Preah Net Preah / Kra Lanh / Pourk (16653)
Cambodia, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: Preah Net Preah / Kra Lanh / Pourk
Central coordinates: Latitude: 13.4333, Longitude: 103.4333
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 4 to 12
Area of KBA (km2): 705.20806
Protected area coverage (%): 9.60
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA is located in the north-western part of the Tonle Sap floodplain, and comprises a substantial area of seasonally inundated grassland and scrub. This includes, in the south-east of the IBA, an area reportedly dominated by Wild Rice Oryza rufipogon, in mosaic with tall scrub and flooded forest, similar to that found at Veal Srongae IBA (KH020). In recent years, these habitats have been increasingly converted to deepwater and recession rice, reducing and fragmenting the key habitats at the IBA. The IBA is an important dry season breeding area for Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis, which occurs in areas of seasonally inundated grassland throughout. In addition, several other globally threatened and near-threatened species have been seasonally recorded at the IBA in small numbers, including Sarus Crane Grus antigone, Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus and Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis.
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: Woolly-necked Stork and Comb Duck were also reported.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | nature conservation and research | not utilised
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 33 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 33 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 33 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Hunting of water birds and Bengal Florican, chiefly by poisoning and trapping, is an ongoing threat; much of this is for sale in local markets. In the wet season, local people also apparently catch large waterbirds by using fish-hooks. A more recent threat which is of major concern is the extensive conversion of grasslands to deepwater rice in southeastern Banteay Meanchey and western Siem Reap Provinces. This is rapidly reducing available breeding habitat for Bengal Florican. Associated disturbance from agricultural activities (e.g. ploughing) and grazing of large herds of domestic livestock probably further reduces Bengal Florican breeding success. Children use catapults to scare or kill birds when they are in the fields with their cattle.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Agro-industry farming | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Pech Bunnat et al. (2002). Field survey of eastern Tonle Sap in Siem Reap and Banteay Meanchey Provinces. Unpublished report, Wildlife Conservation Society, Cambodia.