YOUR STAY KEEPS THE FOREST STANDING

IRENE MILLAR HAS VOWED NEVER TO GO CAMPING BUT LEARNING OF CAMBODIA’S CARDAMOM TENTED CAMP SHE IS ANXIOUS FOR TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS TO BE LIFTED SO SHE CAN EXPERIENCE IT.

As I enjoyed a conversation with Willem Niemeijer, founder of YAANA Ventures, I am struck by how the purposeful intention of creating sustainable tourism, truly provides a unique and authentic experience for travellers.

REMOTE ECO-LODGES

YAANA Ventures specialises in creating ecolodges in remote locations. When visiting, you will encounter an off the beaten track adventure that incorporates sustainability into the heart of each journey.

An abbreviation of what the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) state sustainable tourism should achieve includes: maintaining essential ecological processes, helping to conserve biodiversity and providing socio-economic benefits to all stakeholders. Now, you may not be interested in the technical definition of sustainable tourism, however, the realisation of it, in Cardamom Tented Camp, creates an experience to be treasured.

AMAZON OF ASIA

Cardamom Tented Camp nestles within Botum Sakor National Park, one of several contiguous protected areas that also encompasses Cambodia’s highest peak and makes the Cardamom Mountains Cambodia’s largest protected area. These tropical rainforests have been described as the ‘Amazon of Asia’ and are one of the most unspoiled wilderness areas remaining in SE Asia.

Botum Sakor is the natural habitat of all of the endangered mammals in Cambodia. Within the rain-forests dwell clouded leopards, Asiatic black bears, Dholes, pileated gibbons and sun bears. This area is the location of one of the few remaining elephant corridors in SE Asia. The corridor provides passage to the largest population of Asian elephants in Cambodia to move between the elephant territories in the south and east of the region.

HEIGHTENED ANTICIPATION

My planned trip to Cardamom Tented Camp is on hold as we wait for the relaxation of travel restrictions. However, speaking with Willem and doing research, has fired my imagination and increased my desire to explore the jungles and waterways around the camp. Perhaps even to be lucky and catch sight of some wildlife undisturbed in their natural environment.

The Royal Government of Cambodia recognised the potential of the rainforest to create ecotourism. And, from eco-tourism, support economic development in Cambodia and help alleviate poverty. It has designated over 18,000h as a Conservation Zone. This zone was placed under the guidance of Wildlife Alliance, an NGO protecting forests and wildlife across the SE Asian tropical belt by Minor International, a Thai hospitality company more widely known for their Anantara & AVANI brands, who fund the project.

HELP IS ESSENTIAL

Without ongoing protection from Wildlife Alliance and the Ministry of Environment’s Forest Rangers, this vast swathe of pristine wilderness is at risk of logging to clear the land for agriculture, industry and real estate. The animals are at risk of poaching by hunters and wildlife traffickers and from the indiscriminate use of snares.

Cardamom Tented Camp was created to help fulfil the requirement of creating ecotourism within the park. The camp’s success demonstrates that the protected rainforest is capable of generating revenue. This will help to secure the future of the protected area and preserve it from logging, wild-life poaching and trafficking. The camp is operated as non-profit with a percentage of revenues going directly to Wildlife Alliance and its conservation efforts in the park. Any additional profits are re-invested into local communities.

LOW FOOTPRINT

In keeping with a low carbon footprint, there are no roads to the camp. After arriving at the designated pick up point, you will complete your

journey to the camp by boat. The 30-minute ride on the Preak Tachan River provides you with a perfect vista of the landscape transforming from the lowland settlements into the protected area of the National Park.

‘I don’t do camping’ has been my constant refrain since an ill-fated, one and only attempt at camping as a Girl Guide. However, I am looking forward to changing this by staying at Cardamom. From my research, there doesn’t seem to be anything remotely similar to remind me of my previous experience. A tent you can walk around in, a proper bed, cooling fans plus a toilet and shower with hot water. Wow, I could get used to this style of camping!

NATURE-BASED ACTIVITIES

Apart from being well looked after, the most sensational part of your stay is likely to be participating in a variety of the nature-based activities such as patrolling with the forest rangers, learning survival skills and kayaking. You can help conservation efforts by recording wildlife footprints and trails. Additionally, you can learn more about the threats posed to this beautiful environment and the importance of wildlife protection.

Covid 19, as with virtually every country around the world, has impacted Cambodia and this remote wilderness. Cardamom Tented Camp has been made possible through the collaboration of the government, NGOS, hospitality business and the local communities. However, without the one missing piece, tourists, the economic benefit that tourists bring, reduces the ability of the NGOS to continue to finance their conservation efforts and protect the rainforest and its residents.

ON-GOING PROTECTION

Fortunately, the camp currently has a number of factors working in its favour. As a lot of businesses and individuals have had to do during this time, it is has found ways to be very frugal in its operating costs. Apart from the camp manager, all the other staff are from local communities with the ability to fall back on agricultural income during times of low occupancy. The investment into solar panels provides the power required for the whole camp, even when fully occupied. This means that there is no continuing charge for power which is a substantial savings, especially during periods of low revenue. The domestic market, whilst not large, is currently managing to bridge the gap during the pandemic, and will hopefully continue to do so until international tourists are able to return.

Everyone involved in Cardamom Tented Camp is supporting the conservation of the National Park. In particular, the Forest Rangers are integral to the successful protection of the rainforests. They are continuing their patrols during the pandemic to keep the national park free from loggers, poachers and wildlife traffickers. I am sure that the Rangers will have experienced many hazardous situations in the course of their work. There may be a few stories from them to share in the future.

A SHINING EXAMPLE

Hopefully, when borders re-open and you feel safe to travel, you will visit Cardamom Tented Camp and experience for yourself the majesty of our natural world and how we can interact with it with respect, while we conserve its pristine wilderness for generations to come.

Cardamom Tented Camp, along with meeting the above-mentioned WTO criteria, is a shining example of how tourism can be a force for good when it is conceived and operated in a sustainable way.

The camp’s tagline ‘Your Stay Keeps the Forest Standing’ has never been more poignant. I look forward to my future adventure there.