Brazil and Cambodia have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation to combat environmental crime through the enforcement of national and international laws, aiming to protect wildlife, forests, and natural resources for future generations.
The commitment was highlighted during a courtesy call and working meeting between Eang Sophalleth, Minister of Environment, and Vivian Loss Sanmartin, Ambassador of the Federative Republic of Brazil to Cambodia, at the ministry on Monday.
During the meeting, both sides emphasised that bilateral cooperation in line with domestic and international legal frameworks is an effective approach to preventing the loss of wildlife caused by illegal wildlife trade, poaching, and other activities that lead to forest degradation and the depletion of natural resources in tropical regions.
The two parties also underlined the importance of Brazil’s initiative to build alliances against environmental crime, which aligns with Cambodia’s environmental sector strategy focusing on cleanliness, greenness, and sustainability.
The ministry has been actively implementing these strategies through public education, awareness-raising, and strict enforcement of environmental and natural resource laws, without exception.
However, the ministry noted that ongoing border-related challenges have also had environmental consequences, including the loss of mother and calf elephants and the displacement of other wildlife to safer areas, highlighting the broader ecological impacts of insecurity.
Both Brazil and Cambodia reaffirmed their commitment to establishing a shared framework for international cooperation to combat illegal wildlife trafficking and illegal logging, issues that affect not only Cambodia but tropical regions worldwide.
The partnership aims to strengthen environmental protection and conservation efforts in accordance with national and international law, ensuring the preservation of ecosystems and biodiversity for future generations.KhmerTime