Kirirom (16681)
Cambodia, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: Kirirom
Central coordinates: Latitude: 11.3000, Longitude: 103.9500
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 360 to 943
Area of KBA (km2): 181.0895
Protected area coverage (%): 98.74
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA comprises of Kirirom National Park, together with a contiguous area of natural habitat to the west. The topography of the national park is dominated by a low massif, which rises sharply from the surrounding, densely populated lowlands to 900 m asl. The most extensive vegetation type within the national park is natural coniferous forest dominated by Pinus merkusii and with an open, grassy understorey, which is distributed on an undulating plateau, at approximately 700 m asl. The national park also supports semi-evergreen forest, and, at lower elevations, mixed deciduous forest and deciduous dipterocarp forest. There are many small streams within the national park and several artificial lakes but no major rivers. The contiguous area of natural habitat to the west of the national park is within a forest concession, under the management of Samling International. This area comprises extensive semi-evergreen forest with smaller patches of coniferous forest, distributed on a series of steep hills, which rise to over 800 m asl. The area is drained by a number of small streams, which feed two larger rivers. As a result of habitat degradation and unsustainable hunting pressure, the avifauna of the IBA is less intact than that of a number of other sites in the Elephant and Cardamom Mountains. However, the IBA is the only site in Cambodia from where there are records of Brown Hornbill Anorrhinus tickelli. In addition, Lesser Fish Eagle Ichthyophaga humilis occurs along the rivers in the area to the west of the national park, and there are unconfirmed records of Chestnut-headed Partridge Arborophila cambodiana.
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: Eight Woodpecker species and two nuthatch species are found together in the pure pine forest. Wreathed Hornbill occurs in the important flocks outside the breeding season and the first record for the country of the GNT Brown Hornbill. Non-bird biodiversity: Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis), Bear Macaque (Macaca arctoides), Pig-tailed Macaque (Macaca nemestrina), Silvered Langur (Semnopithecus cristatus), Pileated Gibbon (Hylobates pileatus), Slow Loris (Nycticebus coucang).Elongated Tortoise (Indotestudo elongata).Black Pine (Pinus merkusiiAsian Elephant (Elephas maximus), Gaur (Bos gaurus), Southern Serow (Naemorhedus sumatraensis).
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The main habitat degradation in the dry season is fires which are widspread and intensive over all the pine forest. Familial scale logging is the livelihood of the majority of the families living in Tayang commune. Hunting still occurs in the Park.
Land use: agriculture | forestry | nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 25 | |
| Shrubland | 25 | |
| Forest | 25 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 25 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Almost all areas of natural habitat within the IBA have been degraded to some extent by former and on-going human activities. A road was built to the summit of Kirirom during the French colonial period and holiday resorts and a tea plantation were established there. The semi-evergreen forest within the IBA has been severely affected by commercial timber extraction, both legal and illegal. Hunting is another threat to biodiversity at the IBA, and has resulted in the eradication of a number of species, including Green Peafowl Pavo muticus and Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis. Furthermore, the forest around the edges of the IBA is being encroached by illegal settlers, who convert forest to agricultural land.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Small dams | 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 |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Garbage & solid waste | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Document nameGoes, F. (ed.) (2000) Recent Sightings. Cambodia Bird News 4: 34-38Akers, P. (2000). Bird surveys in Cambodia January-March 2000. Unpublished RSPB sabbatical report. Sandy, UK.Goes, F. Tan, S. and Ros, B. (1998) Preliminary bird survey for cluster of three National Parks in southern Cambodia. European Commission Support Program to the Environmental Sector in Cambodia (SPEC). Phnom Penh.Kong Kim Sreng and Tan Setha (2002) A wildlife survey of Kirirom National Park, Cambodia. Wildlife Conservation Society, Phnom Penh.Thomas, W.W. 1964. A preliminary list of the birds of Cambodia. Unpubl.Tan Setha and Pich Bunnat (2001) Recent information on the status and conservation of Galliformes in Cambodia. PP. 39-44 in McGowan, P. (ed.) Galliformes 2000: Proceedings of the 2nd International Galliformes Symposium. World Pheasant Association, Reading, UK.Poole, C. M. (1999) Little known oriental bird: Chestnut-headed Partridge Arborophila cambodiana. Bull. Oriental Bird Club 30: 46-50.