Developing the Cambodia Protected Area Alerts System
Developing the Cambodia Protected Area Alerts System is a service that monitors near real-time forest changes and external threats including deforestation, forest fires, and floods within the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary, a protected area in Cambodia. Built on a cloud-based platform, the service uses machine learning and inputs from satellite-based observations and ground validation and reporting. This service assists decision-makers to better manage natural resources and conserve biodiversity; provides site-specific information to support national programs and systems; and fosters an environment of transparency and accountability to attract sustainable finance investments in Cambodian conservation schemes and REDD+ project implementation.
Near real-time forest alert information generated by this service is being integrated into the Protected Area Monitoring Platform (PAMP) of the USAID Greening Prey Lang project which will be part of the Cambodia Environment Management Information System (CEMIS). PAMP and CEMIS will support the REDD+ validation process and community patrolling that can benefit other non-governmental and civil society organizations for participatory monitoring, reporting and verification of the REDD+ projects in Cambodia. This service has been replicated for Northern Plains Landscape and will be scaled up to cover protected areas across Cambodia.
Rationale
Cambodia’s protected areas contribute to the country’s economy through the sustainable use of its biological and natural resources. However, this network of protected areas is under threat. In recent years, there has been accelerated deforestation due to the rapid increase in demand for agricultural land, fuel wood, and non-timber forest products. Additionally, hydropower, urban, and industrial development have exerted great pressure on these protected ecosystems. The Ministry of Environment (MOE) in Cambodia is developing CEMIS to collect, integrate and display environmental data including historical and near real-time data from the Cambodian protected areas system. The near real-time forest monitoring provided by this service will enable the MOE and Provincial Department of Environment (PDoE) staff to take immediate action to protect and ensure effective management of Cambodia’s protected areas.
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Users
USAID/Cambodia
Ministry of Environment (MOE)
Provincial Department of Environment Protected Area Management Board
Conservation International (CI)
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
Fauna and Flora International (FFI)
BirdLife International
Wild Earth Allies (WEA)
Our Future Organization (OFO)
Rising Phoenix Co., Ltd
Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation (MJP)
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Training Materials
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External News/Resources
