| A collaborative study between the Cambodian | | | | Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen issued a sub decree |
| Forestry Administration, Conservation International and | | | | declaring this area as a protected biodiversity area. |
| Fauna and Flora International from 2001 to 2004 has | | | | Other Research Projects |
| proved that the Central Cardamom Forest has an | | | | Adequate research and monitoring of individual species |
| exceptional degree of biological diversity, including | | | | is also a vital component of biodiversity protection. |
| many globally threatened species such as the | | | | Projects include: |
| Indochinese tiger, Asian elephant, and Siamese | | | | Bear Research: |
| crocodile. The Central Cardamom Protected Forest is | | | | Established in 2006, focusing on three main activities: |
| situated within the boundaries of three Cambodian | | | | 1. Research in the Central Cardamom Protected |
| provinces, Koh Kong, Kompong Speu, and Pursat, and | | | | Forest, South-West damrey corridor alley region, Bokor |
| covers over 400,000 hectares of land. | | | | national park, Sre Pork zone, Mondulkiri province, |
| According to Mr. Peov Somanak, Research and | | | | Battambang province and other zones of importance; |
| Monitoring Manager of Conservation International, | | | | 2. Production of a documentary on protecting bears in |
| "Countless treasures exist in this virtually undisturbed | | | | Cambodia which was broadcast on the "Environment |
| forest, one of the only such remaining areas in | | | | Beauty" program of Apsara TV; |
| mainland Southeast Asia.". | | | | 3. Provision of training in schools within the Central |
| Research Findings | | | | Cardamom Forest. |
| The core of the research study has been to unveil the | | | | Two kinds of bear species were found during this |
| treasures of the Central Cardamom Protected Forest | | | | study - the Asiatic Black Bear and the Malayan Sun |
| and how those treasures can be protected. | | | | Bear. The greatest threats to these species were |
| Asiatic Black Bears and Malayan Sun Bears, large | | | | identified as cable trapping, hunting with guns and dogs |
| deer, wild dogs, wild oxen, elephants, musk deer, wild | | | | and habitat damage. The Malayan Sun Bear was |
| pigs, mountain goats, wild cats, polecats, various kinds | | | | shown to be the more endangered of the two |
| of tigers, wild chickens, small deer, mountainous | | | | species. |
| crocodiles, and many other animals were recorded | | | | Pangolin Research |
| during the joint studies by using camera trapping. | | | | This research is conducted in Thmar Baing district in |
| According to Mr. Samanak, "These results are not | | | | Koh Kong province, Sihanouville, Keo Seima, Sen |
| complete; there are many more species not yet found, | | | | Monorom, Koh Nhek and Pich Da districts of Mondulkiri, |
| due to time and funding constraints.". | | | | Sandan district of Kompong Thom province, Prey |
| Conservation Efforts | | | | Lang region of Stung Treng province and also Kratie |
| A number of steps have been taken by the | | | | province. The greatest threat to pangolin populations is |
| Cambodian Government to help protect the forest's | | | | hunting for use in traditional herbal medicines. |
| biodiversity:o In January 2001, the Ministry of Agriculture | | | | Cambodia is adorned with and famed for its natural |
| issued a decree to suspend all timber deals and | | | | resources, which the central cardamom mountain is |
| activities in the Central Cardamom Forest.o A | | | | one of the icons of Cambodia's natural resources. |
| Memorandum of Understanding was signed with | | | | Cambodia, the region and even the world would |
| Conservation International (CI) in order to provide | | | | directly or indirectly benefit from such the Cambodian |
| budgetary and technical support to the Forestry | | | | natural resources that have global values. |
| Administration for the protection of the Central | | | | So it is a must that all Cambodian peoples, its |
| Cardamom Protected Forest.o In March 2001, the | | | | government, international communities and all those |
| conservation program began operations with three | | | | interested to contribute, in order to preserve the |
| main activities: law enforcement; research and | | | | Central Cardamom Mountain. |
| monitoring; and community development.o In 2002, | | | | |