More than 500 people from the Ministry of Environment (MoE), provincial, district and local authorities, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), monks, local community, teachers and students marked the celebration of World Wetlands Day 2017 at the Ang Trapeang Thmor Protected Landscape (ATTPL) in Banteay Meanchey Province. This celebration aimed at raising public awareness about important role of wetlands in supporting lives of threatened wildlife and humans, meanwhile addressing threats that are threatening wetlands and species relying on it.
Created by Royal decree in 2000, ATTPL protects 12,650 hectares of wetlands and dry forest. It supports half of Cambodia's Sarus Crane population during the non-breeding season and other waterbirds including storks, pelicans and ducks that Cambodia is famous for.
“Birds, turtles, otters and other wild animals depend on wetlands. These animals can only survive in wetlands where they are protected from harm,” said Simon Mahood, Senior Technical Advisor for WCS Cambodia. “We all have a role to play in the conservation of wetlands.”
“We should all work together for clean, productive wetlands that sustain wildlife and local communities, and contribute strongly to Cambodia’s economic development. We need to ensure that wetlands are free from hunting and pollution” he added.
MoE is working closely with WCS to manage the ATTPL and improve livelihoods of local communities through ecotourism development and farming assistance.