Current view: Text account
Site description (2003 baseline):
Site location and context
The IBA is comprised of the estuary of the Sre Ambel River, and the associated wetland habitats. The vegetation of the IBA comprises an area of intertidal mudflats and mangrove, backed by an extensive area of Melaleuca swamp, which contains numerous small wetlands. Although the IBA has received little recent ornithological study, a range of large waterbirds in small numbers, including Milky Stork Mycteria cinerea, Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala, Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus, Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus and Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus. Perhaps most notably, the IBA supports a small non-breeding population of Sarus Crane Grus antigone. In addition, there are historical records of both Giant and White-shouldered Ibises Pseudibis gigantea and P. davisoni from what is believed to be the general vicinity of the IBA, although there are no recent records. The IBA is included within Dong Peng Multiple Use Area, designated under the 1993 Royal Decree on Protected Areas.
The site holds the Globally threatened species such as Sarus Crane (Grus antigone), Milky Stork (Mycteria cinerea), Painted Stork (Myctetria leucocephala) and Lesser Adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus). During the survey on 29-30 May 2002, 23 Woolly-necked Storks were observed feeding where Prang villagers reported to have Sarus Cranes from 4-10 birds coming every year to feed in cultivated area (UTM: 0357181-1229107) located in the northeast of Prang village about 500m. Sarus Cranes reportedly present in this area from February to early May.
Non-bird biodiversity: Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis).River Terrapin (Batagur baska).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Perhaps the major threat to biodiversity at the IBA is conversion of natural habitat to agriculture. Significant parts of the Melaleuca swamp have already been converted to agriculture, and the wetlands within the swamp appear to be a particular focus for conversion. This is a particular threat to Sarus Crane, which is dependent upon seasonally inundated grasslands. In addition, cutting of Melaleuca, and, to a lesser (nonetheless significant) extent, mangrove, is taking place for pole and charcoal production.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Recommendations Further surveys need to be carried out focusing on identifying important sites for large waterbirds within the remaining areas of lowland coastal forest (mangrove, melaleuca) and wetlands.- Patrolling should be initiated within the Dong Peng Multiple Use Area to control illegal cutting and clearance of mangrove and melaleuca and hunting of large waterbirds.- An assessment should be carried out of the feasibility of including large waterbird conservation in the current initiative (education, awareness and enforcement) to protect Estuarine Terrapins (Batagur baska).
Overlaps with Dong Peng Multiple Use Area
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Sre Ambel (Cambodia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/sre-ambel-iba-cambodia on 23/12/2024.
