Conservation Groups Decry Slaying of Two Cambodian Forest Guardians
International New York Times | 14 November 2015
One week ago, two members of a four-person team patrolling for illegal loggers and wildlife poachers in the Preah Vihear Protected Forest in northwestern Cambodia were shot and killed in their sleep, as Mongabay reported. Six men suspected in the murders, including a soldier, were arrested early in the week, but have been charged only with illegal logging for the moment as authorities continue to sift for evidence.
Early last month, representatives of local community groups had warned authorities about increasing forays by illegal logging teams, including members of a local military unit, according to Radio Free Asia.
On Friday, the Environmental Investigation Agency, a nonprofit group, issued an update on the booming trade in illegally harvested rosewood in the region, much of which ends up smuggled into China to supply manufacturers of antique-style furniture. To learn more, read “The Cost of Luxury,” a report released in February by the group Global Witness on timber smuggling operations running between Cambodia and China.
The murdered men, Sieng Darong, 47, a Forestry Administration ranger and Sab Yoh, 29, a police officer, worked in a program funded in part by the Wildlife Conservation Society, which had helped create reserves in the region more than a decade ago. Early this week, Ross Sinclair, who heads the group’s Cambodia office,lamented the loss of the men:
WCS has worked in this area since 2000 and we will remember Darong and Yoh as brave forest rangers dedicated to a cause they believed in. Darong, survived by a wife and two daughters, has worked as a WCS counterpart since 2014 and was patrol team leader. Yoh, survived by his wife and young daughter, had worked as a WCS counterpart and patrol member since 2009.We are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleagues. In their honor and to honor all those who day in and day out work to protect the forests and wildlife of Cambodia, we will continue to support our government and community partners in their efforts to stop the illegal logging and poaching, and to bring the murderers to justice.
Cambodia has seen other forest guardians murdered in recent years.
On Thursday, a coalition of conservation groups issued a statement on the crime:
Cambodia, Phnom Penh – WWF-Cambodia,BirdLife International-Cambodia, Conservation International, Fauna & Flora International, Wildlife Conservation Society, and Wildlife Alliance would like to extend their deepest condolences to the families of Sieng Darong, Forestry Administration ranger and Sab Yoh, police officer, two wildlife rangers who were killed on November 7 in the Preah Vihear Protected Forest during a patrol.All across Cambodia, wildlife rangers courageously patrol protected areas to preserve the country’s invaluable natural heritage against logging and poaching. They understand the danger of their duty and are fully committed to their mission to protect the wildlife and forests against offenders.The conservation organisations are alarmed by the violence of the crime committed against brave law-enforcement officials who were fulfilling their mission. They urge the authorities to take the necessary actions to bring the criminals to justice. This heinous crime highlights the importance of a strong collaboration between conservation NGOs, their community partners and the government to empower law enforcement officials and rangers in their important mission to fight against illegal activities that destroy the country’s natural capital.“Every day rangers and police officers risk their lives to protect wildlife and the forests. We should not allow the criminals to destroy the forests of Cambodia and to threaten and murder those working tirelessly to protect this country’s natural heritage. Darong and Yoh will always be remembered as conservation heroes.” said Ross Sinclair, Director of WCS Cambodia.“Rangers perform a difficult and dangerous job, and it is deeply distressing to the entire conservation community, and civil society, that these forest rangers could be killed so cold-bloodedly while they slept.” said Chhith Sam Ath, Director of WWF-Cambodia.“We expect to see these murderers brought to justice, and will continue our efforts to support the government to protect natural resources in Cambodia.” said Seng Bunra, Director of CI Cambodia.Globally, over 100 rangers are killed each year, with 80% of them murdered by poachers and loggers. This underlines the dangerous and vital work that rangers carry out on the front lines of conservation. We remain united and committed to support communities and government to protect natural resources in Cambodia.The conservation community in Cambodia will remember Sieng Darong and and Sab Yoh as determined heroes, fully dedicated to their mission. They are the face of the important fight led by many others to preserve Cambodia’s natural heritage.
Around the world, the rush for resources in poorly governed forests and other remote areas continues to claim lives. Last year, Global Witness published a sobering report tallying killings, most of which go unpunished, as this graph shows:
By 2050 or so, the human population is expected to pass nine billion. Those billions will be seeking food, water and other resources on a planet where humans are already shaping climate and the web of life. In Dot Earth, which moved from the news side of The Times to the Opinion section in 2010, Andrew C. Revkinexamines efforts to balance human affairs with the planet’s limits. A Times reporter for 14 years, Revkin is the Senior Fellow for Environmental Understanding at Pace University's Pace Academy for Applied Environmental Studies.
Conceived in part with support from a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship, Dot Earth tracks relevant developments from suburbia to Siberia. Click for a narrated slide show on the roots of Revkin's journalistic journey.
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