Protecting The Areng Valley

Mother Nature activists and locals are blocking illegal sand mining boats from access to Koh Kong.

Over in the Areng Valley of Cambodia, members of indigenous groups have lived in balance with their environmental heritage for centuries. A tribute to that effort is that such unique species as Siamese crocodiles have flourished, with relatively little change in numbers. In fact some 30 species of rare or critically endangered animals have found a welcoming home in the valley.

In 2012, the Cambodian government had proposed to build a dam, that would provide an additional power source for their electronic grid. But to construct the dam would have involved destroying the entire upper reach of the Areng River, which provides a livelihood to some 1500 indigenous people. Environmentalists, Buddhist monks, and the locals came together to form MOTHER NATURE, a group which has engaged in a successful fight against building the dam. In fact, this year Cambodia's current Prime Minister declared that as long as he heads the government, there will be no dam.



But that doesn't mean that Mother Nature's supporters can stop their work. They have undertaken a second campaign to stop illegal sand dredging in the Koh Kong estuary. Two sand mining companies were given permits to undertake the mining of sand, but there are strict conditions and limits to which they must adhere. So part of the work of these activists is to provide watchdog capabilities to make sure that the companies stick within the limits.

This campaign in the Koh Kong estuary hasn't been without its difficulties, either. Three members of Mother Nature started to notice violations of the two sand companies' restrictions, which included digging deeper than permitted and digging too close to the river, causing a collapse of the river bank. As happens with many activists, they were jailed, instead of company officials.

The group also has been sponsoring eco-tourism of the Areng Valley, in cooperation with the Jong communities in the area. Called Wild KK Project, the group books tour groups to visit the area, led by knowledgeable guides, to learn about the unique flora and fauna, along with the customs of the local peoples. Some of the tourist experiences include hiking, kayaking, and mountain biking.

Locals use the Areng to provide for their sustenance.

Alex Gonzalez-Davidson, one of Mother Nature's early activists, stated, about his involvement, "These indigenous communities, with their simple, spiritually rich lives and virtually non-existing carbon footprint, are potential flag bearers of the kind of life we want to promote within Cambodia."

Some of the Buddhist monks who work with Mother Nature.

Thanks to this article from Pollination Project: https://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/alex-gonzalez-davidson-somnang-sim-heng-meng-ven-lek-mother-nature-save-adeng-campaign/; and the above link.

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