MoE registers 30,000 hectares of natural heritage sites, plans to enlist more

• 5 June 2020
• Local News
• 3334 Views

Since 2016, the Ministry of Environment (MoE) has issued sub-decrees to establish 11 historic mountain resorts as natural heritage sites on a total area of ​​28,719.391 hectares and is now considering list other natural sites.

“The Royal Government’s sub-decrees to transform these 11 mountain resorts into mountain natural heritage sites marks our high consideration on the history, culture, conservation of biodiversity, the livelihood of the people and tourism in those areas,”Mr Leung Kesaro, Director of Heritage Department of Ministry of Environment, in an interview with Construction & Property Magazine on 04 June 2020.

To date, the Ministry of Environment has managed conservation and development of all-natural protected areas by splitting them into categories such as national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, landscape protected areas, multi-use areas, Ramsar areas, core biosphere reserves, natural heritage areas and national sea parks.

In pursuing the work of natural heritage conservation, the Ministry of Environment has established 11 natural heritage sites located in Preah Vihear, Pailin, Battambang and Banteay Meanchey province since 2016.

Among those Phnum Tbaeng is the first natural heritage site located in Preah Vihear with a total area of ​​25,269.41 hectares.

“For the future plan, I am studying all the mountains in the country. Regarding the project implementing budget, if the private sector cooperates with us, that is very good! His Excellency the Minister of Environment has suggested considering the potential mountains which have a high value of history, culture, conservation and other considerable values,” added Kesaro.

Recently, the Ministry of Environment also decided to list six mountain resorts in Banteay Meanchey province as natural heritage sites with a total area of ​​2,000 hectares, and also three more in Battambang province. (Read more)

According to the 2008 Law on Protected Natural Areas, natural heritage sites refer to areas in territory and / or waters which are unique in nature or semi-natural processing and have a distinctive or unique value. Also, the areas have to be rare and rich in quality representing natural systems or have aesthetic or cultural significance.