O Skach (16657)
Cambodia, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: O Skach
Central coordinates: Latitude: 13.9667, Longitude: 105.1333
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 46 to 154
Area of KBA (km2): 785.64448
Protected area coverage (%): 85.88
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA is situated in the upper catchment of the Stung Sen River, and comprises a large patch of evergreen and semi-evergreen forest, within a landscape dominated by open deciduous dipterocarp forest. The IBA contains a high density of freshwater wetlands, including rivers, streams, lakes and pools. The IBA is located within a forest concession managed by the Chendar Plywood Company, and is contiguous with the newly decreed Protected Forest for Conservation of Genetic Diversity, Vegetation and Wildlife Resources in Chhep and Chom Khsan districts. The IBA is important for the conservation of a range of forest bird species, including Green Peafowl Pavo muticus, Siamese Fireback Lophura diardi and Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis. Most notably, the IBA supports a breeding population of White-winged Duck Cairina scutulata, the most significant known in Cambodia.
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: Non-bird biodiversity: Slow Loris (Nycticebus coucang), Pig-tailed Macaque (Macaca nemestrina), Long-tailed Macaque( M. fascicularis), Silvered Langur (Semnopithecus cristatus) and Pileated Gibbon (Hylobates pileatus) (Mr. Song Chansocheat, Ministry of Environment, pers. comm.).Asiatic Softshell Turtle (Amyda cartilaginea)Asian Elephant (Elepas maximus), Banteng (Bos javanicus), Gaur (Bos gaurus) (Prum Sovanna, Wildlife Protection Office, pers. comm.).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | forestry | military
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 33 | |
| Forest | 33 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 33 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: One of the major threats to biodiversity at the IBA is habitat loss, from both legal and illegal logging, particularly as this activity reduces the number of large trees suitable for hole-nesting species, such as White-winged Duck. In addition, hunting is rife throughout the area, and a particular problem is hunting with dogs, which is a severe threat to flightless, molting White-winged Ducks during in the wet season. A further, although less severe, threat is disturbance caused by resin collectors, who travel and camp along rivers and streams.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Goes, F. and Davidson, P. (eds.) (2002) Recent Sightings. Cambodia Bird News 9: 47-59.Tan Setha and Song Chansocheat (2002) White-winged Duck Survey in Chendar Plywood Forest Concession. Unpublished report, Wildlife Conservation Society, Cambodia.