28 October 2010: The Government of Japan is funding a transboundary conservation area between Thailand and Cambodia, as part of the collaborative initiative between the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

The Transboundary Biodiversity Conservation of Mekong Protected Forest Area is in a region where habitat of transboundary wildlife species has been fragmented due to illegal logging and forest conversion to farmland. The Protected Area will receive a maximum of 174 million yen from the Government of Japan. It aims to improve the management plan of the Protected Area, establish headquarters for biodiversity management, build capacity amongst various stakeholders, including border patrol police, and improve local livelihoods, including by upgrading cultivation facilities for commercializing ornamental plants. This project is also a part of Japanese assistance to developing countries in the area of climate change. [ITTO Press Release] [MOFA Press Release]