Angelina Jolie is presented with the first United Nations Correspondents Association Citizen of the World Award from Nane Annan, wife of Secretary General Kofi Annan. Photo: Reuters

Cambodia approves Angelina Jolie-funded forest conservation project

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) - Cambodia on Thursday approved a forest conservation project funded by Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie in two former Khmer Rouge strongholds.

Jolie, the star of the popular “Tomb Raider” adventure movies, has promised up to US$1.5 million for community-based work over the next five years in remote areas in northwestern Cambodia.

The money will educate villagers about conservation awareness, draw demarcation lines to protect forest and wildlife sanctuaries and train local rangers, said Mounh Sarath, executive director of Cambodian Vision in Development, the local group in charge of the project.

He said the project aims to preserve some 60,000 hectares (148,200 acres) of forest in the Samlaut and Pailin areas along Cambodia's northwestern border with Thailand.

“She (Jolie) loves the area, the people and the (natural) resources there,” Mounh Sarath said after signing the agreement with the Ministry of Environment.

“We are very pleased and would also like to thank ... Ms. Angelina Jolie for her interest (in conservation),” said Environment Minister Mok Mareth.

Samlaut and Pailin are two former Khmer Rouge strongholds that served as battle zones between the guerrillas and government troops until 1998 when the Khmer Rouge movement collapsed. The areas are still littered with land mines and unexploded ordnance left over from the war.

Mok Mareth said resources there have suffered on an “anarchical scale'' from illegal logging, gem mining and wildlife hunting.”

Jolie, 28, adopted a Cambodian son named Maddox and she is having a house built in the country, but details are being kept secret.

Her first movie, “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider,” was partly shot at Cambodia's famed Angkor Wat temple. The 2001 hit was followed this year by sequel “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life.”