Khammouan Limestone (16650)
Laos, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: Khammouan Limestone
Central coordinates: Latitude: 17.8333, Longitude: 104.7500
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 200 to 900
Area of KBA (km2): 2004.77601
Protected area coverage (%): 89.50
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA is situated inside Khammouan Limestone (Phou Hinboun) National Protected Area, in central Lao P.D.R. The IBA comprises a large, representative section of the national protected area. The north-west and south of the IBA are dominated by sparsely vegetated limestone karst, while the centre comprises an area of semi-evergreen forest and mixed deciduous forest on non-calcareous substrate, referred to as the 'central forest area' (Timmins 1997, Thewlis et al. 1998). The IBA was defined principally for Sooty Babbler Stachyris herberti, a species endemic to limestone areas in central Lao P.D.R. and central Vietnam. The IBA is expected to support a large population of this species. In addition, the IBA supports a form of leaf warbler Phylloscopus sp., which may represent an undescribed taxon, with a similar range to Sooty Babbler (P. Alström in litt. to Duckworth et al. 1998). Furthermore, the IBA supports populations of a number of globally threatened primates, most notably a taxon of Francois's Langur Semnopithecus francoisi endemic to Lao P.D.R. (Duckworth et al. 1999).
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: The IBA is an important area for Sooty Babbler S. herberti. This species is endemic to Karst Limestone in central Laos and in central Annam (Vietnam). In Laos, apart from this IBA the species are only found commonly in Hin Namno Protected Area (in two IBAs selected in that PA) and uncommonly found in the Upper Xe Bangfai IBA. Non-bird biodiversity: There were three records of other important fauna, one confirmed record and two unconfirmed: either Sun Bear U. malayanus or Asiatic Black Bear U. thibetanus (confirmed), either Fishing Cat P. viverrinus or Asian Golden Cat C. temminckii (unconfirmed) and Tiger P. tigris (unconfirmed) (Steinmetz 1998).Timmins (1997) and Steinmetz (1998) recorded three species of primate in the IBA: Assamese Macaque Macaca assamensis, Francois's Langur Semnopithecus francoisi and a gibbon species Hylobates sp.Steinmetz (1998) recorded Asian Elephant Elephas maximus and provisional recorded Southern Serow Naemorhedus sumatraensis in the central forest area, in the south-east of the IBA. In addition, Steinmetz (1998) received unconfirmed reports of Asian Elephant, Gaur Bos gaurus and Southern Serow from this area.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 50 | |
| Forest | 50 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The major threats to biodiversity at the IBA are hunting, and habitat degradation, through firewood collection, burning and grazing of domestic livestock (Timmins 1997). However, neither Sooty Babbler nor the undescribed form of leaf warbler is threatened by hunting, and given the low likelihood of wholesale loss of limestone karst habitat, neither is particularly threatened by habitat loss. Therefore, while Central Khammouan Limestone qualifies as an IBA, intensive management is probably not necessary to protect the populations of key bird species. Rather, conservation priorities within Khammouane Limestone Protected Area should be set based on taxa more threatened by human activities, such as certain large mammal species.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Persecution/control | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Document nameTimmins, R. J. (1997) Notes on wildlife and habitats in Khammouan Limestone National Conversation Area, Khammouan province, Lao PDR. Vientiane: CPAWM/WCS.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.Duckworth, J. W., Salter, R. E. and Khounboline, K. eds. (1999) Wildlife in Lao P.D.R.: 1999 status report. Vientiane: IUCN, WCS and CPAWM.Duckworth, J. W., Tizard, R. J., Timmins, R. J., Thewlis, R. M., Robichaud, W. G. and Evans, T. D. (1998) Bird records from Laos, October 1994-August 1995. Forktail 13: 33-68 (including errata sheet distributed with Forktail 14)..