US ambassador W. Patrick Murphy handing out the awards at the ceremony on Nov 3. - BTV
PHNOM PENH (The Phnom Penh Post/Asia News Network): Six Cambodian outstanding conservationists were recognised as “Mekong Conservation Heroes” by the Wonders of the Mekong project for their environmental activities have received awards for their work in protecting endangered species including the Irrawaddy dolphin, Mekong giant catfish, and giant softshell turtle, as well as outreach and community-based efforts to protect Cambodia’s globally significant forests and fisheries.
The awards ceremony, held on Nov 3, was attended by US ambassador W. Patrick Murphy.
The heroes programme was developed by the USAID-funded Wonders of the Mekong project to shine a light on inspiring individuals who are working in the lower Mekong basin to study, protect, or raise awareness about the its unique ecosystem, biodiversity, habitats, and cultural heritage.
“Congratulations to the recipients of USAID Cambodia’s 2022 Mekong Conservation Heroes Award for their amazing efforts to preserve and protect biodiversity in Cambodia - especially the Might Mekong River system,” Murphy tweeted on Nov 3.
The six Mekong Conservation Heroes
Hoy Sreynov is a fisheries officer at the Department of Aquaculture Development, Cambodian Fisheries Administration. She studies the growth of endangered fishes collected as larvae in the Mekong River that are reared in experimental ponds, and cares for them so that they can be released back into the wild.
Som Sitha is the Mekong and Sre Ambel project manager for the Wildlife Conservation Society. Since helping to rediscover the endangered Cantor’s Giant Softshell Turtle in the Mekong River between Kratie and Stung Treng ten years ago, he has dedicated himself to conserving this species, including working with communities to protect more than 50 turtles’ nests each year.
Buth Chanmeta is the awareness and outreach senior officer at WWF-Cambodia. Through her awareness raising activities in 90 villages along the Mekong River, Chanmeta helps communicate the value of the Mekong River’s biodiversity and the importance of protecting the endangered Irrawaddy dolphin, as well as fish, birds, and other wildlife, to an average of 10,000 people each year.
Hor Sam Ath, is the deputy chief of the Sdei Kraom Rohal Suong Community Fishery Committee. As a respected elder, he engages with community members and government partners to conserve his community’s natural lake, including protecting fish during the dry season, conserving fish spawning areas, restoring the flooded forest, and protecting the habitats of black monkeys and otters.
Luy Rasmey is the executive director of the Culture and Environment Preservation Association. She works to advance sustainable fisheries management and natural resources conservation in northeastern Cambodia by establishing and strengthening community fisheries, community forestry, community-based ecotourism and livelihood development programmes.
Lor Kimsan is a research project officer with WWF-Cambodia. He has spent 15 years working to study and conserve biodiversity along the Mekong River between Kratie and Stung Treng, including research and monitoring of globally endangered species such as the Irrawaddy dolphin, hog deer, river tern and white-shouldered ibis.
