Bassac Marsh (16689)
Cambodia, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: Bassac Marsh
Central coordinates: Latitude: 11.2833, Longitude: 105.1500
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 4 to 5
Area of KBA (km2): 521.03308
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA comprises an extensive area of wetlands between the Mekong and Bassac Rivers. The vegetation of the IBA is dominated by seasonally inundated shrub and savanna swamp, which is surrounded by agricultural land. During the wet season, the IBA is inundated, and is characterised by large areas of deep, open water, with substantial areas of emergent, floating and submerged aquatic vegetation. The IBA supports large numbers of commoner waterbirds, as well as small numbers of Darter Anhinga melanogaster, Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis and Asian Golden Weaver Ploceus hypoxanthus. In addition, the IBA regularly supports more than 1% of the Asian biogeographic population of Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybridus).
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard. 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 significant assemblage of waterbird species are 2000 Pond Heron species, 600 Intermediate Egrets, 230 Pheasant-tailed Jacanas and 85 Black-winged Stilts. Many shorebird species also occur in the area such as Black-taile Godwit, Marsh Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Asiatic Golden Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover etc.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 33 | |
| Shrubland | 33 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 33 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The inhabitants Prasat Tuyo fishing village depend on the natural resources of the IBA, and their activities are potentially a source of disturbance to waterbird populations. A more serious threat to biodiversity at the IBA is hunting of waterbirds, particularly the use of poison.
| 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: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Nutrient loads | Ongoing |
| Residential & commercial development | Commercial & industrial areas | Only in the future |
Additional information
References: Akers, P. (2000). Bird surveys in Cambodia January-March 2000. Unpublished RSPB sabbatical report. Sandy, UK.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. and Davidson, P. (eds.) (2002) Recent Sightings. Cambodia Bird News 9: 47-59.Mundkur, 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. Unpublished report.