Phou Xiang Thong (16638)
Laos, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: Phou Xiang Thong
Central coordinates: Latitude: 15.5167, Longitude: 105.6333
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 40 to 500
Area of KBA (km2): 995.20066
Protected area coverage (%): 93.00
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA is located inside Phou Xiang Thong National Protected Area, in southern Lao P.D.R. The topography of the IBA slopes from east to west, as the landscape changes from low hills to lowlands along the eastern bank of the Mekong River. The vegetation of the IBA is characterised by a complex mosaic of semi-evergreen forest interspersed with patches of mixed deciduous forest, dry dipterocarp forest and open rocky savanna. The IBA is drained by a number of seasonal streams, which flow into the Mekong River (Evans et al. 2000). Phou Xiang Thong is considered to be one of the few protected areas in Lao P.D.R. with potential support a viable population of Green Peafowl Pavo muticus (Evans and Timmins 1997); the main concentrations of this species within the national protected area are included within the IBA. The semi-evergreen forest at the IBA supports a moderately high density of Siamese Fireback Lophura diardi, although densities of two other key species, Red-collared Woodpecker Picus rabieri and Grey-faced Tit Babbler Macronous kelleyi, are much lower (Evans et al. 2000).
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: Coverage was brief, yet fairly representative in view of the limited array of altitudinal zones and habitat types. A number of additional Key species can be expected to occur, given further fieldwork. Some species might be overlooked and the remoter, steeper areas of semi-evergreen rain forest above 500m were not covered. Thus, they require further survey work. (Evans et al. 1996) Non-bird biodiversity: Evans et al. (1996) recorded the Bear species Ursus sp.Evans et al. (1996) recorded three species of primates: Slow Loris Nycticebus pygmaeus???, Pig-tailed Macaque Macaca nemestrina and gibbon species Hylobates sp. It is also believed that Douc Langur Pygathrix nemaeus still occurred in the area, but the effort of survey could not find any. A further survey is required to confirm the status of this species.A number of unconfirmed reports of Siamese Crocodile Crocodylus siamensis have originated from Phou Xiang Thong. Confirmation of these reports was actively sought by Evans et al. (1996) but the results were negative.Evans et al. (1996) recorded one species of ungulate: Southern Serow Naemorhedus sumatraensis.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | forestry | nature conservation and research
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 67 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 33 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The major threat to biodiversity at the IBA is hunting, which is exacerbated by the presence of several permanent villages within the IBA, and the existence of a number of roads through it. Hunting is a particular threat to key wildlife species, including Green Peafowl. An additional threat to biodiversity is small-scale, illegal timber extraction. Clearance of forest for agriculture has taken place within the IBA, although its impacts have been limited.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Ongoing |
| Transportation & service corridors | Roads & railroads | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Evans, T. D., Stones, A. J. and Thewlis, R.C.M. (1996) A wildlife and habitat survey of the Phou Xiang Thong National Biodiversity Conservation Area. Pakse: IUCN.Evans, T. D. and Timmins, R. (1997) Green Peafowl in Laos. Tragopan 6: 9-10.Evans, T. D., Towll, H. C., Timmins, R. J., Thewlis, R. M., Stones, A. J., Robichaud, W. G. and Barzen, J. (2000) Ornithological records from the lowlands of southern Laos during December 1995-September 1996, including areas on the Thai and Cambodian borders. Forktail 16: 29-52.Thewlis, R. M., Timmins, R. J., Evans, T. D. and Duckworth, J. W. (1998) The conservation status of birds in Laos: a review of key species. Bird Conserv. Internat. 8(suppl.): 1-159.