Killing Bokor Mountain
Killing Bokor Mountain
The killing of Bokor Mountain
Over the past 6 years i have witnessed deliberately set fires on the slopes of Bokor Mountain facing Kampot. Khmer that i asked why someone would set the mountain on fire right in the middle of the hot dry season said that maybe someone dropped a cigarette etc. Of course they all knew WHY but would never say so.
The fires took their toll and you can now see the EROSION of the slopes of Bokor Mountain as an additional attraction for those spending time on Kampot's Riverside. The fires are not limited to those slope but swing around the road to the Teuk Cheu Water Hydro Dam and even beyond. The fires continue in 2019 when we witnessed some smoke almost on top of the mountain.
I am wondering what the purpose of these fires are: Greed (but to gain what?) , Arson (by some idiot ?) or pure Ignorance or what ? Does anybody know ?
Over the past 6 years i have witnessed deliberately set fires on the slopes of Bokor Mountain facing Kampot. Khmer that i asked why someone would set the mountain on fire right in the middle of the hot dry season said that maybe someone dropped a cigarette etc. Of course they all knew WHY but would never say so.
The fires took their toll and you can now see the EROSION of the slopes of Bokor Mountain as an additional attraction for those spending time on Kampot's Riverside. The fires are not limited to those slope but swing around the road to the Teuk Cheu Water Hydro Dam and even beyond. The fires continue in 2019 when we witnessed some smoke almost on top of the mountain.
I am wondering what the purpose of these fires are: Greed (but to gain what?) , Arson (by some idiot ?) or pure Ignorance or what ? Does anybody know ?
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Re: Killing Bokor Mountain
Land fill. There’ye just moving it to a nicer home near the sea.
Fires are regenerative for land.
Fires are regenerative for land.
Re: Killing Bokor Mountain
@davegoreman Fires are regenerative for land
Not on the slopes of Bokor Mountain as far as i can tell. 6 years of fires let some of the higher parts going downhill.
Not on the slopes of Bokor Mountain as far as i can tell. 6 years of fires let some of the higher parts going downhill.
Re: Killing Bokor Mountain
Take a few pics, it's hard to tell how big these fires are etc.
A month ago I was cycling on that beautiful road and there was dense jungle everywhere.
Only place that was really enjoyable around Kampot.
A month ago I was cycling on that beautiful road and there was dense jungle everywhere.
Only place that was really enjoyable around Kampot.
- hanno
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Re: Killing Bokor Mountain
Most of the good jungle disappeared when Sokha built their resort. I've done a fair bit of bird watching up there and the habitat is but a shadow of its former self.
Re: Killing Bokor Mountain
You mean the habitat around the old hill station, or the whole national park? The mountain is 55km across. Surely Sokha didn't cut it all down?hanno wrote:Most of the good jungle disappeared when Sokha built their resort. I've done a fair bit of bird watching up there and the habitat is but a shadow of its former self.
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Re: Killing Bokor Mountain
A lot of the good trees have been removed. When construction started, not only did the new road give easier access to poachers/hunters/loggers; the soldiers that were initially guarding the place were also busy hunting for the pot.epidemiks wrote: ↑Fri Mar 08, 2019 1:47 pmYou mean the habitat around the old hill station, or the whole national park? The mountain is 55km across. Surely Sokha didn't cut it all down?hanno wrote:Most of the good jungle disappeared when Sokha built their resort. I've done a fair bit of bird watching up there and the habitat is but a shadow of its former self.
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Re: Killing Bokor Mountain
True, and the construction workers were probably setting plenty of snares too.
Silence, exile, and cunning.
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Re: Killing Bokor Mountain
Lots of snares. It used to be the stronghold of one of the Cambodian near-endemic birds, Chestnut-headed Partridge; but it has become pretty rare. Apparently makes for good eating.John Bingham wrote: ↑Fri Mar 08, 2019 2:41 pm True, and the construction workers were probably setting plenty of snares too.
Re: Killing Bokor Mountain
PICTURE's , how to do ?
OK, i'm an old ignorant fart that did not bother to find the fineprint. Perhaps you can help me.
OK, i'm an old ignorant fart that did not bother to find the fineprint. Perhaps you can help me.
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