Boeung Veal Samnap (16688)
Cambodia, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: Boeung Veal Samnap
Central coordinates: Latitude: 11.6167, Longitude: 105.0333
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 4 to 17
Area of KBA (km2): 123.1164
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA comprises Boeung Veal Samnap, a permanent lake located to the east of Phnom Penh. The areas surrounding the lake become inundated when the Mekong River floods during the wet season, and thus support extensive marshes, bordered by rice cultivation. The vegetation of the marshes comprises various grasses and sedges, while other emergent species and rafts of floating vegetation cover extensive areas of the lake, there are also small areas of swamp forest trees. A number of large waterbirds regularly occur at the IBA in the wet season, including small numbers of Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis). In 2000 a colony of Darter (Anhinga melanogaster) was discovered in the IBA.
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)
Additional biodiversity: on 29 September 2002 74 Asian Openbills were recorded.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 33 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 33 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 33 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: There are many villages located close to the IBA, and the activities of local people, in particular fishing, are a source of disturbance to bird populations. Hunting is also a problem. For example, a mixed colony of Darters and flying-foxes Pteropus sp., discovered in 2000, was reported disturbed by local people collecting eggs and hunting in the following year. A further problem is invasion by the alien plant species Mimosa pigra, which is taking over large areas of the marshes, to the detriment of the natural vegetation.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | 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 |
| Biological resource use | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Residential & commercial development | Commercial & industrial areas | Only in the future |
Additional information
References: Document nameDuckworth, J. W. and Hedges, S. 1998. Bird records from Cambodia in 1997, including records of sixteen species new for the country. Forktail 14: 29-36.Edwards, 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. (1999) Les marais de la plaine des quatre bras. Cambodia Bird News 3: 44-51.Goes, F. (ed.) (2000) Recent Sightings. Cambodia Bird News 6: 44-51Goes, F. and Davidson, P. (eds.) (2001) Recent Sightings. Cambodia Bird News 8: 44-51Mundkur, T., Carr, P., Sun Hean and Chhim Somean 1995. Surveys for large waterbirds in Cambodia. March - April 1994. Cambridge, UK: IUCN/SSC..Scott, D. A.. (1992) Survey of Cambodian wetlands, 26 November to 5 December 1992. Unpubl.Seng Kim Hout et al. (September 2002). Short visit to Boeung Veal Samnap. Wildlife Conservation Society, Cambodia. Unpublished.