Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Prey Lang and community forest are equal to my wife and life
I have been patrolling Prey Lang since 2006
because I love natural resources
I found that natural resources have dramatically been losing
which I feel so sorry for my country
Prey Lang is the largest and biggest lowland evergreen forest in Southeast Asia.
It covers Cambodia's four Northern provinces such as Kampong Thom, Preah Vihear, Kratie and Stung Treng.
Some species haven't found and identified yet in the forest
Forest in Cambodia has been threatened by illegal logging, economic land concession and reclaiming land for cultivation.
Open Development Center (ODC) released a forestry map which shown that
in 1973, Cambodia was covered by forest of 72.11 per cent of total land
But recently, the map shows that there is only 46.33 per cent
including cropping area
There are more than 700.000 people, mostly minority group, who live surrounding Prey Lang
Thoes people are depended on the resources from Prey Lang
such as finding food like vegetables, mushrooms, honey, traditional herbs for medicine and construction materials
For them, forest is a bank without interest
In the past, I used to depend on Prey Lang
for traditional animal-hunting, plucking vine and rattan, hunting mushroom or honey
I used to plucking vine, traditional animal hunting...
But now, there is none
Prey Lang community was formed in 2006
It's a local community network working on patrolling and conserving the forest
from illegal logging in Prey Lang which is the last lower-land evergreen forest
Prey Lang Community has gotten some little support from partner NGO
but our activities ourselves sacrifice many things such as our own motor, rice, money and food
During several days of patrolling, we have spent many things.
Also, the local authorities have never cooperated with us
However, we are still working with them
I used to join them, and I also never refused that their activities are bad
however, they have not respected us so that I cannot join them
(Praying) if the trees are falling, please fall on cutting people
If our people just cut to make their house, please take care of them
Please help to protect our forest from illigal loggers
If the forest is gone, where will you live? Please remain living with us
Prey Lang and community forest are equal to my wife and life
because I have protected them. If they are cold or were cutting down, I need to take care of them
When I see the forest have been cutting down, I feel like my life is getting weaker and weaker.
I think the loss of Prey Lang is the loss of life.