About one quarter of Cambodia is made up of protected areas and national parks. Four national parks regularly draw visitors for their combination of natural attractions and activities: vast Virachey, in the far northeast, spanning Ratanakiri and Stung Treng provinces; Kirirom, just off the road to Sihanoukville, famous for its pine forests; Ream, a maritime park near Sihanoukville, with idyllic tropical beaches; and beautiful Bokor, a former French hill station near Kampot. The Cardamom Mountain range now includes the biggest protected area in Cambodia and has a lot of potential for ecotourism activities. Some environmentalists contend that Cambodia’s may have a biodiversity of species as rich as any in Asia. There has been little study of the country's flora and fauna due to the long years of conflict.
The country’s large mammals include tigers, leopards, bears, elephants, wild cows and deer, although precise numbers are uncertain.
The many bird species in the country include cormorants, cranes, kingfishers and pelicans.
Keen birders can see a number of very rare water birds in Cambodia. Popular places include the Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary, which is home to rare water birds such as lesser and greater adjutants, milky storks and spot-billed pelicans, as well as Ang Trapeng Thmor in Banteay Meanchey province, home to the sarus crane.
The Mekong is second only to the Amazon in fish biodiversity and provides a home for one of the world's largest freshwater fish, the three metre long giant catfish. The rare freshwater Irrawaddy dolphin also inhabits stretches of the Mekong north of Kratie.
The Royal Government of Cambodia strongly supports the growth of the tourism sector in Cambodia. The government operates an open skies policy to encourage visitors to the kingdom. Tourism investment is positively encouraged and not just in the popular centres of Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville, but throughout the country. With a large network of national parks, the more remote
areas of Cambodia have potential for ecotourism which the government plans to encourage in cooperation with international conservation organizations.
Cambodia also has a rich cultural heritage which draws many people to the country. Ancient temples dot the landscape and have the potential to encourage visitors to book longer stays. Living culture in the form of Cambodian dance, music and arts is also staging a strong comeback which the government supports.
Cambodia hosts a wide spectrum of NGOs working with the Cambodian government to alleviate poverty. The Cambodian government supports pro-poor tourism which seeks to channel the benefits of tourism to some of the most disenfranchised communities in the kingdom.
Sustainable tourism can bring many benefits to the people of Cambodia and the government fully supports responsible tourism initiatives throughout the country.
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