By Cambodian royal decree, the Critically Endangered Southern River Terrapin was designated the country’s National Reptile, thereby changing its name to the Royal Turtle. One of the Royal Turtle’s only nesting areas is along the banks of the Sre Ambel River catchment, a lowland riverine forest in southern Cambodia. Protecting this vital habitat is imperative for the species’ survival in Cambodia, as it was only recently re-discovered in the country. This terrapin is restricted to the Sre Ambel River system and one site in Malaysia. This river catchment is also one of the last remaining breeding sites for the Critically Endangered Siamese Crocodile. Although the Sre Ambel River is surrounded by protected areas, it remains unprotected.

Rainforest Trust seeks $374,078 to support our local partner the Wildlife Conservation Society-Cambodia in the creation of a 43,984-acre permanent protected area to ensure the security of this important wildlife site. This will also ensure the protection of the livelihoods of the many communities dependent on this vital riverine ecosystem. Without legal protection of the river system, these species and communities will continue to face threats from sand dredging, forest clearing and unsustainable fishing. Strategically, this proposed new protected area will connect other parks and reserves to create a mosaic of more than 4.8 million acres of protected areas.

Biodiversity

The Sre Ambel River system is one of the most diverse and intact river systems in Cambodia…

The Sre Ambel River system is one of the most diverse and intact river systems in Cambodia, stretching from the headwaters of the Cardamom National Park to the mangrove forests of the Kampong Som Bay adjacent the Gulf of Thailand. It is one of the relatively few river systems in the country that is not part of the Mekong basin and thus boasts significantly different biodiversity due to a rare mixture of Melaleuca forests, grasslands, evergreen riparian forest and mangroves. This incredibly intact landscape hosts an enormous range of threatened terrestrial and aquatic species. Once thought extinct, the Royal Turtle was rediscovered in Cambodia in 2000 and is listed as Critically Endangered since there are less than ten breeding females known. Notably, the catchment is one of the last remaining global breeding sites for the Critically Endangered Siamese Crocodile. The Giant Ibis, Pileated Gibbon, Hog Deer, Sarus Crane and two other threatened turtle species (the Asian Giant Softshell Turtle and the Yellow-headed Temple Turtle) also call this river system home.

Challenges

The greatest threat to the continued survival of Royal Turtles and other species at the proposed site is sand dredging.

Sand extracted from the river is used for construction and is even exported to Singapore. Sand dredging changes the hydrology of the river and destroys nesting beaches used by the turtles. Given the small size of the remaining Royal Turtle population, a protected area on the Sre Ambel River is long overdue. Clearance of riparian forest is another significant threat to the integrity of the site. Trees are cut to provide poles for fences and are used as scaffolding in the bustling construction industry. Land adjacent the river is cleared for agriculture or pastureland for cattle grazing. Using unsustainable or damaging fishing techniques such as explosives and electricity are direct threats to turtle and fish populations. Biodiversity in the proposed protected area is further threatened by hunting with guns, wire cable snares and the use of poison.

Communities

The local communities surrounding and within the proposed protected area are Khmer.

Communities do not have secure tenure or user rights, and if the site becomes an agricultural concession all prospective rights will be extinguished. The proposed project will secure user rights for local communities and in some locations also tenure rights through the protected area zonation process. The Sre Ambel River system and surrounding woodland within the proposed protected area are very important for the livelihoods of local people for use of natural resources (primarily fish and other aquatic resources) and provision of ecosystem services (particularly water). Local communities will play an integral part in all aspects of the project. They will be involved in consultations, the defining of the area’s zones and boundaries and joint patrols once the protected area has been established. It is notable that several of the catchment communities have been active in the creation and management of the nearby Phnom Toub Cheang community forest. The social capital and knowledge built through this participation is expected to improve protected area program implementation at the local level.

Solutions

As one of the most diverse and intact river systems in Cambodia, the Sre Ambel River is facing many threats…

As one of the most diverse and intact river systems in Cambodia, the Sre Ambel River is facing many threats such as sand dredging, forest clearing and unsustainable fishing that is destroying the habitat for several Critically Endangered, Endangered and Vulnerable species. With immediate action to protect this habitat, the Critically Endangered Royal Turtle – once thought extinct – has an excellent chance for recovery. Rainforest Trust seeks $374,078 to support our local partner in the creation of a 43,984-acre permanent protected area. The threats in this region can only be mitigated through a combination of measures, including legal protected area status for the site and the government-led law enforcement that such formal protection will allow. Our partner will work with local communities to identify functional zones with various different resource management and protection strategies. These zones will include strictly protected areas and sections where communities can sustainably access resources. Currently, local people are paid to protect turtle nests, and collect the hatchlings for rearing at a head-starting facility nearby. Local communities and the monks from a nearby pagoda are involved in annual releases of head-started turtles into the Sre Ambel River and take part in post-release monitoring.