Seven or eight kilometres outside of Koh
Kong city, or Krong Koh Kong, in Cambodia is an enormous mangrove forest
where visitors can observe the delicate ecosystem that locals (and
probably an NGO or two) have turned into a thriving ecotourism project.
Part of the nearly 25,000-hectare Peam
Krasop Wildlife
Sanctuary, the Boeng Kayak area has a kilometre-long
mangrove walk, with elevated cement and wooden platforms
snaking through
the mangrove forest. Entrance fees (5,000 riel for foreigners, 3,000
for Cambodians) go towards supporting the project, which aims to provide
local villagers with alternatives to ecologically damaging choices.
The mangrove forests of Cambodia are
environmentally important, providing homes to hundreds of species of
wildlife, including, it's said, the famous Irrawaddy dolphins, a
pug-nosed species related to the killer whale which are endangered due
to the destruction of their natural habitat. (The dolphins are often
visited by tourists in their habitat 20 km outside the Cambodian town of
Kratie.)
Koh Kong province's mangrove forests have
been deteriorating since 1979, when the Khmer Rouge were overthrown. At
that time, Koh Kong was sparsely populated, and many of the newly
displaced Cambodian population chose to make Koh Kong home. The bridge
from Thailand and the sealing of roads to the capital have only served
to increase the population further, and more fishing and charcoal
production has put enormous pressure on the mangroves and their
ecosystem.
Supporting the locals in alternative
occupations, such as tourism, can help save Cambodia's mangroves. In
addition to the mangrove walk -- which, incidentally contains what might
be the world's only public mangrove toilet -- visitors can hire boats
to birdwatch among the mangroves. There's also a "resort" and restaurant
set up, with a dozen or so air-conditioned bungalows for those who want
to spend the night watching the fireflies in the mangroves (though
since when is air-con environmentally friendly?) The easiest way to
visit is to organise the journey from Krong Koh Kong, where you can hire
a moto to take you there.
