First national round table

24 October 2001

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A case study from Kirirom National Park

Nhal Thoun, Director of Kirirom National Park, Department of Nature Conservation and Protection,Ministry of Environment

Location of Kirirom National Park

Park Management

• 35 park rangers
• 3 park stations
• 4 motorbikes
• 5 walkie talkies
• 1 camera
• 1 GPS

Staff organigram

Park zoning

N.B. This map is purely illustrative

Advisory sub-committee for conflict resolution

The advisory sub-committee convenes monthly. It is composed of the following members:

• Third deputy governor of Kompong Speu province (President)
• Provincial Department of Environment (Vice President)
• Department of Agriculture (Vice President)
• Park Director (Permanent Member)
• Department of Land Management, Urbanisation and Construction
• Department of Tourism
• Provincial military police
• Provincial police
• Provincial army

Park support

• 1997 Cambodia Environmental Management Programme - General park management
• 1998-1999 Worldwide Fund for Nature - General park management
• 1998 Wildlife Conservation Society - Bird and mammal surveys
• Mlubaitong - Environmental awareness

Achievements

• Boundary demarcation - legally recognised by Ministry of Environment, Ministry concerned and provincial governor.
• Protected area community development 400 ha.
• Law enforcement for illegal activities: logging, hunting and land encroachment.
• Tourism infrastructure: rubbish bins, WCs, information boards and signs.
• Awareness raising for monks, soldiers, students, community.

Tourism

Tourists began to visit Kirirom in 1997. Tourism arrivals fluctuate, visitors usually coming at the weekend and public holidays. From May to October visitor arrivals decrease due to the rainy season. The number of cars increases every year.

Challenges

• Extent of illegal activities depends upon the strength of the patrolling system.
• Lack of means of transport and equipment.
• Ministry of Environment lacks judicial power to enforce the law.
• Park rangers have limited understanding of park management.
• Poverty of local population.
• Local people have limited understanding of protected areas.
• Low local community participation in conservation of natural resources.
• Forest fires.
• Lack of support from NGOs to support park management.

Planning for 2002

• Boundary demarcation of western part of Kirirom National Park.
• Placement of concrete boundary markers in south eastern and northern areas.
• Construction of two sub-station in north of the park.
• Establishment of “protected area community”.

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Review of protected areas and their role in socio-economic development
in the four countries of the lower Mekong River region

page updated: 02/02/02