Bung Nong Ngom
Location:
14°38'N, 106°l3'E; in Pha Pho Sub-District, about 68 km southeast of Pakse, some 35 km east of the Mekong River and 30 km west of the Tonle Kong, Champasak Province.
Area:
1,000 ha at maximum flooding.
Altitude:
200m.
Biogeographical Province:
4.10.4.
Wetland type:
15 & 21.
Description of site:
An area of freshwater marshes (600 ha) and surrounding seasonally flooded forest. The marshes have an average depth of about 2m, and retain water throughout the year; the pH is 7.00. During the rainy season (May to October), up to 400 ha of the surrounding forest are flooded.
Climatic conditions:
The site lies in the tropical wet and dry zone of the Lower Mekong Basin. The average annual rainfall is 2,000 mm, almost 94% of which occurs during the southwest monsoon, from May to October. The mean annual temperature is 26.4°C (maximum 39.7°C, minimum 7.0°C).
Principal vegetation:
The aquatic vegetation is dominated by Cissus repens (submerged), Monochoria hastaefolia, Echinochloa stagnina (floating), and Cyperus spp (emergent). The marshes are surrounded by tropical moist deciduous forest.
Land tenure:
No information.
Conservation measures taken:
None.
Conservation measures proposed:
The Central Government has suggested that the State Government should work closely with the State forest authorities to protect the wetland and conserve its wildlife resources. The area is a likely candidate for field surveys under the Forest Resources Conservation Project, and if found suitable will be proposed as a protected area. The site lies close to the northeastern edge of the Xe Pian proposed wildlife sanctuary (124,000 ha).
This area has been proposed by the Directorate of Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation as a reserve for Kouprey Bos sauveli.
Land use:
Local villagers use the wetland for fishing and hunting. The State Government is exploiting the timber resources in the forests to the north.
Possible Changes in Land use:
No information.
Disturbances and threats:
The area has been subjected to heavy hunting pressure in the past, and hunting, trapping and collection of birds' eggs continue to pose a threat to wildlife populations.
Economic and social values:
The wetland supports a productive fishery and has considerable potential for research,
conservation education, recreation and tourism. It is one of the few natural wetlands of its type in Laos, and as such is a vital genetic resource.
Fauna:
The wetland supports a rich fish fauna including representatives of the following families: Clariidae, Cyprinidae, Channidae, Siluridae, Pangasiidae, Akusidae, Sisoridae, Cobitidae, Belontidae, Anabantidae, Osphronemidae, Nandidae and Eleotridae.
The area is known to be important for a wide variety of resident and migratory waterfowl, notably Phalacrocorax spp, Anhinga melanogaster, several herons and egrets (Ardeidae), storks (Ciconiidae), ibises (Threskiornithidae) and ducks (Anatidae), but no details are available. Cranes (Grus sp) are reported to occur on migration.
Mammals known to occur in the area include Asian Elephant Elephas maximus, Tiger Panthera tigris, Clouded Leopard Neofelis nebulosa and deer (Cervus sp). A small number of Kouprey Bos sauveli still survive in the Xe Pian area to the southwest, and a few individuals occasionally visit the wetland.
The endangered Siamese Crocodile Crocodylus siamensis is said to occur, along with freshwater turtles.
Special floral values:
No information.
Research and facilities:
No research has been carried out at the wetland.
References:
MacKinnon (1986).
Criteria for Inclusion:
1b, 2a, 2b, 3b.
Source:
B. Phanthavong.