Kadoorie Conservation China (KCC) sent six of their members to attend the Asia-Pacific Chapter Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia between 30 March and 2 April. Over 300 conservation biologists from 29 Asian countries shared information, gave presentations and learned from each other at the event which was titled: The Future of Biodiversity in Tropical Asia: Addressing Local and Global Challenges.

Jianhuan Yang of KCC answered audience’s questions to his presentation on Hainan’s Asian Water Monitor during the ATBC meeting in Cambodia. 

KCC and Prof. Harrison of World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) admired some excellent wildlife photos taken during the post-ATBC exposure trip to Seima Protection Forest, Cambodia. 

It became apparent that we are all facing similar challenges and difficulties in our rainforests conservation work in the Asia-Pacific region. The demand for expensive wooden products has risen as people grow wealthier. The huge demand for redwood products, for example, has caused extensive deforestation and forest degradation. The situation is further exacerbated by the lack of environmental impact assessments and proper planning. Forest fragmentation and unregulated poaching are threatening biodiversity and irreversibly damaging ecosystems. It is crucial that effective conservation efforts are made in the region.

Following the conference, the KCC team made a four-day study tour to Seima Protection Forest in Mondulkiri, eastern Cambodia. Our team accompanied a bird expert from the Sam Veasna Center, a local non-profit ecotourism agency. They were lucky to spot some endangered and elusive wildlife, including the Great Slaty Woodpecker, Green Peafowl and Yellow-Cheeked Crested Gibbons. This was not only a memorable experience for the team, it also served as a valuable training so that back home in China they will more easily be able to identify these animals. We were saddened to see that a great deal of habitat had been destroyed; many redwood trees had been felled and we were told they had mostly been smuggled to China. Private developers had bought up a wildlife sanctuary and completely deforested the area after the government changed its terms of land use. Also, locals routinely burn and hack the large trees of the Dipterocarp family to get at the sap. Cambodia currently has over 50% forest cover, but because of the growing rate of forest destruction and lack of action from the government, these forests are in danger of completely disappearing, along with all the amazing fauna and flora that call it home. 

Please think twice before purchasing any expensive products made from forest wood, particularly redwood furniture. Check where the materials are sourced from and understand the impact. Responsible buying helps protect forests and the many precious species that live there.

There are seven species of primates living in Seima Protection Forest, including the world’s largest population of over 2,000 yellow-cheeked crested gibbons (Nomascus gabriellae).

Great diversity of bird species were also spotted during our trip to Seima Protection Forest, including this male white-bellied woodpecker (Dryocopus javensis). 

Inside Seima Protection Forest, tall trees of the Dipterocarp family were burnt and hacked for sap extraction by local tribes.

Due to encroachment and illegal logging, the size of Seima Protection Forest has been shrinking by 3% annually.