WWF petitions to halt Don Sahong dam + Sanctuary ‘protected’

[geovalin]

Laignee Barron

World Wildlife Fund is taking to the internet to halt a hydropower project it claims will serve as the nail in the coffin for the critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphin.

On Friday, WWF launched an online petition calling on the developers of Laos’s 120 megawatt Don Sahong dam to suspend the project, which is slated to break ground by the end of this year. The petition aims to collect 50,000 signatures by August, when WWF will meet with Malaysian developers Mega First Berhad.

“WWF hopes that Mega First will not start construction until they conduct proper studies on transboundary impacts, taking into account consultation with communities downstream,” the conservation group said yesterday, reiterating a request made by Cambodia and neighbouring Mekong governments.

WWF previously issued a scientific review of the project, predicting dire results for the Mekong’s ecosystem, including potentially eradicating several fish species and threatening food security.

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Sanctuary ‘protected’

Mon, 26 May 2014

Phak Seangly and Amelia Woodside

More than 2,000 hectares of the decimated Lumphat Wildlife Sanctuary in Ratanakkiri province have been classified by the Ministry of Environment (MOE) as the sanctuary’s first community protected area.

Surrounded by three economic land concessions in Kon Mom district, the protected area is populated by a number of critically endangered species, including the white-shouldered ibis.

As well as the new classification, the ministry has also agreed to NGO-funded community patrols in the area, which rights groups say is being decimated by illegal loggers who allegedly transport felled timber onto the concessions.

“We’re excited because it will allow us to help the community set up a patrol because the [MOE] doesn’t have enough rangers to patrol the whole area,” said Bou Vorsak, program manager for BirdLife International in Cambodia.

But not everyone is convinced the newly protected sanctuary will prevent illegal logging.

“It doesn’t make sense that a community protected area has to be created within a wildlife sanctuary.… It sounds like someone isn’t doing their job if more protection is needed,” said Eang Vuthy, executive director of Equitable Cambodia.

Chhay Thy, provincial coordinator for rights group Adhoc, welcomed the move if it genuinely empowers the community to combat logging.

“Hopefully, this will help stop forest crimes from happening all the time,” Thy said.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/sanctuary-%E2%80%98protected%E2%80%99