Central Cardamoms (16664)
Cambodia, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: Central Cardamoms
Central coordinates: Latitude: 11.8833, Longitude: 103.5333
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 350 to 1539
Area of KBA (km2): 3289.29419
Protected area coverage (%): 99.09
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA is located in the Cardamom Mountains, between Phnom Samkos (KH012) and Phnom Aural IBAs (KH014). The IBA comprises all areas of evergreen and semi-evergreen forest in the central Cardamom Mountains above 400 m asl, which is thought to be the lower altitudinal limit of Chestnut-headed Partridge Arborophila cambodiana. The topography of the IBA is mountainous, although maximum elevations are lower than within the adjacent IBAs. The vegetation of the IBA is dominated by lowland evergreen forest, with hill evergreen forest above 1,000 m asl. The IBA supports Chestnut-headed Partridge one of the two restricted-range species found in the Cambodia-Thailand Mountains Endemic Bird Area. Furthermore, the large expanses of relatively intact lowland evergreen forest within the IBA make it a potentially important site for the conservation of Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis. Historically both White-winged Duck Cairina scutulata and White-shouldered Ibis Pseudibis davisoni were recorded along rivers within the IBA in 1944, but their current status is unknown. Most of the IBA is included within the Central Cardamoms Protected Forest.
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: Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis), Pig-tailed Macaque (Macaca nemestrina), Silvered Langur (Semnopithecus cristatus), Bear Macaque (Macaca arctoides), Slow Loris (Nycticebus coucang), Pileated Gibbon (Hylobates pileatus).Siamese Crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis), Impressed Tortoise (Manouria impressaand) and Asiatic Softshell Turtle (Amyda cartilaginea).Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus), Gaur (Bos gaurus), Southern Serow (Naemorhedus sumatraensis).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | forestry | nature conservation and research
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 17 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 17 | |
| Shrubland | 17 | |
| Grassland | 17 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 17 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 17 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The construction of new roads and logging roads is facilitating access to the area for returning refugees and, particularly in the lowland areas, forest is being converted to agriculture. Hunting, often linked with new roads and increasing access is also a problem. Much of it is for local consumption, and linked with the collection of kresna (Aquilaria malaccensis), but hunting for trade, particularly from Thailand is thought to be increasing.
| 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 | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Only in the past and unlikely to return |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Small dams | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Eames, J.C. and Steinheimer, F. (2000) Birds. In Daltry, J.C. and Momberg, F. Cardamom Mountains; Biodiversity survey 2000. Hanoi and Phnom Penh: Fauna & Flora International and Wildlife Protection Office.Engelbach, P. (1952) Notes de voyage dans les Monts des Cardamomes (Cambodge). L'Oiseau et la Revue Francaise d'Ornithologie. 22: 283-302.Swan, S. R. and Long, B. (2002) Birds. In J. C. Daltry ed. Social and ecological surveys of Phnom Aural Wildlife Sanctuary, Cardamom mountains, Cambodia. Phnom Penh: Fauna & Flora International Cambodia Programme.