Phnom Bokor (16682)
Cambodia, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1e
Year of last assessment: 2018
National site name: Phnom Bokor
Central coordinates: Latitude: 10.8500, Longitude: 104.0333
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 9 to 1325
Area of KBA (km2): 1427.71754
Protected area coverage (%): 93.38
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA is located within Bokor National Park in the Elephant Mountains. The national park lies between Road No. 4 and the southern coastline of Cambodia. The topography of the national park is dominated by a large massif, with an extensive plateau at around 1,000 m asl. The IBA comprises all parts of the national park of semi-evergreen and evergreen forest above 400 m asl, which is thought to be the lower altitudinal limit of Chestnut-headed Partridge Arborophila cambodiana, as well as lower elevation areas along the Teuk Chhou River, which supports Lesser Fish Eagle Ichthyophaga humilis. The vegetation of the plateau is dominated by dwarf evergreen forest, with some small, cleared areas of grassland and small, artificial wetlands. The plateau is fringed by steep escarpments, hills and ridges, cloaked in semi-evergreen forest. A large river, the Teuk Chhou drains to the south and reaches the sea at Kampot town. Many smaller streams also occur throughout the area.The IBA supports Chestnut-headed Partridge one of the two restricted-range species found in the Cambodia-Thailand-Mountains Endemic Bird Area. In addition, there is a single historical record of Silver Oriole Oriolus mellianus, from 1927; which remains the only Cambodian record of this globally vulnerable species. However, the possibility exists that the species still occurs as a non-breeding visitor to the IBA.
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. Alliance for Zero Extinction (2018): site confirmed as an AZE site during the AZE project (2015-2018). Taxonomy, nomenclature and Red List category follow the IUCN 2016 Red List.
Additional biodiversity: Non-bird biodiversity: Very important for large animals: Tiger, Elephant, Sun Bear, Leopard, Leopard Cat, Black Bear, Pileated Gibbon (Hylobates pileatus), Marbled Cat, Hog Deer, Pig-tailed Macaque, Long-tailed Macaque, Pangolin and otter spp. Most of which are Red Listed. The largest area in Cabodia for Pinus Merkisii, Cambodia's only Pine species.Pileated Gibbon (Hylobates pileatus), Pig-tailed Macaque (Macaca nemestrina), Slow Loris (Nycticebus coucang) (Net Neath 2001).Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus), Gaur (Bos gaurus), Southern Serow (Naemorhedus sumatraensis) (Net Neath 2001).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 33 | |
| Forest | 33 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 33 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Much of the forest within the IBA has been degraded to some extent by logging, and collection of bamboo and other non-timber forest products. Illegal commercial timber extraction is estimated to have affected 80% of Bokor National Park. As well as habitat degradation, habitat loss is also a serious threat to biodiversity at the IBA, with local people clearing forest for agriculture. Another serious threat is hunting, particularly the widespread use of ground snares. Species such as Chestnut-headed Partridge, Green Peafowl and hornbills have been seen for sale at a wildlife market on Road No. 4. However, enforcement activities aimed at reducing hunting are currently being implemented with some success.
| 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 | Dams (size unknown) | 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 |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Roads & railroads | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Document nameAkers, P. (2000). Bird surveys in Cambodia January-March 2000. Unpublished RSPB sabbatical report. Sandy, UK.Delacour, J. 1929. On the birds collected during the fourth French expedition to French Indochina. Ibis 12 (5): 193-220.Delacour, J. and Jabouille, P. 1928. Twenty-one new birds from Indo-China. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 48: 125-136Delacour, J., and Jabouille, P. 1931. Les Oiseaux de l'Indochine Francaise. Paris: Exposition Coloniale Internationale. (four volumes)Engelbach, P. 1936a. Notes de la région de Kampot (Cambodge). L'Oiseau et la Revue Francaise d'Ornithologie. 6: 347-348.Engelbach, P. 1938. Note sur quelques oiseaux du Cambodge. L'Oiseau et la Revue Francaise d'Ornithologie. 8: 384-394.Engelbach, P. 1948. Liste complémentaire aux oiseaux du Cambodge. L'Oiseau et la Revue Francaise d'Ornithologie. 18: 5-26.Goes, F. and Davidson, P. (eds.) (2002) Recent Sightings. Cambodia Bird News 9: 47-59.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 PenhNet Neath and Tan Setha (eds.) (2001). A wildlife survey of Bokor National Park, Cambodia. Wildlife Conservation Society, Phnom Penh.Poole, C.M. 1999a. Little Known Oriental Bird - Chestnut-headed Partridge Arborophila cambodiana. Bull. OBC 30: 46-50.Tan Setha and Pich Bunnat (2000) Threatened Galliformes of Cambodia. Paper presented at the International Galliformes Symposium, Kathmandu, Nepal, September 2000.Thomas, W.W. 1964. A preliminary list of the birds of Cambodia. Unpubl.BirdLife International (2001) Threatened bird of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book.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.