Boeung Prek Lapouv (16690)
Cambodia, Asia

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2012

National site name: Boeung Prek Lapouv

Central coordinates: Latitude: 10.7167, Longitude: 105.0333

System: freshwater, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 4 to 5

Area of KBA (km²): 96.16382

Protected area coverage (%): 54.11

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The IBA comprises an area of seasonally inundated grassland in the floodplain of the Bassac River, which forms part of one of the largest areas of contiguous natural habitat remaining in the Mekong Delta. To the south and east, this area borders Vietnam, where the natural habitat has been almost entirely converted to agriculture. The IBA is inundated for 3 to 4 months each year, during which time a mat of floating vegetation, comprising around 30 aquatic plant species, forms. During the dry season, from December until May, the IBA supports a non-breeding population of Sarus Crane Grus antigone. After Ang Tropeang Thmor (KH001), this is the largest non-breeding population of this species known in Cambodia. The IBA also supports a number of other globally threatened and near-threatened bird species, most notably Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis. During 2002, the establishment of a Sarus Crane Conservation Area at the IBA was proposed by Department of Forestry and Wildlife.

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: 50 Baya Weavers, 278 Grey Herons and 25 Purple Herons were recorded in November 2001.

Delineation rationale: On 15 October 2007 Prime Minister Hun Sen signed on this Sub Decree declaring Boeung Prek Lapouv Sarus Crane and Various Other Bird Conservation Area with an area of 8,305ha comprising the core area of 919ha and placed it under MAFF authority. Seng Kimhout, 2007

Habitats

Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Wetlands(Inland)	43
Artificial - Aquatic	5
Grassland	43
Artificial - Terrestrial	5
Marine Neritic	5

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: One of the major on-going threats to biodiversity at the IBA, is the use of poison to hunt waterbirds, which is a particular threat to Sarus Crane. Fishing activities, which are widespread within the IBA, are also a source of threats to biodiversity, particularly the practice of pumping water out of wetlands. Perhaps the greatest threat to biodiversity at the IBA is agricultural expansion. Already, large areas of the floodplain of the Bassac River have been converted to irrigated rice agriculture, and there exist plans to further develop irrigation schemes within the IBA, which would directly threaten the feeding areas of Sarus Crane. However, following realisation of the biodiversity and socio-economic values of the natural habitats at the IBA, these plans are currently being revised to mitigate impacts on the IBA.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Annual & perennial non-timber crops	Agro-industry farming	Ongoing

Additional information