Three forest warrior heroes, Ta Chhum, Ta Lim, and Ta Vorng, are seated at the Beoung Chhuk (Lotus Pond) station in September 2024 sharing their inspiring stories. Even before the question was asked, "I protect forests for future generations," the first Ta began.
"Before you begin to ask for assistance from God, you must first help yourself," Ta Lim stated. "Knowing who you are and what you want is essential. The intervention of God follows. You must accept and know who you are. I am Kui, and that's me. You must answer to the following questions: who am I? What have I got? I share my culture, language, music, dance, drums, Tro and handicrafts with my people."
"When I made the decision to relocate here (Chaom Pen, in the forest) on July 1st, 2018, it was really critical in 2018," Ta Chhum remarked. "Those people threatened us, but that didn't scare us away. Illegal hunting and logging were rampant, and their groups were even larger than ours. To combat the crimes, we had to cooperate with the provincial and environmental governments. There have been fewer cases these days compared to the past time. If you have a passion to protect the land and forest and wish to engage in conservation, you must dedicate your time, and be persistent and consistent. I was inspired to relocate and begin preserving this pond, Kompong Chomlong Krobei (the wetland), and the forest here after witnessing several protected places being destroyed one after another."
"This is where my forefathers lived, farmed, and fished. This location is an integral element of who we are. I therefore feel a strong connection to this location," Ta Lim went on. "I used to help them working here. This pond was where I used to fish. I can't let anyone take that away from me. Money can be used for a variety of purposes. If you have money, you can cross a river or an ocean, but without land and forests, we farmers don't know why we are here. These are all we rely on. The only area that is challenging for us is the one devoid of forests. For us, forests provide a home, food, and a source of income."
"When I look back to when I was fifty years ago, I can say that I was more courageous and physically stronger, which allowed me to patrol more effectively. My health is currently deteriorating. I have poorer hearing and vision. Without them, I'm not sure whether anyone would be left to carry on this effort. For the fact that we don't have any money, I suggested raising chickens here to help pay for necessities like food and medications for our aging ailments. When we hosted guests, we also got donations of clothing and some cash. Since the seniors who care for and love this forest are getting older, I'm worried about whether we will be able to preserve it in the future."
Protecting the land, forest, water sources, and wetland as components of their identity is something that the heroes do with all of their love, devotion, and passion. For their activities to succeed in the face of adversity, they require financial, emotional, and physical support. We hope that more and more youth will become aware of, interested in, and involved in conservation and protection efforts for future generations.
The heroes don’t wear capes. They are in patrolling flip-flops, old clothes, a headlamp for nighttime, and their big hearts.
This article happened with the effort of many people; namely, the Kui community in Preah Vihear/Kampong Thom, Miguel Jeronimo and Chhouden Chhim, the people who seek harmony for all lifeforms and non-lifeforms that coexisting.
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