Khmer Circle រង្វង់ខ្មែរ: Cambodia's first marine national park is established for Koh Rong

Friday 9 February 2018

Cambodia's first marine national park is established for Koh Rong

Chhay Channyda | Publication date 09 February 2018 | 10:51 ICT

A document marking the area of Cambodia's first marine national park. Image supplied

Cambodia's first marine national park was established yesterday, seemingly replacing and expanding upon a marine protection area established for the Koh Rong archipelago in 2016.

According to a sub-decree signed by Prime Minister Hun Sen, the Koh Rong Marine National Park will cover seven islands: Koh Rong, Koh Rong Samloem, Koh Koun, Koh Touch, Koh Tatiem, Koh Mnoas Krav and Koh Mnoas Knong.

The park covers 52,448 hectares of mostly open water, with just 5,311 hectares of land, the decree states.

However, the sub-decree notes the park excludes land committed to public use and privately owned land. Large swathes of Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem have reportedly been leased for development.

The decree mandates the Ministry of Environment to manage the park in collaboration with other ministries, including the Ministry of Agriculture, which includes the Fisheries Administration (FiA). The previous marine area for the archipelago was controlled by the FiA, which lacks jurisdiction over land.

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The long tragedy of Cham history

“The process [‘Nam Tien’ or Vietnamese southward expansion] was well defined by Léopold Cadière in 1911: “As soon as they feel themselves able, they drive off the first inhabitants, whether in a peaceful manner, by taking over the land, clearing it and “planting the bamboo” – the hedges that to this day still surround Annamese gardens and villages – or by violence, then they fight with the Chams, destroying their temples and mutilating their statues.” In short, there was no room left for the Chams.”