Phou Loeuy (16627)
Laos, Asia

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2012

National site name: Phou Loeuy

Central coordinates: Latitude: 20.3000, Longitude: 103.2833

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 700 to 1800

Area of KBA (km²): 1698.64336

Protected area coverage (%): 86.28

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The IBA is centred on the Phou Louey massif, the most extensively forested part of Phou Louey Protected Area, in northern Lao P.D.R. The massif supports mixed deciduous and semi-evergreen forest on its lower slopes, lower montane evergreen forest between 1,500 and 1,800 m asl and upper montane evergreen forest above 1,800 m asl. There are also some areas of secondary grassland within the IBA, where the forest has been cleared for cultivation. The IBA supports a rich and distinctive montane avifauna, including the globally threatened Beautiful Nuthatch Sitta formosa. In addition, Rufous-necked Hornbill Aceros nipalensis has been recorded, and, given the relatively large area of mature forest, the IBA may support a significant population of this species. Furthermore, the IBA also contains significant stretches of forested streams, which are important for Blyth's Kingfisher Alcedo hercules (Davidson 1998). Finally, Yellow-vented Warbler Phylloscopus cantator, a restricted-range species, is suspected to breed at the IBA. If this were confirmed, the IBA would qualify for inclusion within the Eastern Himalayas Endemic Bird Area.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas) The site has been reviewed and re-confirmed as a KBA in the process of compiling the revised 2011 CEPF Ecosystem Profile for the Indo-Burma Hotspot.

Additional biodiversity: Breeding is suspected but unconfirmed for Yellow-vented Warbler. This species may also breed at Nam Ha Protected Area, at the other site in Laos. However the species is probably a winter visitor at that site.The area does not support many the IBA key species of birds (Ai and Aii criteron), but supports many Biome-restricted assemblages. It is maybe one of few breeding sites for Yellow-vented Warbler known occur in Laos so far. Non-bird biodiversity: Davidson (1998) recorded four species of primate: Slow Loris Nyticebus coucang, Assamese/Rhesus Macaque Macaca assamensis/mulatta, Bear Macaque M. arctoides, White-cheeked Crested Gibbon Hylobates leucogenys. Villagers reported Francois's Langur Semnopithecus francoisi but not confirmed with further substantiating evidence.There were reliable reports from two local villagers, Ban Nampoung and Ban Sakok that four species of turtles present at the IBA area Big-headed Turtle Platysternon megacephalum, Four-eyed Turtle Sacalia quadriocellata, Impressed Tortoise Manouria impressa and Asiatic Softshell Turtle Amyda cartilaginea. However the sites of collecting animals were not confrimed clearly. (Davidson 1998)Davidson (1998) recorded two species of ungulate: Gaur Bos gaurus and Southern Serow Naemorhedus sumatraensis. Villagers reported another two species of ungualate also present, but not confirmed by with further substantiating evidence: Indochinese Warty Pig Sus bucculentus and Banteng B. javanicus.

Habitats

Land use: nature conservation and research | rangeland/pastureland

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Grassland	33
Artificial - Terrestrial	33
Forest	33

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The major threats to biodiversity at the IBA are clearance of forest and hunting. Forest is cleared for shifting cultivation or burnt to promote new growth for grazing livestock. However, the extent of forest clearance is lower within the IBA than in surrounding areas. Hunting pressure at the IBA is high, and takes place for subsistence, to supply the wildlife trade and to protect crops and domestic livestock from depredation. With the notable exception of hornbills, subsistence hunting is not considered to be a high threat to most species of conservation concern. Hunting for trade, however, is believed to be a severe threat to targeted species, such as turtles (Davidson 1998).

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Intentional use (species being assessed is the target)	Ongoing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Annual & perennial non-timber crops	Small-holder farming	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Persecution/control	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target)	Ongoing

Additional information