Lomphat (16675)
Cambodia, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: B2
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: Lomphat
Central coordinates: Latitude: 13.3833, Longitude: 106.6333
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 90 to 160
Area of KBA (km2): 2861.66139
Protected area coverage (%): 59.93
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This IBA comprises a contiguous area of open deciduous dipterocarp forest extending from the western parts of Lomphat Wildlife Sanctuary, to the north and west, as far as the confluence of the Sesan and Srepok Rivers. The Srepok River and its associated riverine vegetation is integral to the IBA, and both banks of the river are included within the IBA. The section of the Srepok included in the IBA is c.200 m wide, with a rocky substrate with associated shrubs. The vegetation of the IBA is dominated by , although mixed deciduous forest and, less commonly, semi-evergreen forest, also occur. Seasonal streams, often flanked by gallery forest, are found throughout the IBA, and there are numerous pools, mostly seasonal. These pools are typically less than 100 m in diameter but are often associated with large seasonal meadows, which can be several hundred metres in length. The IBA supports one of the most intact remaining examples of the bird community of the dry forests of central Indochina. The seasonal meadows are important nesting areas for Sarus Crane Grus antigone, while the pools are important for a number of large waterbirds, including Giant Ibis Pseudibis gigantea and Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus. Also, the IBA includes Trapeang Rokar, an area of wetlands between the Srepok and Sesan Rivers, where White-shouldered Ibis Pseudibis davisoni was observed in 1998. The Srepok River supports a number of riverine species, including Masked Finfoot Heliopais personata and the recently described Mekong Wagtail Motacilla samveasnae. The relative abundance of large ungulates means that the IBA has greater potential to support viable populations of White-rumped, Long-billed and Red-headed Vultures Gyps bengalensis, G. indicus and Sarcogyps calvus than most other areas in mainland South-east Asia.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. 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: Other regionally significant bird species recorded: Woolly-necked Stork (at least 22 birds, May 1998 (Timmins and Men Soriyun in prep.), Green Imperial Pigeon, Oriange-breasted Green Pigeon, Alexandrine Parakeet, Streak-throated Woodpecker, Great Slaty Woodpecker, Golden crested Myna. Non-bird biodiversity: Timmins and Men Soriyun (in pre.) recorded prints probably from Gaur (Bos saurus) (Vulnerable) in 1998. Neth Neath et al. (2001) A Tiger Survey of Lomphat Wildlife Sanctuary: Asiatic Jackal, Dhole, Asiatic Black Bear, Sun Bear, Jungle Cat, Leopard Cat, Fishing Cat, Asian Golden Cat, Leopard, Tiger.They alsso recorded the following red listed Chelonians, Yellow-headed Temple Turtle (Hieremus annandalii) (Vulnerable) and Elongated Tortoise (Indotestudo elogata) (Vulnerable).Pig-tailed Macaque (Macaca nemestrina) (Kong Kim Sreng pers. comm.), Pygmy Loris (Nycticebus pygmaeus), Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis), Bear Macaque (Macaca arctoides), Douc Langur (Pygathrix nemaeus), Pig-tailed Macaque (Macaca nemestrina), Silvered Langur (Semnopithecus cristatus).Asiatic Softshell Turtle (Amyda cartilaginea), [Asian Giant Softshell (Pelochelys cantorii)], Elongated Tortoise (Indotestudo elongata), Yellow-headed Temple Turtle (Hieremys annandalii), Giant Asian Pond Turtle (Heosemys grandis), Siamese Crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis).Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus), Eld's Deer (Cervus eldii), Gaur (Bos gaurus), Banteng (Bos javanicus).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | forestry | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 33 | |
| Shrubland | 33 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 33 |
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 populations of large mammal species and large-bodied birds, such as Sarus Crane and Green Peafowl. In surrounding areas, outside of the IBA, habitat degradation and loss, due to commercial logging and conversion of seasonal meadows to agriculture, is an ongoing concern. While these activities are currenly very limited within the IBA, the potential for them to increase exists. Along the Srepok River, cutting of trees and clearance of forest for agriculture is leading to degradation and loss of riverine forest, while destructive fishing methods, particularly the use of poisons and explosives is also of concern. However, the major threats to riverine birds are probably hunting, egg collection and disturbance due to human activities on sandbanks. A potential future threat is the development of major hydropower schemes on the Srepok River.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Agro-industry farming | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Motivation Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | Only in the future | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Roads & railroads | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Document nameBarzen, J. (2001) Waterbirds and Wetlands of Northern Cambodia. Bugle. 27(4): 1-2.Barzen, J. (2002) Waterbirds and Wetlands of Northern Cambodia. Cambodia Bird News 9:36-38.Davidson, P., Poole, C.M. and J.W. Duckworth 2001. Mekong Wagtail (Motacilla samvaesnae): the great river's only known avian endemic. Bull. Oriental Bird Club 34: 56-59.Duckworth, J.W., Alström, P., Davidson, P., Evans, T.D., Poole, C.P., Tan Setha and Timmins, R.J. 2001. A new species of wagtail from the lower Mekong basin. Bull. British Ornithologists' Club 121(3): 152-182.Goes, F. (ed.) (1999) Recent Sightings. Cambodia Bird News 1: 20-23Goes, F. 1999. Notes on selected bird species in Cambodia. Forktail 15: 25-27.Net Neath et al. (2001). A Tiger survey of Lomphat Wildlife Sanctuary, Cambodia. Department of Nature Conservation and Protection, Ministry of Environment. Phnom Penh.Poole, C. M. Duckworth, J. W. and van Zalinge, N. J. (in prep.) Bird Observations from the Mekong and major tributaries in North-east Cambodia, 1998-2000.Tan Setha (2002) Mekong Wagtail: A species new to science discovered in northeast Cambodia. Cambodia Bird News: 9: 14-17.Timmins, R. J. and Men Soriyun 1998. A wildlife survey of the Tonle San and Tonle Srepok river basins in north-eastern Cambodia. Hanoi and Phnom Penh: Fauna & Flora International and Wildlife Protection Office.van Zalinge, N. J., Poole, C. M., Duckworth, J. W. and Goes, F., (2002). Water bird counts on the Mekong, Sekong, Sesan and Srepok Rivers. Cambodia Bird News 9: 18-29.Desai, A. and Lic Vuthy (1996). Status and distribution of large mammals in eastern Cambodia: results of the first food surveys in Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri provinces. IUCN/FFI/WWF Large Mammal.