Samlaut Multiple Use Area, Protected forest reserve in Battambang Province, Cambodia
Samlaut Multiple Use Area is a protected forest spanning 599 square kilometers in the Cardamom Mountains of northwestern Cambodia. The reserve contains dense tropical vegetation and river systems that supply water to agricultural areas and support wildlife throughout the region.
The area gained official protection status in 1993 when King Norodom Sihanouk established it as a conservation area. This designation represented one of Cambodia's earliest formal steps to safeguard its forests and natural resources.
Local communities rely on the forest for hunting, fishing, and farming that shape their daily lives. These activities remain central to how people use and understand the land.
Access can be difficult during rainy season when muddy conditions make travel challenging in remote areas. Planning a visit during drier months and hiring a local guide is strongly advisable for safe exploration.
Fish populations from the area's river systems flow downstream to feed Tonle Sap Lake, one of Asia's most important wetland complexes, making this remote forest crucial to a much larger ecosystem. Few visitors realize how this hidden connection links their experience in the forest to aquatic life far beyond the reserve.
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