National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) received a Certificate of Honour from the Cambodian government for donating an illustrated guide to biodiversity of Cambodia on September 25. NIER has conducted a joint study on biodiversity in Southeast Asia, which is a biodiversity hotspot to preserve biodiversity of the planet.
NIER signed MOUs for a joint biodiversity study with four Southeast Asian Countries, including Cambodia (June 2009), Vietnam (September 2009), Laos (June 2010) and Myanmar (January 2011).
The Ministry of Environment (MOE) has carried out a joint investigation on biodiversity with Cambodia since 2007, and the study was transferred to NIER in 2009. Seventy percent of Cambodia’s territory is covered with forest, and the study has been conducted in Cadamom Protected Forest and Seima Biodiversity Conservation Area rich in biodiversity.
Based on the study result, Biodiversity of Cambodia was published and donated to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forest and Fisheries of Cambodia on September 25. Biodiversity of Cambodia encompasses the results of a 7-year-long study on birds, fish, amphibians, insects and seed plants.
The book, published both in English and Khmer, contains color photos and ecological information of 451 species of wildlife. It will be widely utilized not only by international biological experts but also public officials who make biodiversity policies and biologists in Cambodia as research material.
In Korea, the collected samples and data about characteristics of each species will be provided as an essential input to support the domestic bio-industry.
Administrator of Forestry of Cambodia Chheng Kimsun said “Though Cambodia is known to be rich in biodiversity, it lacks information on biospecies.” “The book which is the result of NIER’s dedicated effort will be very useful and help enhance friendship between the two countries,” he added.
The award ceremony was held on September 25 at Phnom Penh, Cambodia. At the award ceremony, a Professor Lee Woo-Shin of Seoul National University who headed the joint biodiversity study in Southeast Asia noted that he joined the project enduring humid weather and uncomfortable beds. He expected the certificate of honour will promote amicable relations between the two countries.
NIEW plans to publish illustrated guide on biodiversity of other countries such as Myanmar and Vietnam to conserve biodiversity on the planet and secure useful biological resources.