Data Zone
Country/territory: Cambodia
IBA criteria met: A1, A3, A4i (2003)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 138,137 ha
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2016 | not assessed | very high | medium |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2003 baseline)
The IBA comprises of an area of open deciduous dipterocarp forest in western Siem Pang District, which is bordered to the east by the Sekong River, and to the north and west by Xe Pian Protected Area in Laos. The topography of the IBA is dominated by a flat plain, which rises in the extreme north, close to the international border with Laos, to form a series of low hills. The vegetation of the IBA is dominated by deciduous dipterocarp forest, which is relatively open in places and denser in others, and has a grassy understorey. Scattered throughout the forest are a number of pools and seasonally wet meadows. The western bank of the Sekong River supports a strip of tall gallery forest, while the hills in the north of the IBA support semi-evergreen forest. Along the western bank of the Sekong River, in the area to the west of Siem Pang town, and along the road between Siem Pang town and Road No. 13, areas of forest have been converted into agricultural land, much of which is only cultivated during the rainy season.The IBAsupports the most significant population of the globally critical White-shouldered Ibis Pseudibis davisoni yet known in Cambodia. This species has been observed at a number of wetlands on the flat plain, close to Siem Pang town, and is reported to breed in the west of the district, close to the international border with Laos. The IBA also supports a range of other globally threatened and near-threatened bird species, characteristic of the dry forests of central Indochina, including vultures, Green Peafowl (Pavo muticus), Sarus Crane (Grus antigone), Giant Ibis (Pseudibis gigantea), Lesser Adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus) and Asian Golden Weaver (Ploceus hypoxanthus).
Key biodiversity
Non-bird biodiversity: Mr Kri Vana reported that he saw a Tiger 25 km to the west of Siem Pang town in 1995, while he was in the forest extracting timber. From the description given, it was impossible to determine with certainty whether the report referred to Tiger or Leopard (Panthera pardus). The two local rangers reported that the commonest large mammals in western Siem Pang district were Sambar (Cervus unicolor) and Indian Muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak). Another species reported to be present in western Siem Pang district was Dhole (Cuon alpinus). However, both informants reported that there were no Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) in western Siem Pang district.Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis), Silvered Langur (Semnopithecus cristatus).Banteng (Bos javanicus), Gaur (Bos gaurus), Eld's Deer (Cervus eldii).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Western Siem Pang (Cambodia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/western-siem-pang-iba-cambodia on 22/11/2024.