PHNOM PENH, April 3 (Xinhua) -- A conservationist group said in a statement on Tuesday that they had protected 3,800 nests of 11 globally threatened bird species, leading to the fledging of 6,806 birds in the Northern Plains of Cambodia in Preah Vihear province since 2002.
The group is comprised of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the Cambodian Ministry of Environment (MoE) and community members.
The group set up a nest protection program in the early 2000s to prevent the widespread collection of eggs and chicks. Under the program, local people living the Chhep Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) and the Kulen Promtep Wildlife Sanctuary (KPWS) in the province are offered conditional payments if they successfully locate, monitor and protect nests until fledging.
"Nest protection has reduced threats from egg collection, nest disturbance and logging," said Rours Vann, WCS's wildlife monitoring team leader in the KPWS.
"The success of the program has been closely linked to our research into the ecology of key bird species and strong working relationships with local communities. When communities have the opportunity to obtain socio-economic benefits from their wildlife assets, they are more motivated to protect them."
According to the statement, target species of the program included Giant Ibis (Cambodia's National Bird), White-shouldered Ibis, White-rumped Vulture, Red-headed Vulture, Greater and Lesser Adjutants, Oriental Darter, Black-necked Stork, Sarus Crane, White-winged Duck and Masked Finfoot.
The Northern Plains of Cambodia consists of Kulen Promtep, Chhep and Prey Preah Roka Wildlife Sanctuaries, it said, adding that in recent years, the primary threat to globally threatened bird species in the landscape has shifted from egg collection to habitat loss.
"The nest protection program is a component of our broader landscape-scale conservation approach in the Northern Plains," said Ken Sereyrotha, WCS's country program director.
"This involves working closely with our government, community and NGO partners to establish and manage protected areas, develop land-use zoning plans and enhance wildlife-friendly livelihoods."
