Upcoming Initiatives

For over a decade we have worked at Lomphat Wildlife Sanctuary, and supported the protected area and communities in the landscape in many different ways.  Our most recent activities at the site were to establish Community Protected Areas (CPAs) within the sanctuary, to establish and promote Community Fisheries Groups (CFIs) in sections of the Srepok River abutting the sanctuary, and to initiate Village Self Help Groups (VSHGs)at two sites near roosting and nesting grounds of the critically endangered Giant Ibis and White-shouldered ibis.  CPAs, CFIs, and VSHGs are now in need of strengthening and consolidation to meet the objectives of conservation and development, and as such our upcoming activities (in planning) at the site will include to:

• Strengthen two established CPAs with support and conservation training
• Expand the network of CPAs by at least two additional areas
• Strengthen four established CFIs with additional conservation monitoring support
• Expand the network of CFIs by three additional fishery groups
• Strengthen two VSHGs established in key villages next to ibis grounds
• Expand the network of VSHGs in the greater sanctuary landscape

Virachey is the largest protected area in Cambodia.  Although the protected area was targeted by World Bank funding several year back, currently there is very little international funding coming to it through non-government organisations.  Virachey is in great threat from illegal logging and hunting, particularly coming from the Vietnamese side of its international boundary.  The national park has an unrecognised wealth or wildlife resources in need of protection, judging from the result of camera trapping activities by our counterpart in conservation Habitat ID.  Our aim (in planning) is to start work at the site with the following conservation efforts, in liaison with the national park authorities and local communities:

• Carry out a gibbon survey in the north and northeastern forests of the park
• Support ongoing camera trap efforts by Habitat ID to map the park biodiversity
• Asses tri-national conservation of Northern Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon
• Support the park for conservation management and biodiversity monitoring

O’Yadav National Park was recently established in 2016 to protect the diverse range of wildlife, including endangered species such as the Mekong Wagtail, Giant Ibis, White-shouldered Ibis, and vultures.  We are presently scoping for ibises and vultures and discussing with local communities and park authorities on conservation needs and possibilities.  Our proposed activities (in planning) at the national park include to:

• Initiate stewardship of forest resources including the bordering Srepok River
• Strengthen the rights to resources of local people to manage biodiversity areas
• Establish community-based conservation of endangered species and their habitat
• Provide conservation and management support and strengthen park capacities

Our aim is to develop at least two Community Protected Areas with local villages to support these project objectives; we are currently seeking funding to support this project.