The Serengeti of Asia: conservation in two major protected areas of the eastern plains landscape protected area complex, Cambodia

Abstract

The Eastern Plains landscape of Cambodia still has extremely good forest cover over a large area but wildlife populations remain low after many years of civil unrest and hunting pressure. Over the past decade concerted conservation efforts of WWF in collaboration with the Royal Government of Cambodia in the Mondulkiri Protected Forest and Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary, the two major protected areas in the landscape, have demonstrated modest successes in curbing illegal activities and gaining community support for forest protection. These conservation efforts include rigorous and regular monitoring of biological diversity, effective law enforcement monitoring using latest tools, gaining community support for forest protection through awareness and livelihood interventions. This programme shows the different aspects of management which need to be considered for protected areas to be effective and at the same time reflects the need for long-term investment in conservation in order to see progress and the requirement to address policy, social, economic in addition to biological factors to ensure sustainability.