Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS)– 2009-2012 version Available for download from http://www.ramsar.org/ris/key_ris_index.htm. Categories approved by Recommendation 4.7 (1990), as amended by Resolution VIII.13 of the 8th Conference of the Contracting Parties (2002) and Resolutions IX.1 Annex B, IX.6, IX.21 and IX. 22 of the 9th Conference of the Contracting Parties (2005). Notes for compilers: 1. The RIS should be completed in accordance with the attached Explanatory Notes and Guidelines for completing the Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands. Compilers are strongly advised to read this guidance before filling in the RIS. 2. Further information and guidance in support of Ramsar Site designations are provided in the Strategic Framework and guidelines for the future development of the List of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Wise Use Handbook 14, 3nd edition). 3. Once completed, the RIS (and accompanying map(s)) should be submitted to the Ramsar Secretariat. Compilers should provide an electronic (MS Word) copy of the RIS and, where possible, digital copies of all maps. 1. Name and address of the compiler of this form: Dr. Srey Sunleang, FOR OFFICE USE ONLY. Director, DD MM YY Department of Wetlands and Coastal Zones, Ministry of Environment, #48 Preah Sihanouk Blvd., Tonle Bassac, Chamkar Morn, Phnom Penh, Cambodia Designation date Site Reference Number Tel: (855) 77-333-456 Fax (855)-23-721-073 E-mail: [email protected] 2. Date this sheet was completed: 9 September, 2011 3. Country: Cambodia 4. Name of the Ramsar Site: The precise name of the designated Site in one of the three official languages (English, French or Spanish) of the Convention. Alternative names, including in local language(s), should be given in parentheses after the precise name. Prek Toal Ramsar SiteRamsar Site (In Khmer Language: Damban Ramsar Prek Toal) 5. Designation of new Ramsar Site or update of existing Site: This RIS is for (tick one box only): a) Designation of a new Ramsar Site ; or b) Updated information on an existing Ramsar Site 6. For RIS updates only, changes to the Site since its designation or earlier update: a) Site boundary and area The Ramsar Site boundary and Site area are unchanged: or If the Site boundary has changed: i) the boundary has been delineated more accurately ; or ii) the boundary has been extended ; or iii) the boundary has been restricted** and/or If the Site area has changed: i) the area has been measured more accurately ; or ii) the area has been extended ; or iii) the area has been reduced** ** Important note: If the boundary and/or area of the designated Site is being restricted/reduced, the Contracting Party should have followed the procedures established by the Conference of the Parties in the Annex to COP9 Resolution IX.6 and provided a report in line with paragraph 28 of that Annex, prior to the submission of an updated RIS. b) Describe briefly any major changes to the ecological character of the Ramsar Site, including in the application of the Criteria, since the previous RIS for the Site: 7. Map of Site: Refer to Annex III of the Explanatory Note and Guidelines, for detailed guidance on provision of suitable maps, including digital maps. a) A map of the Site, with clearly delineated boundaries, is included as: i) a hard copy (required for inclusion of Site in the Ramsar List): ; ii) an electronic format (e.g. a JPEG or ArcView image) ; iii) a GIS file providing geo-referenced Site boundary vectors and attribute tables . b) Describe briefly the type of boundary delineation applied: e.g. the boundary is the same as an existing protected area (nature reserve, national park, etc.), or follows a catchment boundary, or follows a geopolitical boundary such as a local government jurisdiction, follows physical boundaries such as roads, follows the shoreline of a waterbody, etc. The boundary of Prek Toal Ramsar Site is the same as the boundary of the Prek Toal Ramsar Site of the Tonle Sap UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (TSBR). Roughly circular in shape, it is located entirely within the TSBR's Buffer Zone (or Tonle Sap Multiple Use Area in Battambang Province), with its eastern boundary bordering the dry season (low water) edge of the lake and in the northwest it roughly follows the rivers Prek Mous and Prek Da. 8. Geographical coordinates (latitude/longitude, in degrees and minutes): Provide the coordinates of the approximate centre of the Site and/or the limits of the Site. If the Site is composed of more than one separate area, provide coordinates for each of these areas. Central point: 13°08'49” N 103°37'55” E 9. General location: Include in which part of the country and which large administrative region(s) the Site lies and the location of the nearest large town. Prek Toal Ramsar Site is situated at the western edge of Tonle Sap Lake, including parts of Ek Phnom and Sangkab Districts in Battambang Province. It is about 40 km southwest of Siem Reap Town. However, in Battambang Province, the nearest town is Bak Prea in Prey Chas Commune, about 50 km from Prek Toal Village upstream along the Sang Ke River. 10. Elevation: (in metres: average and/or maximum & minimum): Minimum elevation is about 1.5 m above mean sea level (a.m.s.l) and maximum is about 10.3 m a.m.s.l. 11. Area:(in hectares) 21,342 ha 12. General overview of the Site: Provide a short paragraph giving a summary description of the principal ecological characteristics and importance of the wetland. The Prek Toal Ramsar Site is considered to contain some of the most pristine floodplain habitats in the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve. In the dry season, the area is dry and covered mostly by forest, and permanent water remains only in the major streams, ponds and creek system where the water depth ranges between 0.5 to 1.5 meters deep. The area is annually flooded in the rainy season with water depths of about 7-8 meters and only the canopy of tall trees remain above water. The Site is of significant importance in the Mekong River biogeographic region through supporting a number of globally threatened species such as the critically endangered Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis) and river terrapin (Batagur baska), as well as the Mekong giant catfish (Pangasianodon gigas), and the giant barb (Catlocarpio siamensis). The high concentration, variety and numbers of nesting waterbirds, including many globally threatened species such as the endangered greater adjutant (Leptoptilos dubius) and masked finfoot (Heliopais personatus), also make the area unique for the biogeographic region. Aquatic productivity is very high, currently yielding the best fish harvests on the lake, with estimates during the period from August 2008 to July 2009 of up to 4,178 tonnes (Allebone-Webb and Clements, 2009). 13. Ramsar Criteria: Tick the box under each Criterion applied to the designation of the Ramsar Site. See Annex II of the Explanatory Notes and Guidelines for the Criteria and guidelines for their application (adopted by Resolution VII.11). All Criteria which apply should be ticked. 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 8 • 9 14. Justification for the application of each Criterion listed in 13 above: Provide justification for each Criterion in turn, clearly identifying to which Criterion the justification applies (see Annex II for guidance on acceptable forms of justification). Criterion 2: CMS CITES National Common name Scientific name IUCN status status status Status Waterbirds Greater Adjutant Leptoptilos dubius EN - - Endangered Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus VU Rare Milky Stork Mycteria cinerea VU I Rare Masked Finfoot Heliopais personatus EN Rare Fishes Mekong Giant CR Pangasianodon gigas I I Endangered Catfish Giant Barb Catlocarpio siamensis CR Endangered Leaping Barb EN Laubuka caeruleostigmata Jullien’s Golden Carp EN Probarbus jullieni I Laotian Shad VU Tenualosa thibaudeaui Silver Shark Balantiocheilos melanopterus EN Asian EN Bonytongue/Asian Scleropages formosus I Arowana Reptiles Siamese Crocodile Crocodylus siamensis CR I Rare River Terrapin Batagur baska CR I EN Cantor’s Giant Soft- II Pelochelys cantorii EN Rare shell Turtle Elongated Tortoise Indotestudo elongata EN II Yellow-headed II Heosemys annandalii EN Temple Turtle South Asian Box II Turtle Cuora amboinensis VU Black Marsh Turtle Siebenrockiella crassicollis VU II Giant Asian Pond Heosemys grandis VU Rare Turtle Malayan Snail-eating II Malayemys subtrijuga VU Rare Turtle Asiatic Soft-shell II Amyda cartilaginea VU Rare Turtle Mammals Hairy-nosed otter Lutra sumatrana EN II Smooth-coated otter Lutrogale perspicillata VU II Common Fishing cat Prionailurus viverrinus EN II Slow Loris Nycticebus coucang VU I Rare Criterion 4: Prek Toal Ramsar Site is a globally important site for colony-nesting waterbirds (Davidson, 2006). It is by far the single most important nesting site on the lake, supporting populations of four globally threatened species including greater adjutant (Leptoptilos dubius), lesser adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus), milky stork (Mycteria cinerea) and masked finfoot (Heliopais personata); six globally near-threatened species namely spot-billed pelican (Pelecanus philippensis), oriental darter (Anhinga melanogaster), black-headed ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus); painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala) and grey-headed fish-eagle (Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus); and other internationally significant populations of waterbird species such as Asian openbill (Anastomus oscitans), great egret (Casmerodius albus), Indian cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscicollis) and little cormorant (Phalacrocorax niger). There are also several regionally significant populations of waterbirds that make the area unique and globally significant. Prek Toal Ramsar Site is one of the 40 IBAs in Cambodia. It contains the world’s largest breeding colonies of some large waterbird species especially spot-billed pelican (30% of global population) and greater adjutant (10% of global population) and Prek Toal Ramsar Site is perhaps the only one site in the world where milky stork breed in freshwater (Seng Kim Hout et al.2003 and Sun Visal per presentation).