On the 12th of May WCS staff joined representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Interior, USAID, and WWF for a helicopter flight over the Eastern Plains Landscape. The flight path took the delegation over much of Mondulkiri Province, with stops at the Headquarters of Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary (formerly Seima Protection Forest), and at Merouk station inside Sre Pok Wildlife Sanctuary (formerly Mondulkiri Protected Forest). It was clear that there are many challenges facing the Eastern Plains Landscape, with huge areas of forest loss caused by Economic Land Concessions and illegal land clearance by individual farmers. However, it was also very clear that there is an enormous amount of forest remaining, with evergreen, semi-evergreen, and open deciduous forests stretching out as far as the eye could see. The two photos below highlight the difference between areas where conservation has been successfully implemented, and where it has not. Without the USAID's Supporting Forests and Biodiversity Project which has been funding critical conservation action over the last 4 years, there would be far less forest remaining. This amazing landscape needs continuing support to ensure these beautiful forests remain for future generations.