Upper Srepok Catchment (16676)
Cambodia, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: Upper Srepok Catchment
Central coordinates: Latitude: 12.9667, Longitude: 107.2667
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 92 to 651
Area of KBA (km2): 4790.20925
Protected area coverage (%): 95.67
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA is primarily comprised of the catchment of the Srepok River upstream of Lomphat town, excluding a few peripheral areas that are heavily degraded. The topography of the IBA is relatively flat, although there are a number of low hills, most notably those around Phnom Yang Ke. The vegetation of the IBA is characterised by a habitat mosaic dominated by deciduous dipterocarp forest, with smaller areas of semi-evergreen forest and mixed deciduous forest. In addition, the IBA contains numerous wetlands. In addition to the Srepok River, its permanent tributaries and associated oxbow lakes, there are numerous seasonal streams, some of which retain pools of water during the dry season. There are also numerous pools and seasonally wet meadows, which vary in size from a few metres to a few hundreds of metres in width. The north-western part of the IBA is included within Lomphat Wildlife Sanctuary, while the southern part is included within a recently decreed Forest Reserve for Conservation of Genetic and Wildlife Resources. The IBA supports one of the most intact remaining examples of the bird community of the dry forests of central Indochina. 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. In addition, the Srepok River is one of the few sites in Cambodia known to support Masked Finfoot Heliopais personata. Furthermore, there is a single record of White-winged Duck Cairina scutulata from the IBA, and the presence of significant areas of suitable habitat indicate that the IBA may support a significant population of this species. There is also a single record of White-shouldered Ibis Pseudibis davisoni but the precise status of this species at the IBA is not known. Finally, there is a single record of Pale-capped Pigeon Columba punicea from along the Dak Dam stream, which forms the international border with Vietnam, although it is unclear exactly which stretch this record is from, and it may even be from within Snoul/Keo Sema/O Reang IBA (KH027). As with White-shouldered Ibis, the precise status of this species at the IBA is not known.
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: Other regionally significant species present: Grey Heron, Brahminy Kite, River Lapwing, Red-wattled Lapwing, Small Pratincole, Great Thick Knee, River Tern, Pied Kingfisher, Baya Weaver. Non-bird biodiversity: Some other regionally significant mammal species also occur in the IBA like Dhole (Cuon alpinus), Fishing CatLong-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis), Pig-tailed Macaque (Macaca nemestrina), Silvered Langur (Semnopithecus cristatus), Douc Langur (Pygathrix nemaeus).Asiatic Softshell Turtle (Amyda cartilaginea), [Asian Giant Softshell Turtle (Pelochelys cantorii)], Yellow-headed Temple Turtle (Hieremys annandalii), Giant Asian Pond Turtle (Heosemys grandis), Elongated Tortoise (Indotestudo elongata), Malayan Box Turtle (Cuora ambionensis), Siamese Crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis).Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus), Eld's Deer (Cervus eldii), Gaur (Bos gaurus), Banteng (Bos javanicus) and Wild Water Buffalo (Bubalus arnee).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 33 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 33 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 33 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The major on-going threat to biodiversity at the IBA is hunting, which is a particular threat to populations of hornbills, parakeets, green pigeons and Green Peafowl Pavo muticus. Hunting is also an indirect threat to vulture populations, as it threatens the populations of large ungulates, which represent their main source of food. Along the Srepok River, cutting of trees and clearance of land for agriculture occurs along the banks, and destructive fishing methods, particularly the use of poison and explosives, is also of concern. These represent threats to Masked Finfoot and other riverine bird species.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Dams (size unknown) | Only in the future |
| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Document nameBarzen, J. (2002) Waterbirds and Wetlands of Northern Cambodia. Cambodia Bird News 9:36-38.Barzen, J. (2002) Waterbirds and Wetlands of Northern Cambodia. Bugle.Brickle, N. W., Nguyen Cu, Ha Quy Quynh, Nguyen Thai Tu Cuong and Hoang Van San 1998. The Status and Distribution of Green Peafowl Pavo muticus in Dak Lak Province, Vietnam. Hanoi: BirdLife International - Vietnam Programme.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. 1999. Notes on selected bird species in Cambodia. Forktail 15: 25-27.Long, B., Swan, S.R. and Kry Masphal (2000). Biological surveys in northeast Mondulkiri, Cambodia. Hanoi and Phnom Penh: Fauna & Flora International and Wildlife Protection Office.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 (Motacilla samveasnae) Emblem of the riverine birds of 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.Timmins, R.J. and Ou Rattanak (2001) The Importance of Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary and Adjacent Areas for the Conservation of Tigers and Other Key Species. Worldwide Fund for Nature, Phnom Penh.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.