Friday’s meeting between the environment ministry & Wildlife Alliance ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY
The Wildlife Alliance and the Ministry of Environment have agreed to organize activities that educate and promote an environment-friendly movement in the Cardamom Mountain range. This will include a youth forum and a conference in 2022. Minister officials announced this.
10 mountain areas were inspected and will be considered for natural heritage.
Minister officials met with Suwanna Gauntlett, founder and CEO of Wildlife Alliance, at the ministry’s headquarters to discuss the project. They hoped it would strengthen the environmental movement.
The youth forum on the environment in 2022 was agreed upon by the meeting. It was attended by selected students from Preah Sihanouk, and Koh Kong schools. This event is being planned in preparation for the fourth national environmentally friendly school competition in 2023 in Koh Kong, Pursat provinces. It will also support the buffalo rearing project in communities within the Cardamom Mountain range.
Neth Pheaktra, a Ministry spokesperson, told The Post that the educational activities included knowledge about the protection and development natural resources, adaptation to climate changes, and the effects of environmental destruction on local economic growth.
He stated that the activities were intended to educate Cardamom Mountain residents about natural resource management and encourage cooperation in conserving and protecting it.
Cardamom Mountains are richly forested with many animals and plants. Together with Wildlife Alliance and other relevant organisations, the ministry has done a lot to strengthen law enforcement and boost the economy in the region. We have created jobs for the Cardamoms, so they can join us in protecting this forest. He also said that the mountain range generates carbon credit sales.
Minister officials also visited potential sites of natural heritage on March 10.
The Bantheay Meanchey province environment director and his colleagues were part of a working group of ministry officials to inspect the boundaries for potential mountain areas before launching the process to add them to the ministry’s heritage sites list, according to the department.
Seng Sot, deputy chief of the ministry’s general department for local community, led the inspection. He was joined at the inspection by officials from all levels as well as representatives of relevant parties.
Suwanna Gauntlett, CEO of Wildlife Alliance, told The Post that the youth debate will allow high school students to increase their environmental knowledge through conducting research before the forum. It will allow them to share their findings, and make recommendations to the public.
She also announced that it will include an eco-school. This will allow students to be involved in environmental protection, biodiversity conservation and addressing climate changes.
Suwanna stated that a video production about REDD+ (Reduced emissions from forest degradation and deforestation) would also be screened to promote the benefits to residents.