Cambodian Cranes

14 May 2010

Developing partnerships in wetland management to protect livelihoods of people and rare birds

News in today from Matthew Simpson, out in 37C degree heat in Cambodia:

I'm here in Cambodia to work with local NGOs involved in conservation and sustainable development. We are developing a partnership to deliver management support for two wetland areas in the south of Cambodia. We are also working with local communities to assess how we can support household livelihoods that increase household incomes and take pressure off the important wetland areas.

These wetlands support a non-breeding population of Sarus Crane which is listed as Vulnerable because it is suspected to have suffered a rapid population decline, which is projected to continue, as a result of widespread reductions in the extent and quality of its wetland habitats, exploitation and the effects of pollutants. We're working together to try and stop this decline. We visited the sites this week and managed to see cranes at them both which was encouraging but the construction of canals, land encroachment and pollution are real threats.

We're now frantically writing a proposal for funding from the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) to help support the partnership's activities and secure the future of these important wetlands and the livelihoods of people that live within them.