World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) - Mondulkiri, Cambodia (2007)

Project Description:

The Srepok Wilderness Area in Northeastern Cambodia is home to Asian elephants, banteng, gaur, tiger and hundreds of bird species. Working with local communities and wildlife authorities, WWF is developing an ecotourism initiative in the Srepok Wilderness Area to attract international tourists. Tourism revenues will go to local communities and to conservation projects in the protected areas.

Challenges:
  • The natural wealth of this region is threatened by the lucrative wildlife trade, illegal logging and land conversion to agriculture.
  • Local communities are very poor and need land and natural resources for food security and cash income for basic necessities.
  • The Government, particularly at provincial and district and lower levels, has very little revenue and doesn't believe there are economic benefits to be derived from conservation, which is trumped by more immediate subsistence and economic needs.
  • Communities are very remote and lack the capacity to work with international tourists.

Achievements:
  • Ecotourism Management Plan: As the Ecotourism Technical Advisor, I produced the first draft of an Ecotourism Management Plan outlining the framework for building an ecolodge and related tourism products including ecotrails (for walking, cycling and elephant riding), birdwatching, rafting and other low-impact, nature-based tourism activities.
  • Community Assessments: I worked closely with national staff and conducted Community Assessments with indigenous communities living in and around the protected area in an effort to analyze their capacity for serving tourists as guides, in hospitality, and through community-based projects.
  • Wildlife Ecotourism Management Board: I established all components for creating a Wildlife Ecotourism Management Board to ensure all stakeholders have input into the development of ecotourism-related activities.
  • Srepok River Discovery Trail guide book: I managed all aspects of producing the 16-page 'Srepok River Discovery Trail'  re-usable booklet for visitors to the wilderness area (see below for more information and to download a copy).

                 Srepok River Discovery Trail Guide
This 16-page re-usable guide book is beautifully designed and illustrated by Khmer artists with 16 numbered items of interest, including plants and animals, that can be found along a 2km walking trail. The trail contains numbered markers from 1 to 16 and hikers can read descriptions about the corresponding plants and animals in the book.

Please click here or on the guide book cover to the right to download a copy.