Conservation of Biodiversity in Cambodia Essay -- Biodiversity Cambodi

Assessment of Conservation of Biodiversity in Cambodia 1. Introduction Conservation of Biodiversity in Cambodia has been gathering momentum in the past few years in response to international conservation efforts and increased land degradation and loss (Conservation International 2004). International monetary institutions such as the World Bank and transnational NGOs such as Conservation International have been influential in changing forestry legislation in Cambodia (Reuters 2002). However, the implementation of these laws and practices are not always as successfully carried out or adhered to on a local level (Reuters 2002). The flaws in implementation may eventually lead to the degradation of the biodiversity in question. The corrupt nature of the Cambodian government and the dependency of growing populations on the resource extraction of these areas to supplement their incomes work together to prevent sustainable conservation efforts. The Central Cardamom Mountain region is the major focus of current conservation efforts and provides a portrait of contemporary environmental policy and practice in Cambodia. The Cardamom region is part of the Indo-Burma hot spot (Environment News Service 2002). The Cardamom region and the two wildlife refuges that border it collectively make up one million hectares of contiguous forest (Conservation International 2004). The area was previously protected by the Khmer Rouge who used it as a refuge until the end of their civil war in the early 1990's (McCarthy 2002). They used devices such as landmines and boobytraps to exclude others from entering (McCarthy 2002). After the civil war ended, an onslaught of hunters, fishers and loggers forced the government along with international agencies ... ...xp/CIWEB/regions/asia_pacific/cambodia/cambodia.xml. Updated May, 2004 [accessed 4/15/04]. Downie, S. 1997. Reversing the tides. UNESCO sources. Issue 93. Le Billon, P. 2002. Logging in muddy waters- the politics of forest exploitation in Cambodia. Critical Asian Studies 34:563-586. McCarthy, T. 2002. Let them run wild. Time Europe 160. Pleumarom, A. 2002. Destruction in disguise: international tourism projects in the Mekong River Basin are a model of unsustainable development. Alternatives J 28:32. Thyl De Lopez, T. 2003. Economics and stakeholders of Ream National Park, Cambodia. Ecological Economics 46:269-282. Update on the World Bank's Involvement in Forestry in Cambodia. Online. World Bank.Available:http://siteresources.worldbank.org /INTCAMBODIA /News%20and%20Events/20193833/Forestry+Update.pdf. Updated December 18, 2003 [accessed 4/15/04].