CAMBODIAN GOVERNMENT APPROVES CONTROVERSIAL TITANIUM MINE
Friday, February 11, 2011 at 9:41AM Wildlife Alliance Expresses Concern for Conservation Issues Including Climate Change and Preservation of Forests and Wildlife
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia/WASHINGTON, DC, Feb. 11, 2011 – Prime Minister Hun Sen has approved a land concession to United Khmer Group, a private mining company. The prime minister’s approval came ahead of a meeting on Friday, February 11 at the Council for the Development of Cambodia that was meant to discuss the proposed mining project. United Khmer Group had exploration rights to search for titanium in 20,400 hectares of densely forested land in the Southern Cardamom Mountains.
The decision to approve the mine threatens to devastate one of the last remaining elephant corridors on the continent, put more than 70 endangered and vulnerable species at risk, and degrade one of the world’s largest remaining carbon sink reserves. Months after local villagers initially discovered construction workers bulldozing access roads in the midst of the Southern Cardamoms Protected Forest in June 2010, the Cambodian government’s decision will allow the mining company to exploit the land.
Suwanna Gauntlett, Wildlife Alliance CEO, led the fight against the mine, representing the views of local communities and other environmental groups. Local villagers recognized the mine as a threat to the growing ecotourism industry, agricultural initiatives, forests, and a habitat for one of Cambodia’s largest wild elephant populations.
“This is Cambodia’s natural heritage, its national heritage, and it could all be eliminated by 20,400 hectares of strip mining,” Gauntlett says.
The United Khmer Group projects revenues of more than $1.3 billion a year, numbers that far outpace the market rate for titanium. To date, a comprehensive study to determine the size and concentration levels of the titanium ore deposit has not been conducted.
“Without scientific research to prove the economic viability of the proposed mine,” Gauntlett says, “bulldozing the rainforest is simply destructive and does not even make good business sense.”
Wildlife Alliance calls on United Khmer Group to work closely with communities, the Forestry Administration and environmental groups to minimize the mine’s impact on local residents, waterways, and wildlife. Further, we request UKG submit a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment and strictly abide by the regulations laid out in Cambodia’s laws on forestry and mining.
“We recognize that development is essential to Cambodia’s future, but that development must be conducted in a coordinated matter that respects conservation initiatives,” says Suwanna Gauntlett. “We ask that all industrial developers work closely with conservation partners in the Southern Cardamom Mountains to minimize environmental damages associated with economic development. Together we can find solutions to maximize the earning potential of local people while diminishing the harm to wildlife and habitats, local rivers, and downstream fisheries.”
Wildlife Alliance is a non-profit organization based in Cambodia and Washington, D.C., working directly with communities and governments to improve forest management and institute good governance to comprehensively address the devastation of ecosystems and combat the illegal wildlife trade. We actively empower local communities by promoting diversified agriculture, community-based ecotourism, and reforestation. Visit Wildlife Alliance on the Web at: http://www.wildlifealliance.org.
Contacts:
In Phnom Penh — John Maloy, Chief Communications Officer
+855 78 809 70
jmaloy@online.com.kh
In Washington — Andrea Kaufmann, Director of Communications and Marketing
+1 202 368 1746
kaufmann@wildlifealliance.org
Reader Comments (18)
I am absolutely devasted to receive such dreadful news. Everyday we kill another piece of the planet. It's desparing, really.
i am sorry but i am completely alarmed by this decision. After so much time and money spent on trying to turn the area into a successful eco tourism site, a signature by the prime minister is all it takes to wipe off over 20.000 hectares of virgin forest home to several endangered species....
the fact that the camodian government decides to go ahead with the destruction of the area, even with all the opposition that the chea phat community, international exerts, even members of the forestry administration have expressed over the project, shows once and for all that more radical measures are needed in order to truly put an end to the destruction of our beloved environment,
maybe there are some things to be learnt from what some amazonian tribes are doing in Peru to protectthir forests, dont you think?
What can we do now, from London?
Hopefully this comment won't be removed until enough people have managed to copy and pass it on.....
Here are some facts for you to think about...
- The guy who is in charge of this "mining company" is nothing but an experienced logger who has been wise enough to disguise his true intentions behind the pretext of extracting Titanium worth billions of dollars (with b)
- There has never been any serious impact environmental assessment of the area simply because a feasibility report about how much Titanium there is there has never been carried out.
- Once the area has been cleared of luxury timber (sandalwood mainly, but also other kinds of rare and endangered tree species) the chances of Titanium being extracted on a massive scale is simply zero. There are enough examples happening all over Cambodia to corroborate this.
- Other environmental NGOs currently engaged in Cambodia trying to establish community based eco tourism projects, encouraged by the success Chi Phat has had since its creation, are now more than likely re-thinking their plans. I mean, what is the point of spending huge amounts of resources and time in turning a whole community of mainly loggers and poachers into a successful eco-tourism resort, only for the signature of the Prime Minister to turn it all into a desert?
- The Prime Minister of Cambodia Hun Sen, linked time and again to Cambodia's main logging syndicate by Global Witness, has given formal approval of the plan, meaning that only a huge international outcry involving the media, the public, as well some governments, has a chance of backtracking this.
- Do not expect any of the NGOs working in Cambodia to raise their voices too loud about all this. The only reason they are allowed to work in Cambodia is because they blindly comply with pretty much anything that the government of Cambodia tells them to do. If they complain too much, they are out, as simple as that.
- Am I right to think that it is time we scaled up our fight against the destruction of our nation, from writing reports to maybe engaging in some other kinds of activities?
It's tremendously sad how greed is stronger then anything, but now it's not just one part of the planet which is in serious danger, it does affect all of us! Rainforests are vital for the survival of the planet!! This would be a clear case for Greenpeace and a worlwide campaign!!
Humans are cancer to the earth. We are destroying the living and working organs of this planet one by one just like cancer. And to top it all the people trying to stop the destruction are out numbered many times by those seeking to inflate their bank balances. God created this perfect place and entrusted us humans to look after it. Mother nature will win in the end.... just consider global warming, changing weather patterns etc etc. It is just down hill for us humans. The greedier we become the more momentum we gain.
Just another day, another dollar (or foreign currency) and more animals treated with disregard.
We have to BOYCOTT products and tourism for these countries who continue to disrespect wildlife.
Please take the time to write to Cambodia's tourism bureau and tell them you will not visit their country nor will you buy ANY products made in Cambodia, and many are.
Thanks.
Let us do whatever we can, and not despair when a battle is lost. The next battle we may win. All efforts to save the planet, to save the elephants in Cambodia, to save the rainforest count. I am thankful that you continue on a Governmental level to involve the ministries and the mining company as well to minimize the destructive impact. Please continue to press for an environmental study. People in governments and companies have to be educated that rainforest, wild animals and nature are assets which also bring revenue to the country. We have to make them aware that certain destructions will be irreversible for a long time. Greed and corruption is rampant, how to counteract ?
United Khmer Group didn't win.. We all lost.
I was in the Cardamom mountains recently on a trip to Cambodia, and I am sad and disheartened to learn that they will soon be exploited. How upsetting that the Cambodian government can't see the potential in their rainforest other than bulldozing it (e.g. tourism, carbon absorption, medicines, etc).
Stop cruelty on animals! We have to take care of them and not eat them or terrorize them!!!! God help them!
IN THE NAME OF I AM AN ENVIRONMENT INTERESTING MAN, I WOULD LIKE TO APPEAL TO THE GOVERNMENT, ESPECIALLY MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT TO STOP POSTPONE THE IMPLEMENT OF THE PRIVATE MINING GROUP FOR A TEMPORARY AND STUDY TO FIND OUT THE IMPACT OF THIS LAND CONCESSION FIRST WITH COOPERATION WITH WWF OR OTHER RELATED CONCERNING SKILL FIRM. BECAUSE WE LIKE THE NATURE, WE LIKE THE WILD LIFE AND SUSTAINABLE ECOSYSTEM. IF WE DESTROYED IT ALL ECOSYSTEM WILL BE CHANGE SO THE ECO-TOURISM IS MEANINGLESSNESS.
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