In April 2023, the Fishing Cat Ecological Enterprise (FCEE), an entity supported by IUCN’s Mekong WET project, published a Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment (CCVA) for Stung Treng Ramsar Site (STRS). The report highlights the importance of the unique flooded forest and deep pools at the site for biodiversity and associated fisheries, and the impacts of upstream dam operations and climate change on the future of the section of the river.
The assessment of the wetland in Cambodia was supported by a number of tools, including interviews with local community members, biodiversity surveys and camera-trapping at the site. The CCVA used climate projections and data from stakeholders to provide critical up-to-date information on biodiversity in STRS that can be used to strengthen the conservation of the site.
The small grant, which covered the publication of the Assessment, aimed to understand the ecological health of the wetland and the species within it, and assess the vulnerability of the local communities whose livelihoods depend on the site. This information is critical to conserve the biodiversity of the area and improve the livelihoods of local communities.
The results demonstrated that local communities have recently experienced drought, extreme storms and winds, and unusually high and low temperatures. These impacts have resulted in damage to homes, crops and in some cases, have affected the health of people and livestock, as well as hindering income generation.
STRS plays a crucial role in providing habitats for various key species, especially migrant white fish and megafish like the Critically Endangered giant barb (Catlocarpio siamensis). The site is also critical for numerous bird species, particularly the regional endemic Mekong wagtail (Motacilla samveasnae).
STRS hosts a unique flooded forest habitat where current swept semi-aerial roots create the site’s distinctive landscape. The most severe threat to the STRS wetland habitats is the altered hydrology currently driven by upstream dam operations. In recent years, the release of water during the dry season has altered the life cycle of the wetlands, preventing these unique flooded habitats from being exposed for long enough to complete their life-cycle. This impact is apparent throughout the site, where mass die-outs of flooded forest trees can be seen.