Cambodian Journal of Natural History
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Cambodian Journal of Natural History New orchid records Ethnobotanical knowledge Carbon stocks and dynamics A homage to Pauline Dy Phon National Biodiversity Action Plan Movement of Siamese crocodiles Payments for Ecosystem Services Camera trapping of large mammals June 2017 Vol. 2017 No. 1 Cambodian Journal of Natural History Editors Email: [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 Stephen J. Browne, Fauna & Flora International, • Dr Sovanmoly Hul, Muséum National d’Histoire U.K. Naturelle, France. • Dr Martin Fisher, Editor of Oryx – The International • Dr Andy L. Maxwell, World Wide Fund for Nature, Journal of Conservation, U.K. Cambodia. • Dr L. Lee Grismer, La Sierra University, California, • Dr Brad Pett itt , Murdoch University, Australia. USA. • Dr Campbell O. Webb, Harvard University Herbaria, • Dr Knud E. Heller, Nykøbing Falster Zoo, Denmark. USA. Other peer reviewers • Prof. Henrik Balslev, Aarhus University, Denmark. • Dr Le Phat Quoi, Institute for Environment and Natural Resources, Ho Chi Minh National University, Vietnam. • Dr Chou Ly, Virginia Tech, USA. • Dr Benjamin Rawson, World Wide Fund For Nature, • Dr J.W. Duckworth, IUCN SSC Asian Species Action Vietnam. Partnership, UK. • Dr Sasaki Nophea, Asian Institute of Technology, • Jonathan Eames, BirdLife International Cambodia Thailand. Programme. • Dr André Schuiteman, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, • Dr Tracy Farrell, Conservation International, Cambodia. UK. • Paul Herbertson, Fauna & Flora International, UK. • Boyd Simpson, Copenhagen Zoo, Malaysia Programme. • Dr Toyama Hironori, Kyushu University, Japan. • Ben Smitheram, Scientifi c Capacity Development Initiative, Cambodia. • Jeremy Holden, Independent, UK. • Dr Somran Suddee, Department of National Parks, • Josh Kempinski, Fauna & Flora International, Vietnam. Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Thailand. • Dr Kikuzawa Kihachiro, Ishikawa Prefectural • Dr Tagane Shuichiro, Kyushu University, Japan. University, Japan. • Dr Toriyama Jumpei, Forestry and Forest Products • Dr Hubert Kurzweil, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Research Institute, Japan. Singapore. • Dr Tran Triet, International Crane Foundation, • Prof. Phan Ke Loc, Hanoi University of Science, Southeast Asia Program. Vietnam. • Dr Jaap Vermeulen, J.K. Art and Science, Netherlands. • Dr Rajindra Puri, University of Kent at Canterbury, • Dr Santi Watt hana, Suranaree University of Tecnology, UK. Thailand. The Cambodian Journal of Natural History (ISSN 2226–969X) is an open access journal published by the Centre for Biodiversity Conservation, Royal University of Phnom Penh. The Centre for Biodiversity Conservation is a non-profi t making unit dedicated to training Cambodian biologists and to the study and conservation of Cambodian biodiversity. Cover image: Mangrove in Peam Krasaop Wildlife Sanctuary, Koh Kong Province (© Jeremy Holden/Global Wildlife Conservation). The carbon stock of peat soils in mangrove forests at the sanctuary is explored by Taing et al. in this issue (pages 55–62). Editorial 1 Editorial — The future of Payments for Ecosystem Services in Cambodia Virginia SIMPSON & Nicholas J. SOUTER* Conservation International, Greater Mekong Program, 4th Floor, Building E1, Phnom Penh Center, Sothearos Boulevard, Tonle Bassac, Phnom Penh, 12000, Cambodia. * Corresponding author. Email [email protected] In 2016 Cambodia’s protected area system increased fi nance is not the only priority that PES could help the signifi cantly in size. The establishment of fi ve new country to address: poverty reduction, species conser- protected areas (Souter et al., 2016) and the declaration of vation and boosting the agricultural sector are amongst an additional 1,427,940 ha of ‘biodiversity conservation the others. The people contributing to the maintenance corridors’ (RGC, 2017) increased Cambodia’s coverage of Cambodia’s forest ecosystems or threatened species of terrestrial protected areas to 42% of its land surface, are often among the nation’s poorest and have limited up from 26% in 2014 (World Bank, 2017). This places income sources. A PES programme could off er a new, Cambodia in the top 4% of nations worldwide in terms continuous source of revenue and provide an alternative of the percentage of land under protection (World Bank, to non-renewable income sources such as unsustainable 2017). However, providing adequate oversight is proving logging or mining. diffi cult, with Cambodia experiencing high rates of both Forest ecosystems provide four major ecosystem forest and biodiversity loss (Souter et al., 2016). services (Pagiola, 2008) to which PES could be applied Financing protected area management is a formi- in Cambodia: greenhouse gas mitigation, hydrological dable task for the already under-resourced Ministry of services, biodiversity conservation, and scenic vistas for Environment (MoE). Current levels of fi nancial support recreation and tourism. PES has previously been used from government and development partners are signifi - or assessed for some of these purposes in Cambodia. cantly below that needed (Souter et al., 2016). There are Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest very few policies or regulations that enable collection of Degradation (REDD+) demonstration sites have been revenues from forests, protected or otherwise, and the assessed in Mondulkiri, Oddar Meanchey, and Preah revenues that are collected are remitt ed to the national Vihear (Cambodia REDD+, 2017) with the aim of gener- treasury, rather than directed back into natural resource ating revenue through reducing greenhouse gas emis- management. Private sector engagement in sustain- sions and sequestering carbon. Carbon credits have been able forest management is also very low. Consequently, sold to protect the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary (Wild- Cambodia relies heavily on support from development life Conservation Society, 2017). The Wildlife Conserva- partners, especially bilateral and multilateral donors tion Society’s Ibis Rice programme, bird nest protection, and large NGOs, to fund protected area management. and ecotourism programme have all improved biodiver- However, as continued investment by donors and NGOs sity conservation (Clements & Milner-Gulland, 2015). is not sustainable (Souter et al., 2016), there is increasing Conservation International’s conservation agreement pressure for Cambodia to devise independent, long term programme in the Central Cardamom Mountains has strategies for funding the management of its natural reduced deforestation (Chervier & Costedoat, 2017). resources. Also, the hydrological services provided by the forest catchment of the Stung Atay hydro-power dam have Payments for ecosystem services (PES) off er a prom- been assessed (Fauna & Flora International, 2014). ising source of revenue which could be directly tied to conservation and management of Cambodia’s protected There is considerable scope to build upon these eff orts areas. PES is a fi nancial model through which people and expand the scope and coverage of PES in Cambodia. who benefi t from an ecosystem service (like water), Providing incentives to improve agricultural produc- provide fi nancial recompense to people whose lands or tivity and add value to Cambodian farms, including activities provide that service (such as forest-dwelling maintaining and increasing forest cover could result in communities). Cambodia’s urgent need for sustainable medium- and long-term gains, including increasing the Cambodian Journal of Natural History 2017 (1) 1–3 © Centre for Biodiversity Conservation, Phnom Penh 2 Editorial production of traditional (timber) and non-traditional hosted by the former Costa Rican Environment Minister, (carbon, fi rewood, water and biodiversity) goods and Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, who shared the Costa Rican services. The growth of Cambodia’s agricultural sector experience with the Cambodian delegation. On receiving (the largest contributor to the national economy) has a report of the trip Prime Minister Hun Sen responded lagged behind that of the industrial and service sectors. with an offi cial order to set Cambodia’s PES develop- This indicates a real potential for PES to improve agricul- ment in motion. ture’s contribution to GDP, which the government hopes Cambodia’s adoption of PES also needs to be to maintain at 7–8% per annum. informed by the experience of neighbouring Vietnam. PES could also help the government reach water secu- The Government of Vietnam implemented a pilot policy rity goals. The Rectangular Strategy for Growth, Employ- framework on Payments for Forest Ecosystem Services ment, Equity and Effi ciency Phase III recognizes the in 2008 which aims to strengthen forest conservation, critical role of freshwater ecosystems for ensuring food improve local livelihoods and generate external revenue security as well as sustaining economic activities such as for nature conservation. The policy focuses on water hydroelectricity production and servicing a burgeoning supply and regulation, soil conservation and landscape tourism sector. Ongoing water provision through incen- conservation for tourism (To et al., 2012). Buyers of tivized forest conservation and restoration will be