Sites - Important Bird Areas (IBAs)

Site description The IBA comprises a large area of lowlands in south-western Mondulkiri and eastern Kratie provinces, which forms part of one of the largest remaining relatively undisturbed natural landscapes in mainland South-east Asia. The topography of the IBA is gently undulating, with elevations ranging from c.50 to 350 m asl. The vegetation of the IBA is characterised by a mosaic of semi-evergreen forest and deciduous dipterocarp forest, varying from open savanna to tall, closed canopy forest. Interspersed among these forest formations are pools, permanent streams and seasonally wet meadows, which are a major factor influencing the distribution of wildlife communities. The north-eastern part of the IBA is included within Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary.The IBA supports one of the most intact remaining examples of the bird community of the dry forests of central Indochina, including such species as Giant Ibis Pseudibis gigantea, Green Peafowl Pavo muticus and Sarus Crane Grus antigone. Notably, the relative abundance of large ungulates means that the IBA may have greater potential to support viable populations of White-rumped, Long-billed and Red-headed Vultures Gyps bengalensis, G. indicus and Sarcogyps calvus than most other areas in mainland South-east Asia.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Protected areas

Protected area	Designation	Area (ha)	Relationship with IBA	Overlap with IBA (ha)
Phnom Prich	Wildlife Sanctuary	221,818	protected area overlaps with site	116,600

Habitats

Land use

Other biodiversity Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis), Pig-tailed Macaque (Macaca nemestrina), Slow Loris (Nycticebus coucang), Silvered Langur (Semnopithecus cristatus), Douc Langur (Pygathrix nemaeus), Silvered Langur (Semnopithecus cristatus).Yellow-headed Temple Turtle (Hieremys annandalii), Elongated Tortoise (Indotestudo elongata) Malayan Box Turtle (Cuora ambionensis).Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus), Gaur (Bos gaurus) and Banteng ( B. javanicus).

Management considerations Human settlement within the IBA is largely restricted to Memong town, with little settlement outside of this area. Commercial hunting is a particular threat to populations of large mammals but is less of a threat to bird populations, but for the notable exception of Green Peafowl, which is specifically targeted due to its value in the wildlife trade.. In addition, subsistence hunting of smaller species is currently low. The major potential future threat to biodiversity at the IBA is planned and unplanned human in-migration, and the agricultural expansion and increase in hunting that would accompany it.

Protection status Overlaps with Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary

Conservation response Recommendations;- A mapping of key wetlands, breeding areas and human presence within the Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary and Mondulkiri Protected Forest should be carried out. This will require further surveys and should be used to inform conservation planning.- Relevant recognition of the above in Provincial and National development plans.- Measures to counter hunting and trade of wildlife must be put in place throughout the area. This should start with setting up patrolling systems in the Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary and Mondulkiri Protected Forest.- Core areas should receive strict protection under the existing structures of Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary and the Mondulkiri Protected Forest.- Immigration, illegal settlement and land encroachment into the most important and critical areas across the IBA should be prevented.

Further web sources of information 

Site account from Directory of Important Bird Areas in Cambodia: key sites for conservation (Seng Kim Hout 2003)

References 

Barzen, J. (2001) Waterbirds and Wetlands of Northern Cambodia. Bugle. 27(4): 1-2.

Barzen, J. (2002) Waterbirds and Wetlands of Northern Cambodia. Cambodia Bird News 9:36-38.

Goes, F. and Davidson, P. (eds.) (2002) Recent Sightings. Cambodia Bird News 9: 47-59.

Long, B., Swan, S.R. and Kry Masphal (2000). Biological surveys in northeast Mondulkiri, Cambodia. Hanoi and Phnom Penh: Fauna & Flora International and Wildlife Protection Office.

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.

Tan Seth and Pich Bunnat (2001) The status and distribution of Green Peafowl (Pavo muticus) in southern Mondulkiri Province, Cambodia. Tragopan 16: 20. Newsletter of the WPA/BirdLife/Species Survival Commission/Pheasant Specialist Group.

Tan Setha et al. (2001) The status and distribution of Green Peafowl (Pavo muticus) in Mondulkiri Province, Cambodia. Unpublished report, Wildlife Conservation Society, Cambodia.

Timmins, R.J. and Ou Rattanak (2001) The Importance of Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary and Adjacent Areas for the Conservation of Tigers and Other Key Species. Worldwide Fund for Nature, Phnom Penh.

Walston, J., Davidson, P. and Men Soriyun (2001) A Wildlife Survey of southern Mondulkiri Province, Cambodia. Wildlife Conservation Society, Phnom Penh.

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Mondulkiri / Kratie Lowlands. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013

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