VICTORY
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FOREST CONSERVATION NEWS TODAY
Cambodia Protects Forested Mountains, Cracks Down on Illegal Logging
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Forest Networking a Project of Forests.org, Inc.
http://forests.org/ -- Forest Conservation Portal
http://www.EnvironmentalSustainability.info/ -- Eco-Portal
August 1, 2002
OVERVIEW & COMMENTARY by Forests.org
There have been two highly positive developments regarding Cambodian
rainforest conservation. A huge new one million acre protected area
has been established, and yet another pledge has been made to reign
in illegal logging. Let us be clear – Cambodia’s forests remain
gravely threatened - forest cover in Cambodia has been reduced from
74 percent before 1970 to 58 percent now. But in the quest for both
global and local ecological sustainability, as well as conserving
biodiversity, there is no better option that establishing, restoring
and enlarging strictly protected areas. Our and many other species’
survival depends upon it. These developments also go a long way
towards ensuring Cambodia’s ecological future.
g.b
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ITEM #1
Title: Cambodia Protects Forested Mountains, Rare Animals
Source: Environment News Service, http://ens.lycos.com/index.html
Date: July 31, 2002
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia, July 31, 2002 (ENS) - One million acres of
pristine wilderness, inhabited by tigers, elephants and bears, has
been officially protected by the Cambodian government, with financial
and conservation support from six U.S. and international
organizations.
The declaration creating the Central Cardamoms Protected Forest in
southwestern Cambodia's Central Cardamom Mountains was signed into
law Tuesday by Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Two wildlife sanctuaries border the newly designated area, bringing
the total land area under protection to 2.44 million acres (990,000
hectares), the largest, most pristine wilderness in mainland
Southeast Asia.
"This is a huge step forward for the protection of our country's
amazing array of life," said Ty Sokhun, director general of
Cambodia's Department of Forestry and Wildlife.
"Animals found virtually nowhere else in the world can thrive freely
in our forests."
Rare species such as the Indochinese tiger, the Asian elephant and
the Malaysian sun bear survive there, as do globally threatened
species such as the pileated gibbon and the critically endangered
Siamese crocodile, which has its only known wild breeding population
in the Cardamoms.
But trade in endangered wildlife takes place on the streets of Phnom
Penh, where the skins and body parts of bears, tigers, elephants,
crocodiles and other animals are for sale. These items are smuggled
to neighboring countries, for use in traditional medicine.
To control illegal trade, Cambodian government rangers, military
police and community monitors are patrolling and enforcing forest and
wildlife laws in the protected area.
The Cardamoms were a last stronghold of the Khmer Rouge until its
collapse in 1998. Isolated and inhabited by few people, the rare and
endangered animals have survived while most of mainland Southeast
Asia has been stripped of its forests and wildlife by loggers and
hunters.
Until last year, the Cardamoms were slated for logging. In January
2001, the Washington, DC based environmental organization
Conservation International secured a deal with the Cambodian
government to ban commercial logging in the Cardamoms while the
conservationists worked with the Cambodian Department of Forestry and
Wildlife to justify the area's permanent protection.
"This is an excellent example of how the conservation movement is
supposed to work," said Peter Seligmann, chairman and CEO of
Conservation International (CI).
"CI has been on the ground in Cambodia working in alliances with
other environmental groups, government agencies and local people. It
adds up to be great news for Cambodia's biodiversity and the
Cambodian people."
Conservation International's Global Conservation Fund, which has been
financing work in the Cardamoms for more than a year, is providing
the financial support for the protection and management of the
Cardamoms. Further support is being provided by the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility.
Major funding is also being provided by the U.S. Agency for
International Development and the United Nations Foundation.
Timothy Wirth, president of the United Nations Foundation, said, "The
Cardamom Mountains are a treasure trove of wildlife and an important
watershed for Cambodia. We are proud that UN Foundation's partnership
with UNDP, Conservation International and Flora and Fauna
International has helped make it possible for the Cambodian
government to protect this area of immense biodiversity."
Fauna and Flora International is assisting the Cambodian government
with the management and protection of the two wildlife sanctuaries
bordering the Central Cardamoms. The 825,000 acre (334,000 hectare)
Mt. Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary is west of the Central Cardamom
Mountains; the 627,000 acre (254,000 hectare) Mt. Aural Wildlife
Sanctuary lies to the east.
Conservation International's Cambodia country program is advising the
government on protected area management, as well as training,
patrolling and intelligence gathering.
"The government's decision to declare the Cardamoms a protected area
demonstrates a clear, long term vision for Cambodia's future," said
David Mead, CI-Cambodia's country representative. "The government has
shown strong environmental leadership, opened the door to long term
international support for wildlife protection and ecotourism and has
honored a promise made two years ago to conserve the Cardamoms."
Even greater protection for this unique wild area would be available
if it were to be placed on UNESCO's List of World Heritage, a goal
for all the groups involved. Wirth said, "This is a vital first step
towards declaring the Cardamom Mountains area a World Heritage site
which will result in greater international recognition and increased
resources for this park."
Cambodia's largest rivers flow from the Cardamoms, and Conservation
International says protection of the watershed is expected to reduce
flooding downstream. Floods caused damage estimated at $156 million
in 2000, when the country experienced the worst flooding in 70 years.
Conservation International plans to work with the Cambodian
government and NGO partners to encourage the creation of an even
larger conservation corridor, which would connect the Cardamoms to
the coast, ensuring the protection of seasonal elephant migration
routes.
The Cardamoms are part of the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, one of
25 global hotspots that represent only 1.4 percent of the Earth's
landmass but are home to more than 60 percent of all terrestrial
species.
ITEM #2
Title: Cambodia declares pristine mountain forest protected area
Source: Associated Press
Date: August 1, 2002
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — The Cambodian government has declared a forest
in the central Cardamom Mountains a protected area, which will help
prevent rampant poaching and logging, an environmental group said.
Prime Minister Hun Sen signed a decree this week providing
"permanent" protection to the 402,000 hectares (1 million acres) of
pristine wilderness in southwestern Cambodia, Conservation
International said in a statement.
The forest lies between two wildlife sanctuaries and brings the total
area protected in the vicinity of the Cardamom Mountains to 990,000
hectares (2.44 million acres), said Conservation International, which
is active in 30 nations.
The Cardamom Mountains are home to one of Southeast Asia's most
diverse wildlife habitats, including rare species such as the
Indochinese tiger, the Asian elephant, the Malaysian sun bear, and
threatened species such as the pileated gibbon and the Siamese
crocodile.
Officials expect the sanctuary in the Cardamoms, which abut Thailand,
to help reduce illegal logging and poaching. "This is a huge step
forward for the protection of our country's amazing array of life,"
Ty Sokhun, director of the Department of Forestry and Wildlife, was
quoted as saying by Conservation International.
David Mead, Conservation International's country representative in
Cambodia, said the designation shows the government is committed to
preserving its unique natural habitats.
On Tuesday, parliament passed a new antilogging law, making the
felling of trees in national parks and in wildlife sanctuaries
punishable by up to 10 years in jail.
According to government's statistics, forest cover in Cambodia has
been reduced from 74 percent before 1970 to 58 percent now.
ITEM #3
Title: Cambodia adopts law to fight illegal logging
Source: Reuters
Date: July 31, 2002
PHNOM PENH - Cambodia passed a long-awaited law yesterday aimed at
cracking down on illegal logging - a key demand of international
donors whose loans keep the impoverished country's economy afloat.
"This law will contribute to the protection and sustainable
development of our natural resources, so they can be passed on to the
next generation," Agriculture Minister Chan Sarun told parliament
after the law was passed.
Under the law, illegal logging is punishable by five to 10 years
imprisonment and a maximum fine of more than $25,000.
Cambodia's forests have been decimated by decades of illegal logging,
and environmentalists say the current rate of logging far exceeds the
sustainable level.
Last month, foreign donors promised Cambodia $635 million in aid and
loans for the coming year, but urged stronger action on a number of
key areas including fighting corruption, reforming the judiciary and
safeguarding the environment.
Environmental activists said it remained to be seen whether the new
law on illegal logging could be effectively enforced.
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