To date, the greatest progress has been made in protecting the site of Angkor and the heritage of Siem Reap province. In theory at least, we have legal instruments to help us manage the site. But we must not delude ourselves. Looting and pillaging have not been completely wiped out in the Angkor archaeological park. In the rest of Siem Reap province, plundering sometimes takes on dramatic proportions.
Public opinion focuses only on major sites.
Besides vandalism, another kind of damage is threatening the site s sacred value. This phenomenon is directly linked to the growing number of visitors, which is increasing much faster than the development of tourist infrastructures. New buildings must not only meet visitors needs, but also respect the nature of this site, where the sacred character of the monuments and village life are one and the same. Here again, attention is focused only on major sites. But Cambodia is strewn with archaeological remains, and few have escaped illegal excavations.