Sites - Important Bird Areas (IBAs)

Ornithological information 3649 waders of 17 species recorded in January 1996.

Site description The IBA is situated to the south of Koh Kong provincial town, and comprises all areas of mangrove forest on Koh Kapik island and associated coastal areas on the mainland. The IBA supports the most intact mature mangrove forest in Cambodia and, arguably, in the whole of the Gulf of Thailand. The mangroves around Koh Kapik island are bisected by many creeks. Along the western coastline of the island, there are well developed mudflats, while the northern coastline is more sandy. There is a single village (Koh Kapik) on the island, where the main industry is fishing. Much of the IBA is included within Peam Krasop Wildlife Sanctuary, and the southern parts, centred on the island, have been designated as Koh Kapik Ramsar site. The IBA is an important site for migratory waterbirds, including Nordmann's Greenshank Tringa guttifer and Asian Dowitcher Limnodromus semipalmatus. In addition, there are historical records of Milky Stork Mycteria cinerea and Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus from 1944, although there have been no recent records, and the current status of these globally vulnerable species at the IBA is unknown.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Protected areas

Protected area	Designation	Area (ha)	Relationship with IBA	Overlap with IBA (ha)
Koh Kapik and Associated Islets	Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar)	12,000	protected area contained by site	12,000
Peam Krasop	Wildlife Sanctuary	24,591	protected area overlaps with site	19,200

Habitats

Land use

Other biodiversity Long tailed Macaque (Mamaca fascicularis) occurs in the mangrove. The best, most mature mangrove forest in Cambodia and arguably in the whole of Indochina and the gulf of Thailand.Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis)

Management considerations There has been extensive cutting of the mature mangrove forest at the IBA, particularly for charcoal production. Establishment and expansion of aquacultural ponds has also contributed significantly to loss of mangrove forest. In addition, there is some hunting of shorebirds at the IBA, primarily by the local Cham (ethnic muslim) communities.

Protection status Overlaps with Peam Krasop Wildlife Sanctuary

Conservation response Recommendations- Increase patrolling along within the Peam Krasop Wildlife Sanctuary and Koh Kapik Ramsar Site to control illegal cutting and clearance of mangrove and hunting of shorebirds.- Continue to eliminate illegal charcoal kilns in and around the area.- Carry out education and extension work on wildlife hunting and the law focusing on the ethnic Cham communities. - Further surveys need to be carried out throughout the mudflat and mangrove area focusing on identifying and better understanding important sites for migratory and wintering shorebirds.

Further web sources of information 

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

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.Engelbach, P. 1952. Notes de voyage dans les Monts des Cardamomes (Cambodge). L'Oiseau et la Revue Francaise d'Ornithologie. 22: 283-302.Mundkur, T., Carr, P., Sun Hean and Chhim Somean (1995) Surveys for large waterbirds in Cambodia. March - April 1994. Cambridge, UK: IUCN/SSC.