Phnom Penh: A new initiative has been launched aimed at bolstering local livelihoods as a means to aid in the conservation of vultures. The program seeks to engage local communities in efforts to support and sustain the vulture population, which has experienced significant challenges in recent years.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the initiative will focus on providing resources and support to communities living in areas that are home to vulture populations. By improving local economic conditions, the program aims to reduce the pressures on the environment that have adversely affected vulture habitats.

The program will involve training and resources for local residents, enabling them to engage in sustainable practices that contribute to both their economic well-being and the protection of vultures. This includes education on the importance of vultures to the ecosystem and strategies to minimize human-wildlife conflict.

Furthermore, the initiative will collaborate with conservation organizations and local authorities to monitor vulture populations and ensure that the measures implemented are effective in promoting a stable and thriving environment for these birds.

The project underscores the importance of integrating community development with wildlife conservation, highlighting a model that can be replicated in other regions facing similar challenges.

Cambodia’s Minister of Environment supports an initiative by an international consortium of vulture conservation organisations to promote the livelihoods of local communities engaging in saving the birds. `H.E. Dr. Eang Sophalleth expressed his support when receiving Dr. Jemima Parry-Jones, chair of the consortium called Saving Asia’s Vultures from Extinction (SAVE), on Feb. 18 at the ministry.`He said that the Green Leisure Goal initiative has trained community members on alternative livelihoods so as to switch them from hunting to protecting and conserving animal nests, thereby increasing the number of vultures. `It engages the local community in conserving vultures for their own benefit, which is a sustainable approach, he added. The initiative is in line with the ministry’s Chakra Strategy, which promotes clean, green, and sustainable practices.`The Cambodian Vulture Census in 2022 showed that there are 134 vultures (71 white-rumped vultures, 44 slender-billed vultures, and 19 red-headed vultures) living
in Cambodia, an increase from 121 in 2021. `