Cambodia OKs Titanium Mine in Threatened Indo-Burma Forest

The government of Cambodia has approved a 78-square-mile titanium mine in the dwindling rainforest of the Cardamom Mountains, a highly biodiverse area that lies within one of the world’s most threatened forests. While the United Khmer Group says their proposed mining operation will yield $1.3 billion annually, critics suggest the economic benefits will be far lower and predicted that the project will threaten wildlife, water resources, and the region’s ecotourism economy. The region is home to 70 threatened species, according to the Wildlife Alliance. Conservationists say the planned mine also would bisect a migration route for the largest population of Asian elephants in Cambodia. “We recognize that development is essential to Cambodia’s future, but that development must be conducted in a coordinated matter that respects conservation initiatives,” said Suwanna Gauntlett, CEO of the Wildlife Alliance. The proposed mine lies within the Indo-Burma forest, which Conservation International recently listed as the world’s most threatened forest. China may be planning as many as four additional mines in the Cardamom Mountains, according to the Phnom Penh Post.