Local and International experts will train environmental rangers next year to improve their insight and raise awareness of the need to protect and preserve natural resources.

The training will be conducted through a cooperation between the Ministry of Environment’s General Department of Administration for Nature Conservation and Protection and the US Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Office of Anti-Crime Programmes (INL/C), and US Forest Service.

Twenty-six representatives held a workshop on Tuesday and Wednesday last week in Phnom Penh in order to discuss and set up plans for the training.

They included those from the ministry, Environment Departments, US Embassy, Maddox Jolie-Pitt (MJP) Foundation, Green Prey Lang, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Fauna and Flora International (FFI) and Conservation International (CI).

The representatives also studied the ability of the rangers and generated ideas for the training lessons, including preparing content for the training programme, setting up and designing lesson plans and equipment necessary for the training, among others.

“The rangers’ training aims to promote strategic plans and the work involved in protecting natural resources and biodiversity, the protected areas and regulations to enhance knowledge and raise awareness of such matters,” said the ministry’s spokesman, Neth Pheaktra.

He said the ministry has 1,221 rangers who are working to protect and preserve 55 protected areas with 7.5 million hectares. The training will be conducted next year.