Phnom penh: Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Forestry have completed a five-day visit to mangrove forests protecting three Cambodian coastal provinces. Hosted by the Cambodia Agricultural Science Academy (CASA), the visit by five scientists from the Guangzhou-based Research Institute of Tropical Forestry took place in the provinces of Kep, Kampot, and Preah Sihanouk last week.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the mission to Cambodia was part of technical exchanges and capacity building for mangrove conservation and restoration under the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) framework. 'This was the first visit by Chinese experts with more than 40 years' experience in mangrove forest restoration technology,' said Dr. Heng Kong, Director of the Fisheries-Aquaculture Research and Development Institute (FARDI).
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries established FARDI in April to combine three fisheries research institutes and three aquaculture research centres into a single body. It was set up at the same time as CASA, which merged research in the fields of agriculture, forestry, livestock, and fisheries. Dr. Heng Kong expressed hope that the technology introduced by the Chinese experts will help improve Cambodian mangrove forests, increase biodiversity, and enhance community livelihoods.