Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary

By WCS Cambodia

November 25^th, 2024

Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary, in the foothills of the Annamite Mountains, has become a benchmark for conservation in Cambodia. Its history of protection reflects a steady progression of stronger safeguards. In the 1990s, the area was a logging concession controlled by the Malaysian conglomerate Samling, focused on timber extraction. By 2000, WCS began biodiversity surveys and established partnerships with the government to highlight the ecological and cultural value of the region. This led to its reclassification in 2002 as a Biodiversity Conservation Area, covering 305,000 hectares, where conservation objectives were balanced with sustainable use to support local communities.

In 2009, the area became the Seima Protection Forest, with stricter protections and clearer rules. The redesignation reduced the total area to 296,000 hectares but created a 187,000-hectare core zone for conservation while removing populated areas from protected zones. The emphasis shifted to reducing deforestation, safeguarding Indigenous livelihoods, and avoiding carbon emissions. By 2016, Keo Seima was formally transferred to the Ministry of Environment and designated a Wildlife Sanctuary under Cambodia’s Protected Area law. This transition reinforced legal protections and required zonation to comply with national conservation regulations, a process that remains ongoing.

Today, the sanctuary spans 317,456 hectares and supports more than 1,000 species, including the yellow-cheeked crested gibbon and Asian elephant. It is also home to the majority of Cambodia’s Bunong population, who depend on the forest for their livelihoods, culture, and spiritual practices. Keo Seima provides a model for linking conservation priorities with practical, community-led resource management to ensure forests remain vital for both biodiversity and the livelihoods they sustain.

A Haven for Rare and Endangered Species

Home to over 1,000 recorded species, Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary is a global biodiversity hotspot. In the past decade alone, 20 species new to science have been discovered here. The sanctuary safeguards the world’s largest known populations of Black-shanked douc langurs and Yellow-cheeked crested gibbons, and holds the distinction of hosting Cambodia’s highest recorded bird diversity. Yet, this rich biodiversity faces significant threats from habitat loss, illegal hunting, and other pressures. Through robust monitoring and diligent conservation efforts, these vital species are being given the protection they need to thrive.

Our strategy to protect Keo Seima's biodiversity is comprehensive and multifaceted. It involves community engagement, strengthened law enforcement, targeted nest protection, sustainable ecotourism, and the promotion of alternative livelihoods like bamboo harvesting. These integrated efforts ensure that Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary remains not only a sanctuary for rare and endangered species but also a critical ecological corridor in Southeast Asia.

Equitable and Inclusive Conservation

The conservation of Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary is a concerted, inclusive effort, directly benefiting the more than 20,000 people who live in and around this vital ecosystem. Our initiatives are designed to protect biodiversity while empowering communities through sustainable livelihoods, the preservation of cultural values, and the revitalization of traditional knowledge.

Central to our approach is community engagement. We implement programs that promote sustainable livelihoods and alternative income generation, which not only provide economic benefits but also reinforce conservation goals. Our commitment to equitable and inclusive management is reflected in securing Indigenous Communal Land Titles (ICLTs) for the Bunong people, granting them legal land tenure.

This collaborative framework ensures that Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary remains a model of conservation that balances ecological integrity with the needs and rights of the people who call it home.

Navigating Challenges

Combating Land Clearance and Illegal Logging

Clearing land for cash crops and logging for timber are major threats, leading to forest degradation and the loss of vital wildlife habitats. We are actively demarcating land, supporting community-led forest patrols, and promoting sustainable agriculture. These efforts have significantly reduced illegal activities, protected key habitats, and promoted the sustainable use of forest resources, while raising awareness about the importance of conserving natural environments.

Balancing Prosperity and Preservation

Unsustainable development poses a challenge to conserving natural resources and biodiversity, as it can lead to deforestation and habitat destruction. However, through our sustainable development initiatives supported by USAID, we have demonstrated that conservation and economic development can coexist. For example, our work promoting non-forest timber products and sustainable resource management has provided alternative income sources for KSWS communities while preserving natural resources.

Cracking Down on Illegal Hunting and Wildlife Trade

Illegal hunting and wildlife trade are significant threats to the sanctuary’s biodiversity. To tackle these issues, our International Wildlife Trafficking team collaborates closely with government partners to strengthen enforcement efforts, target commercial trade, and support community-based anti-poaching initiatives. While we’ve made strides in reducing illegal hunting, changing entrenched mindsets and reducing dependency on wildlife remain ongoing challenges.

Strengthening Resilience to Climate Change

Climate change, manifesting through droughts, floods, and other extreme weather events, poses a severe threat to local communities and biodiversity. As a vast reservoir of forest carbon, the landscape plays a crucial role in mitigating global climate impacts and protecting frontline communities. We prioritize efforts to safeguard the forest and closely monitor climate change effects, including shifts in hydrology and habitat.

Supporting Community-Based Ecotourism

In Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary, we support ecotourism initiatives such as Jahoo Gibbon Camp and Elephant Valley Project, contributing to the conservation of a variety of species, notably Yellow-Cheeked Gibbons and Asian Elephants.

Empowering Communities, Embracing Indigenous Knowledge

Working with the Indigenous Bunong people, these projects leverage their deep-rooted environmental stewardship, creating job opportunities that respect and preserve their cultural heritage.

Immersive, Sustainable Experiences for Visitors

Jahoo Gibbon Camp offers sunrise gibbon tracking, hiking, and bird watching, while the Elephant Valley Project allows visitors to observe elephants freely roaming in their natural habitat. Both initiatives emphasize sustainable tourism practices.

Supporting Conservation and Community Development

Revenue from these ecotourism initiatives aids local communities and supports the sustainable development of the sanctuary, showing how conservation and community well-being can thrive together.

Towards a Resilient Future

Looking ahead, Wildlife Conservation Society Cambodia remains steadfast in our commitment to core conservation and community engagement values. Our priority is long-term sustainability, achieved by partnering closely with local communities and the Royal Government of Cambodia to ensure that conservation efforts align with economic development.

We are also dedicated to enhancing our research initiatives, with continuous monitoring and innovative assessments of the sanctuary’s biodiversity and ecosystem health. This will deepen our understanding of the sanctuary’s ecology and refine our conservation strategies.

Through our efforts, we strive to set a benchmark for sustainable conservation that balances ecological protection, economic development, and community well-being. Our goal is to ensure that Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary continues to serve as a model for conservation in Cambodia and beyond.

Our Partners in Conservation

We extend our deepest gratitude to the individuals and organizations whose contributions have been vital to the success of conservation efforts at Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary. We are especially thankful for our valued partners, including local communities, the Cambodian Ministry of Environment, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the French Development Agency (AFD), the French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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