Protected forest

Protected Forests are generally established under individual sub-decrees, specifically for the purpose of protecting biodiversity and conservation. They are home to many endangered or threatened species. The Mondul Kiri Protected Forest, for example, is home to three wild cattle species, cats such as tigers and leopards, sun bears and various primates and birds.1 There are elephants, bears, and seven species of cat in the Seima Protected Forest.2

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Mondul Kiri Protected Forest, Cambodia. Photo by Global Water Forum, taken on 23 February 2014. Licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

In addition to their conservation and biodiversity values, protected forests also directly support a number of human communities: rivers in the Central Cardamoms Protected Forest are the key source of water for over 30,000 people, for example.3

Previously, these forests were managed by the Forest Administration, part of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF). However, under sub-decree No. 69 on the Transfer of the Protected Forest, Forest Conservation and Production Forest Areas, and Economic Land Concessions between MAFF, and MoE (Ministry of Environment), dated 28 April 2016, the protected forests are now under the management of the MoE.4

The government also receives technical assistance in its management from bodies such as WWF (Mondul Kiri) the Wildlife Alliance and Conservation International (the Cardamoms) and Wildlife Conservation Society (Seima).

As a result of the subsequent sub-decrees in May 2016, all of the protected forests were then transformed into natural protected areas, except Ta Moa Protected Forest in Takeo province, with a land area of 2,285 hectares. Over a half of these natural protected areas are under the classification of wildlife sanctuary.

List of Protected Forests added to Natural Protected Areas in 2016.

NoName of
protected forest
Name of NPASize
(ha)
LocationSub-decree
1Preah Vihear
Protected Forest
Chheb Wildlife
Sanctuary
190,027Preah Vihear
& Stung Treng

No 79,
9 May 2016

2Mondul Kiri
Protected Forest
Srepok Wildlife
Sanctuary
372,971 Mondul KiriNo 85,
9 May 2016
3Central Cardamom
Mountains
Protected Forest
Central Cardamom
Mountains
National Park
401,313 Koh Kong,
Pursat,
Kampong Speu
No.81,
9 May 2016
4Ang Trapeang
Thmor Crane
Sanctuary
Ang Trapeang Thmor
Protected Landscape
12,650 

Banteay
Meanchey

No.100,
23 May 2016
5Southwest Elephant
Corridor
Protected Forest
Tatai Wildlife
Sanctuary
144,275 Koh KongNo.80,
9 May 2016
6Ou Ya Dav Game
Hunting Park
Protected Forest
Ou Ya Dav
National Park
101,348 Ratanak KiriNo.82,
9 May 2016
7Seima P
rotected Forest
Keo Seima
Wildlife Sanctuary
292,690 Ratanak Kiri,
Kratie
No.83,
9 May 2016
8Western Siem
Pang Protected Forest
Siem Pang
Wildlife Sanctuary
66,932 Stung Treng No.86,
9 May 2016

Deforestation sometimes occurs in protected forests, although at a much lower rate than surrounding forests. Conservation International estimates a deforestation rate of 2% for the Central Cardamom Mountains Protected Forest over a six-year period.5

According to Sub-decree No.69, both the MoE and MAFF are responsible for cracking down on any illegal logging. While MAFF manages economic land concessions, MoE manages protected forests, forest conservation and production forest areas in addition to the natural protected areas. The transfer of responsibilities should be followed by the allocation of resources to match the new responsibilities.

Last updated: 9 June 2016

Related to protected forests

References

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