Cambodia
The Ministry of Environment of Cambodia celebrated International Biodiversity Day on 19 May, 2004 at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, Amphitheater II.
The 400 participants who attended the ceremony included government officials, concerned NGOs, IOs, and university students. The Minister for Environment (MOE); Deputy Minister; Governor of Phnom Penh; Under Secretary of State for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF); Vice-Rector of the Royal University of Phnom Penh; UNDP Representative; and members of the National Biodiversity Steering Committee also attended the ceremony.
Organizers placed 27 banners along key avenues in Phnom Penh. The banners had themes on:
- Biodiversity: Food, Water and Health for all
- Biodiversity supports food
- Water supports biodiversity
- We all have to protect biodiversity
- Conserving biodiversity is a key to reducing poverty
- Congratulations on the International Biodiversity Day, etc.
National TV, journalists, and press were invited to attend the ceremony.
The event:
The ceremony started with speeches from key leaders from MOE, MAFF, the Municipality and University of Phnom Penh and were followed by a screening of a nature film on the important value of wetlands biodiversity in Tonle Sap Lake, and public awareness.
After the ceremony, brochures and books were distributed to students by concerned NGOs .
MOE wishes to thank the main sponsors, UNDP, WWF, and WCS for their kind contributions
Reported by Pisey Oum
NBSC Secretariat
MOE, Cambodia
