Current view: Text account
Site description (2003 baseline):
Site location and context
The IBA comprises one of the largest remnant tracts of contiguous semi-natural grassland within the Tonle Sap inundation zone. . The vegetation of the IBA is characterised by a mosaic of tall and short grass swards, mixed with some patchy, dense scrub, limited deepwater rice fields and small, scattered wetlands. Wet season rice is cultivated along the IBA's northern fringe adjacent to RN6. The seasonally inundated grassland supports the highest densities of breeding Bengal Floricans Houbaropsis bengalensis found in Cambodia to date, and the IBA supports a highly significant population of this species. The small pools are used as feeding areas by a number of large waterbirds dispersing from the Tonle Sap breeding colonies, including Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala and Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus. The IBA also supports a substantial wintering population of Manchurian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus tangorum, as well as small numbers of wintering Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Hunting is currently the most serious threat to Bengal Florican and waterbirds at the IBA.. During the dry season, as floodwaters recede, large numbers of people move into the area to fish, harvest grasses, gather brushwood and wetland plants, and graze domestic livestock in herds that can number several hundred animals. This causes high levels of disturbance in some parts of the IBA. Deepwater rice is cultivated rather patchily in northern parts of the IBA. A potential future threat to biodiversity at the IBA is conversion of grassland areas to deepwater rice cultivation.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Recommendations:- Law enforcement and community awareness activities should be initiated based on the successful model at Stung Sen / Santuk / Baray (IBA #21). These should focus on controlling the hunting and trade of key species, particularly Bengal Floricans and large waterbirds and the potential benefits to local communities. - Further research should be carried out on the relative ecological importance of flooded grassland and deep water rice areas, particularly to the conservation of Bengal Florican.- Any further agricultural development, particularly deep water rice expansion, should not be undertaken without a full environmental impact assessment and a proper understanding, based on the above of the potential effects on the natural ecosystems upon which the Floricans are reliant.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Stung / Chi Kreng / Kampong Svay (Cambodia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/stung--chi-kreng--kampong-svay-iba-cambodia on 22/11/2024.
