(December 31, 2009) Very little information is known about seasonal habitat use and movements of Bengal Floricans, making it difficult to target conservation efforts effectively across their range. Researchers from the University of East Anglia, led by graduate student Charlotte Packman, are seeking to increase our understanding of Bengal Floricans movements by deploying radio and satellite transmitters on individual birds to record their movements.These transmitters, deployed on males, females and subadults, will ...

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(December 31, 2009) In December 2001, the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve (TSBR) was established by Royal Decree with three complementary functions:a conservation function to contribute to the conservation of biological diversity, landscapes, ecosystem, including genetic resources, plant, fishery and animal species, and to the restoration of the essential character of the environment and habitat of biodiversity;a development function to foster sustainable development of ecology, environment, economy, society, and cultu...

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(December 31, 2009) The Tonle Sap Conservation Project (TSCP) is a seven year (2004-2011) GEF project aimed at developing the management capacity for biodiversity conservation in the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve (TSBR) in Cambodia through (i) enhancing the capacity for management of biodiversity; (ii) developing systems for monitoring and management of biodiversity; and (iii) promoting awareness, education, and outreach on biodiversity conservation in the TSBR. The project is the third component of a broader program...

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(December 31, 2009) Despite the success of conservation efforts in the Tonle Sap Lake and floodplain, a recent threats assessment indicates that there are still a number of illegal activities that threaten biodiversity in the area.There are worries that uncontrolled developments in the outer floodplain are destroying much important habitat and may also have negative impacts on the overall ecosystem. In particular, dams and irrigation channels obstruct water flow and fish migration and heavy use of chemicals may pol...

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(December 31, 2009) WCS-Cambodia has provided technical advice to law enforcement monitoring staff in the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve (TSBR) to facilitate the introduction of MIST (Management Information SysTem) software. MIST has been specifically designed to service protected area management needs, providing a standardized, computer-based system for recording wildlife and human activities during ranger patrols, and generating map-based information for use in decision-making and planning.The introduction of MIST c...

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(December 31, 2009) Grassland habitats in the Tonle Sap floodplain remain very highly threatened, both inside and outside the Integrated Farming & Biodiversity Areas (BFCAs). Within the four BFCAs that are situated in the Bengal Florican breeding grounds, at least 2% of the total area was converted to dry season rice fields in 2009.Expansion of industrial farming in the floodplain is also causing major changes in the patterns of burning, grazing, hunting, water flow and human disturbance, most of which are expe...

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(December 30, 2009) A study is currently being undertaken in the Northern Plains to collect DNA from the elephants to enable an estimation of the size of the elephant population in the landscape. This will be completed in 2010, and follows the same model that was implemented successfully in the Seima Protection Forest.A preliminary survey has been implemented to find the most important sites for elephants in the Northern Plains. Consultations were conducted with the local community to find recent records of elephan...

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(December 30, 2009) Efforts to protect and monitor elephant populations in the Seima Protection Forest (SPF), as in many parts of their range, had for a long time been hampered by a lack of information on population levels and trends, as well as a paucity of data concerning elements such as movement patterns and seasonal migrations. With this in mind, the SPF monitoring program was extended in 2006 to include a fecal DNA based survey that was designed to provide the first reliable population estimate for elephants ...

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(December 29, 2009) There are many threatened bird species that can be seen in the Northern Plains landscape. This page contains information on aspects such as the population status and breeding habits of some of the key species.Threatened speciesWhite-shouldered Ibis Pseudibis davisoniUntil recently, the only known breeding site for this Critically Endangered species on mainland South-East Asia was around Tmatboey in Kulen Promtep Wildlife Sanctuary. Its numbers since breeding was first discovered here in 200...

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(December 29, 2009) Although for much of the period the Angkorian empire was ruled from Angkor, important secondary centres existed elsewhere. Some of these were situated in the Northern Plains, and evidence exists that these settlements helped to shape the natural landscape that exists today.Analysis of satellite imagery and aerial photographs for the Northern Plains shows that the landscape was extensively altered by the infrastructure of the Angkorian Empire. At least four types of remains are visible: temples, ...

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