Cambodian Journal of Natural History Artisanal Fisheries Tiger Beetles & Herpetofauna Coral Reefs & Seagrass Meadows June 2019 Vol. 2019 No. 1 Cambodian Journal of Natural History Editors Email: [email protected], [email protected] • Dr Neil M. Furey, Chief Editor, Fauna & Flora International, Cambodia. • Dr Jenny C. Daltry, Senior Conservation Biologist, Fauna & Flora International, UK. • Dr Nicholas J. Souter, Mekong Case Study Manager, Conservation International, Cambodia. • Dr Ith Saveng, Project Manager, University Capacity Building Project, Fauna & Flora International, Cambodia. International Editorial Board • Dr Alison Behie, Australia National University, • Dr Keo Omaliss, Forestry Administration, Cambodia. Australia. • Ms Meas Seanghun, Royal University of Phnom Penh, • Dr Stephen J. Browne, Fauna & Flora International, Cambodia. UK. • Dr Ou Chouly, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State • Dr Chet Chealy, Royal University of Phnom Penh, University, USA. Cambodia. • Dr Nophea Sasaki, Asian Institute of Technology, • Mr Chhin Sophea, Ministry of Environment, Cambodia. Thailand. • Dr Martin Fisher, Editor of Oryx – The International • Dr Sok Serey, Royal University of Phnom Penh, Journal of Conservation, UK. Cambodia. • Dr Thomas N.E. Gray, Wildlife Alliance, Cambodia. • Dr Bryan L. Stuart, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, USA. • Mr Khou Eang Hourt, National Authority for Preah Vihear, Cambodia. • Dr Sor Ratha, Ghent University, Belgium. Cover image: Chinese water dragon Physignathus cocincinus (© Jeremy Holden). The occurrence of this species and other herpetofauna in Phnom Kulen National Park is described in this issue by Geissler et al. (pages 40–63). News 1 News Save Cambodia’s Wildlife launches new project to New Master of Science in protect forest and biodiversity Sustainable Agriculture in Cambodia Agriculture forms the backbone of the Cambodian Between January 2019 and December 2022, Save Cambo- economy and is a priority sector in government policy. dia’s Wildlife (SCW) will collaborate with Weltungerhilfe To meet future food needs, it is imperative to transform (German Agro Action) and the Cambodian Ministory of Environment to promote forest and biodiversity protec- Cambodian agriculture to ensure food security and tion in Cambodia, with fi nancial support from the safety, restore ecosystem services (e.g., carbon seques- German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and tration, water quality), sustain economic growth and Development. provide greater opportunities for small-scale farmers. The project will establish a natural resource manage- The Master of Science in Sustainable Agriculture ment network comprising 152 Community Protected (MSA) was developed by the University of Ba ambang Areas (CPAs) nationwide. Representatives from each CPA will work with SCW and the Department of Envi- as part of the Implementing quality of education & training of ronment and other local authorities to establish by-laws the young universities in rural areas of Cambodia (UNICAM) and other regulations to reduce pressures on natural project which is supported by the European Erasmus+ resources. programme and university partners in Spain, France, Over the next four years, the project will support Belgium and Italy. the CPAs through the development of non-timber The MSA programme provides students with an forest products and eco-tourism services. Because SCW opportunity to develop appropriate methods and profes- believes in youth as actors for change, the project will also establish a self-sustaining green youth development sional skills in sustainable agriculture development program where students and young adults can meet to a uned to rural situations in Cambodia. The programme discuss environmental issues and work with local deci- is designed to meet the needs of modern agriculture by sion-makers to address these. equipping students with the necessary skills and prac- The project will also raise awareness and under- tical knowledge to balance the natural resource and the standing regarding climate change and resilience through human and economic factors that aff ect agricultural education activities and piloting of renewable energy sustainability. To this end, it emphasizes integrative initiatives. Eco-clubs will be created in rural schools, approaches that can be applied to enhance economically where children will learn about nature and recycling and viable, socially supportive and ecologically sustainable clean up their villages. For renewable energy, SCW will agriculture at a national and international level. introduce biogas digesters and solar water pumps, which transform cow dung into gas for cooking and improve The degree is a two-year, part-time (weekend) study irrigation options, respectively. programme taught in Khmer (75%) and English (25%). The project will target over 5,500 individuals across The curriculum combines course work and research the 152 CPAs and indirectly aff ect over 350,000 people. work, and includes core, major, elective and research Increased knowledge through capacity building and (thesis) components. Teaching staff are experts in sustain- youth enabled as actors for change will help ensure that able agriculture. Students also have opportunities to the project outcomes continue beyond its lifespan. The work of SCW (www.cambodiaswildlife.org/) focuses undertake internships in Cambodia or overseas countries on sustainable natural resource management, climate with collaborating partners. Further details are available change and renewable energy, environmental education, at h p://unicamedu.com alternative livelihoods and social entrepreneurship. SREAN Pao (University of Ba ambang, Cambodia). Email: TEP Boonny (Save Cambodia’s Wildlife, Cambodia). Email: [email protected] [email protected] Cambodian Journal of Natural History 2019 (1) 1 © Centre for Biodiversity Conservation, Phnom Penh 2 Jocque M. et al. Short Communication Tiger beetle (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) records from Kratie Province, Cambodia, with three new country records and an updated checklist for Cambodia Merlijn JOCQUE1,*, Jürgen WIESNER2 & Willem STOCK1 1 Biodiversity Inventory for Conservation NPO (BINCO), Walmersumstraat 44, 3380 Glabbeek, Belgium. 2 Dresdener Ring 11, D-38444 Wolfsburg, Germany. * Corresponding author. Email [email protected] Paper submitted 8 November 2018, revised manuscript accepted 28 March 2019. Cambodia has experienced a surge of interest in its surveys to provide current information on their biodiver- remaining forest ecosystems and associated biodi- sity. versity in recent years. Most of the a ention has been We undertook fi eldwork at four study sites during concentrated on a select number of locations such as the early wet season (between 28 April and 21 May 2018) the Cardamom Mountains in the southwest and coastal within the two regions. Four camp locations in the two islands, whereas inland lowlands have received li le regions were visited: BC1 Kampi - at an elevation of 55m a ention. Floodplains in the Mekong Basin are among (12.61862 N, 106.00154 E), BC2 Praek Prasab - at an eleva- the most vulnerable areas to environmental pressures tion of 20m (12.56555 N, 105.95080 E), BC3 Koh Klap - at associated with rapid economic and demographic devel- an elevation of 65m (13.01013 N, 106.06539 E) and BC4 opment. Thorough documentation of biodiversity is a Community forest - at an elevation of 69m (13.019582 N, prerequisite for any conservation eff orts in this rapidly 105.92679 E) (Fig. 1). More information on the expedition changing landscape. Invertebrates are understudied and study region can be found in Jocque et al. (2018). overall, and for even some of the be er studied groups such as tiger beetles (Cicindelidae), knowledge is scant. Tiger beetles were collected with malaise traps, pitfall Currently, 53 tiger beetle species have been recorded in traps and opportunistically with a hand net. Specimens Cambodia (Wiesner, 2017) and the most recent additions were preserved in 70% ethanol. After identifi cation, to the group were by Cassola (2005), Wiesner (2008, 2013, most of the material was deposited in the Royal Belgian 2014, 2017, 2018) and Matalin (2018a,b). Institute of Natural History (museum accession number 33.901), and part of the material was deposited in the We report observations of tiger beetles made during personal collection of Dr Wiesner Jürgen. a recent survey in central Cambodia, close to the Mekong A total of 147 specimens representing 16 species River (Fig. 1). The “Kdan Mekong 2018 expedition” was were collected (Table 1). All 16 species are fi rst records coordinated by the Biodiversity Inventory for Conser- for Kratie province, whereas three are new records for vation initiative and was a biodiversity express survey Cambodia: Calochroa carissima (Fleutiaux, 1919), Cylindera which sought to update biological knowledge for two (Ifasina) spinolae koratensis Naviaux, 1991 and Prothyma regions: Preaek Prasab Wildlife Sanctuary and Sambour schmidtgoebeli Horn, 1895. Wildlife Sanctuary in Kratie Province, Cambodia. These two regions were identifi ed by WWF Cambodia and the Calochroa carissima (Fleutiaux, 1919) was almost exclu- Cambodian Ministry of Environment as requiring fi eld sively collected on sand banks along rivers, both on open CITATION: Jocque, M., Wiesner, J. & Stock, W. (2019) Tiger beetle (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) records from Kratie Province, Cambodia, with three new country records and an updated checklist for Cambodia. Cambodian Journal