Nearly 30 Natural Protected Areas with Cultural Heritage Sites Identified

Phnom Penh, August 17, 2023 --

The Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts have identified 27 natural protected areas with cultural heritage sites out of 73 natural protected areas in Cambodia.

The discovery was shared during the release of map on cultural heritage sites in natural protected areas, held at the Ministry of Environment this morning under the presidency of H.E. Mrs. Phoeurng Sackona, Minister of Culture and Fine Arts and H.E. Say Samal, Minister of Environment.

Speaking at the function, H.E. Mrs. Phoeurng Sackona appreciated the efforts of both ministries’ working group in contribution to the safeguard of cultural heritage sites located in natural protected areas.

This is a testament to the history, civilisation, culture, traditions, customs, religions and souls of Khmer ancestors since prehistoric times, she underlined.

According to Mr. Seng Saot, Deputy Director General of the General Department of Natural Protected Areas of the Ministry of Environment, the 27 natural protected areas with cultural heritage sites do not include the Angkor Protected Landscape, Preah Vihear Protected Landscape, and Sambor Prei Kuk Protected Landscape which have already been identified and managed by separate royal decrees and governing bodies.

The working group found an increase in the number of cultural heritage sites in the natural protected areas compared to the data previously researched and disseminated by the French School of the Far East (EFEO). In the Jayavarman-Norodom Phnom Kulen National Park alone, they discovered up to 1,069 cultural heritage sites.