Securing a Safer Haven for the Smile of the Mekong

• Sommana Yan
• 19 May 2026
• Local News
• 397 Views

Cambodia Formally Registers Over Ten Thousand Hectares of Crucial River Habitat in Stung Treng to Safeguard Critically Endangered Dolphins

In a monumental step forward for freshwater wildlife conservation, the Royal Government of Cambodia has officially finalized the land registration of 10,873.35 hectares in Stung Treng province as a legally protected habitat for the critically endangered Mekong River dolphins. This major initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, aims to enhance the efficiency and legal backing of long-term conservation efforts. According to an official announcement released by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on May 11, 2026, the formal state certification establishes strict boundaries to protect the species from unlawful encroachment and habitat degradation.

The newly certified territory legally consolidates what is known as Core Zone 2 of the Mekong River Dolphin Management Area in Stung Treng province. The Ministry of Agriculture emphasized that completing this state land registration is a historic milestone for the protection of Cambodia’s irreplaceable natural heritage. This successful outcome is the result of continuous, close collaboration among the Fisheries Administration, sub-national administrations, local authorities, the World Wide Fund for Nature, and dedicated local river guards. Their collective efforts in enforcing regulations, conducting river patrols, and monitoring fishing activities have driven a steady recovery in the dolphin population over recent years, and this formal title will make the management of the conservation area significantly more effective.

In tandem with the announcement, the Ministry of Agriculture expressed its profound appreciation to the Ministry of Land Management for its active and seamless cooperation in mapping the boundaries and issuing the final land titles. Environmental authorities noted that maintaining a safe, legally protected habitat is the absolute guarantee needed to ensure that the iconic smile of the Mekong remains present for future generations. Beyond their ecological importance, the Mekong dolphins represent an extraordinary national asset and a vital driver of sustainable ecotourism, meaning that their survival directly supports the livelihoods of local communities along the riverbanks.

This legal formalization builds upon a string of remarkable milestones for the species. As a reminder, back in November 2025, Cambodia celebrated a historic turning point when conservation networks recorded the first-ever year with zero Mekong dolphin deaths. This positive momentum has carried over into 2026, with multiple newborn Irrawaddy dolphin calves discovered by researchers in the deep pools of the Mekong River, pushing the total estimated population to 117 individuals. While key threats like illegal gillnet entanglement persist, the combination of stricter state protections over Core Zone 2 and reinforced community patrolling offers a brighter, more secure future for these precious creatures.

• land registration
• MLMUPC
• Conservation zone