Current view: Text account
Site description (2003 baseline):
Site location and context
The IBA comprises the estuary of the Kampong Smach River, which flows into the Gulf of Thailand to the west of Bokor National Park. At the mouth of the river there are extensive mangroves and intertidal mudflats, while, upriver, there are stands of Melaleuca and Nypa. The mangrove along the western side of the estuary has been significantly reduced by land reclamation and conversion to rice agriculture but that on the eastern side is in a better condition, with stands of mature mangrove. The IBA is an important site for migratory waterbirds, including Asian Dowitcher Limnodromus semipalmatus. In addition, the IBA supports a number of large waterbirds during the non-breeding season, including Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus, Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala, Milky Stork M. cinerea and Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis. Most signficantly, there is a record of 22 Greater Adjutant L. dubius from 1994, although there have been no subsequent records, and the species may not regularly occur in significant numbers.
A large numbers of redshank and greenshank, and smaller numbers of Egret sp. And Pond Heros were found feeding as well as 42 Great Crested Terns roosting on a mudflat.
Seasonally inundated forest is not avaible in habitat classification.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The mangrove along the western side of the estuary has been significantly reduced by land reclamation and conversion to rice agriculture, as part of a major development project involving the construction and restoration of dykes. Although the mangrove along the eastern side of the estuary is in a better condition, some areas in the south-east have been converted to aquaculture. Upriver, much of the Melaleuca and mangrove has been cut for poles and charcoal production.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Recommendations- Ensure all environmental impacts are fully examined and understood before there is any further conversion of mangrove and associated wetlands into agricultural land.- Further surveys need to be carried in the mudflat and mangrove areas focusing on identifying and better understanding important areas and the use of the site by both large waterbirds and migratory shorebirds.
Adjacent to Bokor National Park
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Stung Kampong Smach (Cambodia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/stung-kampong-smach-iba-cambodia on 27/12/2024.
