurus) (Vulnerable) in 1998. Neth Neath et al. (2001) A Tiger Survey of Lomphat Wildlife Sanctuary: Asiatic Jackal, Dhole, Asiatic Black Bear, Sun Bear, Jungle Cat, Leopard Cat, Fishing Cat, Asian Golden Cat, Leopard, Tiger.They alsso recorded the following red listed Chelonians, Yellow-headed Temple Turtle (Hieremus annandalii) (Vulnerable) and Elongated Tortoise (Indotestudo elogata) (Vulnerable).Pig-tailed Macaque (Macaca nemestrina) (Kong Kim Sreng pers. comm.), Pygmy Loris (Nycticebus pygmaeus), Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis), Bear Macaque (Macaca arctoides), Douc Langur (Pygathrix nemaeus), Pig-tailed Macaque (Macaca nemestrina), Silvered Langur (Semnopithecus cristatus).Asiatic Softshell Turtle (Amyda cartilaginea), [Asian Giant Softshell (Pelochelys cantorii)], Elongated Tortoise (Indotestudo elongata), Yellow-headed Temple Turtle (Hieremys annandalii), Giant Asian Pond Turtle (Heosemys grandis), Siamese Crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis).Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus), Eld's Deer (Cervus eldii), Gaur (Bos gaurus), Banteng (Bos javanicus).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
One of the major threats to biodiversity at the IBA is hunting, which is a particular threat to populations of large mammal species and large-bodied birds, such as Sarus Crane and Green Peafowl. In surrounding areas, outside of the IBA, habitat degradation and loss, due to commercial logging and conversion of seasonal meadows to agriculture, is an ongoing concern. While these activities are currenly very limited within the IBA, the potential for them to increase exists. Along the Srepok River, cutting of trees and clearance of forest for agriculture is leading to degradation and loss of riverine forest, while destructive fishing methods, particularly the use of poisons and explosives is also of concern. However, the major threats to riverine birds are probably hunting, egg collection and disturbance due to human activities on sandbanks. A potential future threat is the development of major hydropower schemes on the Srepok River.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Recommendations:- Measures to counter hunting and trade of wildlife must be put in place throughout the area. This should start with setting up patrolling systems in the Lomphat Wildlife Sanctuary and Mondolkiri Protected Forest.- Conservation of this important stretch of the Srepok River should be an integral part of management of the existing conservation areas. However, this must be viewed at the scale of the complete length of the river system (in conjunction with IBA #25), as focusing on just a small stretch in isolation could have disastrous consequences. - Efforts must be made to protect sandbar-nesting bird species while they are breeding. Community agreements could be set up with individual villages so that the nest areas will not be disturbed.- Immigration, illegal settlement and land encroachment into the most important and critical areas across the IBA should be prevented.- New villages and agricultural development along the Srepok River should be discouraged and key stretches of riverine forest identified should be strictly protected from logging and shifting cultivation.- A mapping of key wetlands, key species breeding areas and human presence within the IBA should be carried out. This will require further surveys, particularly in areas south of the Srepok, which remain ornithologically little known and should be used to form conservation planning.- Relevant recognition of the above in Provincial and National development plans.- Further surveys and research along the Srepok River needs to be carried out. This should focus on identifying important stretches of riverine forest, smaller backwater rivers and streams, and better determining the numbers and breeding success of sandbar-nesting species.
Overlaps with Lomphat Wildlife Sanctuary
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lomphat (Cambodia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lomphat-iba-cambodia on 23/12/2024.
