Stung Kampong Smach (16683)
Cambodia, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: Stung Kampong Smach
Central coordinates: Latitude: 10.6167, Longitude: 103.8500
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 153
Area of KBA (km2): 105.08164
Protected area coverage (%): 8.62
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA comprises the estuary of the Kampong Smach River, which flows into the Gulf of Thailand to the west of Bokor National Park. At the mouth of the river there are extensive mangroves and intertidal mudflats, while, upriver, there are stands of Melaleuca and Nypa. The mangrove along the western side of the estuary has been significantly reduced by land reclamation and conversion to rice agriculture but that on the eastern side is in a better condition, with stands of mature mangrove. The IBA is an important site for migratory waterbirds, including Asian Dowitcher Limnodromus semipalmatus. In addition, the IBA supports a number of large waterbirds during the non-breeding season, including Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus, Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala, Milky Stork M. cinerea and Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis. Most signficantly, there is a record of 22 Greater Adjutant L. dubius from 1994, although there have been no subsequent records, and the species may not regularly occur in significant numbers.
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: A large numbers of redshank and greenshank, and smaller numbers of Egret sp. And Pond Heros were found feeding as well as 42 Great Crested Terns roosting on a mudflat.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Seasonally inundated forest is not avaible in habitat classification.
Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 20 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 40 | |
| Forest | 20 | |
| Artificial - Aquatic | 20 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The mangrove along the western side of the estuary has been significantly reduced by land reclamation and conversion to rice agriculture, as part of a major development project involving the construction and restoration of dykes. Although the mangrove along the eastern side of the estuary is in a better condition, some areas in the south-east have been converted to aquaculture. Upriver, much of the Melaleuca and mangrove has been cut for poles and charcoal production.
Additional information
References: Document nameEdwards, P.J. (1996) Cambodia wetlands ornithological survey. Xenus Ecology. Newmarket, UK.Edwards, P.J. (1996) Recent waterbird surveys in Cambodia. Forktail 15: 29-42.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.Mundkur, T., Carr, P., Sun Hean and Chhim Somean (1995) Surveys for large waterbirds in Cambodia. March - April 1994. Cambridge, UK: IUCN/SSC.