Key Biodiversity Areas

Northern Santuk (16673)
Cambodia, Asia

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: Northern Santuk
Central coordinates: Latitude: 12.6833, Longitude: 105.1167
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 14 to 40
Area of KBA (km2): 239.52302
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: The IBA is situated in northern Santuk District, to the north-east of Stung Sen/Santuk/Baray IBA (KH021). The vegetation of the IBA chiefly comprises degraded deciduous dipterocarp forest, interspersed with seasonal wetlands and patches of paddy rice cultivation. The IBA is one of the only areas in Cambodia currently known to support non-breeding Bengal Floricans (Houbaropsis bengalensis), which visit the site during the wet season when their breeding areas in the inundation zone of Tonle Sap Lake are flooded. Also during the wet season, the seasonal wetlands at the IBA support a number of other globally threatened and near-threatened bird species, including Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala), Lesser Adjutant ( Leptoptilos javanicus) and Greater Adjutant (Leptoptilos dubius).
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)

Habitats


Land use: agriculture | urban/industrial/transport
IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Wetlands(Inland)25
Forest25
Artificial - Terrestrial25
Shrubland25

Threats


Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: One of the major threats to biodiversity at the IBA is hunting, which is a particular threat to Bengal Florican. While hunting pressure on this species at the IBA may not be as severe as in the breeding areas, the level and impact of hunting are not yet fully understood. Another threat is disturbance caused by local people cultivating wet-season rice in the IBA but this is not thought to be great. Finally, agricultural expansion is a potential future threat to both forest and wetland habitats at the IBA.
Threat level 1Threat level 2Threat level 3Timing
Agriculture & aquacultureAnnual & perennial non-timber cropsSmall-holder farmingOngoing
Biological resource useLogging & wood harvestingUnintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest]Ongoing
Biological resource useHunting & collecting terrestrial animalsIntentional use (species being assessed is the target)Ongoing
Biological resource useFishing & harvesting aquatic resourcesUnintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest]Ongoing

Additional information


References: Document nameGoes, F., Hong Chamnan, Davidson, P. and Poole, C.M. (2001). Bengal Florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis) Conservation in Kompong Thom Province, Cambodia. Phnom Penh: Wildlife Conservation Society Cambodia Program.Goes F. and Hong C. (2002). The status and conservation of large waterbirds on the Tonle Sap Great Lake, Cambodia 2000-2001. Wildlife Conservation Society, Phnom Penh.Sam Veasna (1999) Survey for Sarus Crane and other endangered bird species in Southern Kompong Thom province, Cambodia. Unpublished report to Oriental Bird Club, UK.Seng Kim Hout et al. (2002) Field survey of seasonally inundated wetlands located in the east of Tonle Sap Lake in Kampong Thom and Siem Reap Provinces, Cambodia. Unpublished report, Wildlife Conservation Society, Cambodia.