Expat Ben Davis and family, defending Phnom Tnout Wildlife Sanctuary, conflicts with villagers

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Re: Expat Ben Davis and family, defending Phnom Tnout Wildlife Sanctuary, conflicts with villagers

Post by CEOCambodiaNews »

In this article on Cambodia, Greg McCann reports that Ben Davis continues to have problems with illegal loggers and poachers in Phnom Tnout forest , and that they are becoming more violent.
Cambodia: Last Hope for Indochina, or on its Last Breath?
August 27, 2018
Cambodia, which contains within its borders some of Southeast Asia’s most important virgin forest, is under attack. Nowhere is that illustrated more dishearteningly than the Phnom Tnout district in the northern part of the country, where an American-Australian couple run an ecotourism outpost called Betreed Adventures

But ecotourism, it seems, can’t satisfy everyone quickly enough. Local villagers living on the outskirts of the Phnom Tnout forest began petitioning to have Ben and Sharyn Davis, couple who run Betreed, and their family evicted from the forest to enable the locals to cut the forest down plant more crops. The petition gathering back in April began to look a bit rowdy, with tensions beginning to spill over, and things have got progressively worse in the months since.

I recently corresponded with Ben Davis, who described the current situation as “pretty much in an open war with the loggers and poachers. We got chased by loggers last week. Ran us nearly a mile before they caught up and ended up hurling their knives and axes at us. Haven’t been that worried in a long time.” As someone who thoroughly enjoyed the natural tranquility of Phnom Tnout and their hospitality, this comes as a shock, even to a semi-jaded environmentalist.
This is the third installment of the author’s “Indochina in the Anthropocene” series, which narrates the environmental crisis in Southeast Asia.
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Re: Expat Ben Davis and family, defending Phnom Tnout Wildlife Sanctuary, conflicts with villagers

Post by newkidontheblock »

Didn’t Disney or some other big company buy a section of Cambodia’s forest for carbon credits, then discovered that the entire forest sanctuary was harvested a little while later after being a designated reserved sanctuary?
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Re: Expat Ben Davis and family, defending Phnom Tnout Wildlife Sanctuary, conflicts with villagers

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1 min ago - BREAKING NEWS
Conservationist set to receive $20k per year

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The Environment Ministry on Sunday handed a $20,000 check to an American activist in Preah Vihear province for his conservation efforts.

The ministry said Ben Davis, the conservationist, has spent 20 years preserving and protecting forests and wild animals in the province, noting that a total of $100,000 will be provided by the end of 2023 to support his work.

Khieu Borin, director-general of the ministry’s local community department, said on Sunday during a concert to raise money for conservation that Mr Davis is aiming to strengthen the protection of Phnom Tnout and Phnom Pork wildlife sanctuaries.

He noted that the money will help his efforts over the next five years.

“The Environment Ministry has decided to help and support Mr Davis’ activities by providing a total of $100,000 for the next five years,” Mr Borin said. “For this year, he received $20,000.”

He added that some high-ranking officers at the ministry have also donated about $2,500 to Mr Davis.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/566557/con ... -per-year/
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Re: Expat Ben Davis and family, defending Phnom Tnout Wildlife Sanctuary, conflicts with villagers

Post by PIEMAN »

:stir: Tea Money :hattip:
Meat pie Sausage Roll come on Rovers score a goal.
https://www.facebook.com/Pieman-Phnom-P ... 711967235/
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Re: Expat Ben Davis and family, defending Phnom Tnout Wildlife Sanctuary, conflicts with villagers

Post by Ravensnest »

CEOCambodiaNews wrote: Mon Jan 07, 2019 7:19 pm 1 min ago - BREAKING NEWS
Conservationist set to receive $20k per year

Image
The Environment Ministry on Sunday handed a $20,000 check to an American activist in Preah Vihear province for his conservation efforts.

The ministry said Ben Davis, the conservationist, has spent 20 years preserving and protecting forests and wild animals in the province, noting that a total of $100,000 will be provided by the end of 2023 to support his work.

Khieu Borin, director-general of the ministry’s local community department, said on Sunday during a concert to raise money for conservation that Mr Davis is aiming to strengthen the protection of Phnom Tnout and Phnom Pork wildlife sanctuaries.

He noted that the money will help his efforts over the next five years.

“The Environment Ministry has decided to help and support Mr Davis’ activities by providing a total of $100,000 for the next five years,” Mr Borin said. “For this year, he received $20,000.”

He added that some high-ranking officers at the ministry have also donated about $2,500 to Mr Davis.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/566557/con ... -per-year/
What a great win for Davis and his family. He certainly has earned it. I applaud the Government in thei recognition and contribution to his work.
I wish I was in a Financial position to go volunteer there.
Still here, in country...
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Re: Expat Ben Davis and family, defending Phnom Tnout Wildlife Sanctuary, conflicts with villagers

Post by CEOCambodiaNews »

January 29, 2019
Vehicles, money given to wildlife activist Ben Devis
The Cambodian Red Cross has donated a car, two scooters and cash to activist Ben Devis(sic) and the Tabos community as an incentive for participating in the protection of the natural resources in Preah Vihear province’s Phnom Thnout-Phnom Pok Wildlife Sanctuary.

The handing over ceremony was held by CRC president Bun Rany and other government officials.

The vehicles were donated by Ms Rany and a fund of about $4,000 was donated by members of the National Assembly for Mr Devis and the Tabos community.

Lawmaker Chea Vandeth told Mr Devis and the Tabos communicate(sic) to continue to be active in the protection of the Kingdom’s natural resources.

“The participation of stakeholders are needed to ensure the management of natural resources and sustainable development,” Mr Vandeth said.

Environment Minister Say Samal said the Environment Ministry has recognised the efforts of Mr Devis and the Tabos community in joining with the government to protect and conserve natural resources in the Phnom Thnout- Phnom Pok Wildlife Sanctuary.

Mr Devis expressed gratitude towards Ms Rany for providing the vehicles and the fund.

“Thank you Samdech Bun Rany, who helped by donating the car and motorbikes to our community,” he said. “We currently have old cars that would need to be repaired on a regular basis.”

“We currently have two cars, including a pickup [truck] that we have used for 22 years and a Range Rover from 1997, which we have always used to patrol in the forest – so it’s rusty,” Mr Devis added.

He noted that criminal activities in the area have decreased when compared to periods over the last two years.
However, he said, wildlife trapping has yet to decrease and is in need of attention.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50573203/v ... ben-devis/
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Re: Expat Ben Davis and family, defending Phnom Tnout Wildlife Sanctuary, conflicts with villagers

Post by CEOCambodiaNews »

Social media reports:
Cambodia News: American BEN DAVIS was almost stabbed in a knife attack by an illegal wood trafficker, while he was checking the forest at night. Ben is part of a team taking care of the forest in the conservation area in Sangkom Thmei district, Preak Vihear.

According to the social media account name, Tan Kimsour: " Last night was complicated. I asked the local forces to guard until morning. Then, in the morning, the authority arrested the suspect named Tea Louch, who used a knife and attempted to attack Mr. Ben. Fortunately, Ben managed to escape from his attacker and asked the royal gendarmerie for help.

Oh, Ben! after I received the information, I was so upset that I almost cried. Why did you risk yourself like that? Thanks to all the forces who protected Ben. "

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Re: Expat Ben Davis and family, defending Phnom Tnout Wildlife Sanctuary, conflicts with villagers

Post by CEOCambodiaNews »

UPDATE
Mr. Ben Davis and his family were granted Cambodian citizenship by the King of Cambodia.
January 31, 2022
Image
Cambodia News, (Preah Vihear Province): In an acknowledgment of the heroism of true environmentalists, Ben Davis, an American citizen, along with his wife and children, who have sacrificed their physical and mental strength to protect and conserve forest and wildlife resources at Phnom Tnaot-Phnom Pok Wildlife Sanctuary in Preah Vihear Province, have been granted Khmer nationality by naturalization by the King of Cambodia.
Posted By Pen Srey Neat, CEN

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Re: Expat Ben Davis and family, defending Phnom Tnout Wildlife Sanctuary, conflicts with villagers

Post by mannanman »

Fantastic experience for their kids (who’ve inherited their mothers looks) and I’m guessing they’re home schooled.

Good luck.
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Re: Expat Ben Davis and family, defending Phnom Tnout Wildlife Sanctuary, conflicts with villagers

Post by Anchor Moy »

Well, just when you think that environmentalists are a doomed species. Good luck to Ben, family, and team. :good:
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