Biodiveristy in Cambodia in 2010

Cambodia, UNDP hand to promote awareness of biodiversity

Cambodia and UNDP have been working together for biodiversity conservation in the country to use the natural resources with sustainable development within preserving the other species, and ecosystems for the next generation and promote the awareness of the biodiversity protection, officials said on April 6.

Mr. Chum Sovanny, the specialist and program analyst in biodiversity and sustainable land management from UNDP said in email interview that in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, biodiversity conservation work focuses on three core areas: Tonle Sap, the Cardamom Mountain Range, and the Northern Plains. The Northern Plains, which make up parts of Kampong Thom and Preah Vihear provinces, are home to critically endangered birds such as Giant Ibis and white-Rumped Falcon.

He added that at these locations, the Ministry of Environment with support from UNDP, Global Environment Facility and Wildlife Conservation Society, has been implementing a bird protection scheme through a community-managed eco-tourism. He said that forest clearing to claim land for agri-business also contributes to land degradation, as often it results in soil erosion and ultimately loss of biodiversity and to address the issue, UNDP is partnering with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on sustainable land management. “The work aims to improve the capacity of national institutions to combat land degradation and educate farmers about proper farming techniques that can help sustain productive soil quality,” he said, adding that currently, UNDP is also formulating a new initiative on sustainable forest management. “The objective is to help reduce reliance of the rural population on cutting trees to use as energy – a practice which also contributes to deforestation and loss of biodiversity and ecosystem” he noted. “The initiative will work toward promoting wood energy efficiency through building the capacity of local people to manage forestry communities and conduct small business development to improve their livelihoods,” he added.

“UNDP believes that sustainable management of biodiversity and ecosystems is the key to realizing some of Cambodia Millennium Development Goals (CMDGs),”he said, adding that in this regard, UNDP has been supporting the Cambodian government in its efforts to conserve biodiversity and promote sustainable forest and land management and livelihood development.

He also said that many ecosystems and species that are the building blocks of biodiversity in Cambodia are deteriorating, if not becoming lost altogether, as a result of unsustainable use of natural resources. Conversion of forest land to cash-crop plantations, drainage of wetlands to build infrastructure, pollution of rivers and underground water systems by the use of chemical substance in farming all contribute to this.

“Significant concern is Cambodia’s unique ecosystem around Tonle Sap Basin. Local residents rely on it for fish, fertile soil for farming and forest products. The biodiversity management policy is required for these resources to be used sustainably, so future generations can also access them. He added that the biodiversity projects have been implemented and have been continuing by the government with support from UNDP and other development partners including management project of the Cardamom Mountains Protected Forest and Wildlife Sanctuaries ran between 2001-2006 with a total budget of US$3,248,143 from UNDP and Global Environment Facility (GEF) and it was completed. At the same time, the Tonle Sap Conservation Project (TSCP) covers 2004-2011 period with the total budget of US$4,230,000 from UNDP and Global Environment Facility (GEF).and Conservation Area Landscape Management (CALM). The project covers 2006-2012 with the total budget of US$2,970,000 from UNDP and GEF. Moreover, the Building Capacity and Mainstreaming Sustainable Land Management in Cambodia (SLM) cover 2008-2011 period with the total budget of US$775,000 from UNDP and GEF.
The year 2010 has been declared as the International Year of Biodiversity and stakeholders are working on the biodiversity issues having been starting to promote the awareness of biodiversity for the local communities. "Biological diversity" or "biodiversity" can have many interpretations and it is most commonly used to replace the more clearly defined and long established terms, species diversity and species richness. Biologists most often define biodiversity as the "totality of genes, species, and ecosystems of a region". Biodiversity is the variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or on the entire Earth. Biodiversity is often used as a measure of the health of biological systems. The biodiversity found on Earth today consists of many millions of distinct biological species.

According to report from the ministry of environment, Cambodia with other stakeholders have conducted the wildlife conservation, and the government has always supported the biodiversity projects in contribution of sustainable development of the country.

Khieu Muth, secretary of state for the ministry of the environment said recently: we have always considered about the climate change which is not affected to human being but also to animals and birds and source of the water in the framework of the general aspects of the biodiversity.

“Chemical substances from the farming and waste of the chemical materials from farmers used chemical fertilizers and these substances could destroy the sources of water and fish or organs in lake or pond, and finally, they could not use the water sources or destroyed the biodiversity in their communities or that substances could create other communicable diseases, he said, adding that ecology system, in general, need to protect it and natural resources is death and life areas for the people and animals.

Mao Saray, director general of rural development of the ministry of rural development said in the world water day that sources of water need to protect for long term use and avoid flowing waste of polluted and chemical substances in it. “We need clean water for local communities and if the local communities do not protect sources of clean water. Both local communities and birds, animals will affect on them. “We need to protect all elements of biodiversity for next generation, he said.
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