The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in Cambodia says that efforts to preserve the endangered Bengal Florican and other threatened bird species around the Tonle Sap Lake (the largest lake in South East Asia) were largely successful last year.

WCS says that in early 2007 there were approx 1,300 of the black and white Bengal Floricans in existence worldwide, now they put that number at less than 1,000 with about 650 of those being in Cambodia, the remainder in India and Nepal.

Since 2006 WCS has been working with provincial authorities to set aside a total of 350 sq km as ‘integrated farming and biodiversity area’ where small scale farmers can continue with their livelihoods undisturbed. Farmers are integral to maintaining the balance of the grasslands as the land would revert to scrub if not cultivated, rendering uninhabitable for the birds. Less intensive farming systems have a lot of biodiversity associated with them that could be lost with high input production farming systems that use a lot of construction, fertilizers and pesticides.

In addition to the Bengal Florican, which is probably the most threatened species in Cambodia, the Sarus Crane, White-shouldered Ibis, and Greater Spotted Owl have also benefited from the conservation project.

For information of bird watching tours in Cambodia contact Asia Adventures for more details: info@asia-adventures.com

Adapted from The Cambodia Daily 23-4-08