Rainforest Conservation - Cambodia
This Forest REDD+ conservation project prevents deforestation of a unique and biodiverse region which is the habitat of many native species.
Project Summary
Spreading over 20,000 km2 in Southwestern Cambodia, the Cardamom Mountain Range runs along Thailand’s border. The area is home to the second largest virgin rainforest in Southeast Asia, which is under significant pressure from illegal logging and poaching.
This offsetting project focusses on the South of this region, with the aim of preserving the biodiversity and the habitat for many native species. Fifty of them are on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List including the Asian elephant, the Asian brown bear, the Clouded Leopard and the Siamese crocodile.
Twenty-eight local communities depend on this region, which represents 16,319 people of whom only 16% live above the poverty line defined by the Cambodian government.
The Impact
- Protection of 445,339 hectares of forest and 53 threatened species.
- Project beneficiaries amount to 16,319 people, 3,841 families and 29 communities.
- 1,410 families are targeted for training on sustainable agricultural practices.
- Coaching and support is provided to rangers to assist in better policing of the
rainforests and counteracting corruption.
- Proceeds from the project help to develop ecotourism infrastructure to provide
alternative incomes.
- Scholarships are funded for students from 8 different communities.
- The project also funds increased support for health workers, hiring of additional
healthcare staff and improving facilities.
Supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were established by United Nations as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure all people enjoy peace and prosperity. There are 17 goals in total and this project is aligned to the following SDG goals.
SDG 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth
The project helps to provide alternative incomes to tackle the poverty issues that lie at the heart of illegal land-grabbing by training locals in increasing agricultural yields, supporting the development of eco-tourism, providing access to education and improving healthcare facilities.
SDG 13: Take urgent action on climate
The rainforest covered by the project provides 3.9 million tonnes of carbon absorption. Preserving it helps to prevent the release of large amounts of CO2 emissions and helps to mitigate climate change.
SDG 15: Protest, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.
Protecting this area of rainforest also support at least 52 species of threatened wildlife including the Asiatic black bear, Sun Bear, Clouded Leopard, Fishing Cat, Marbled Cat and 5 critically endangered species – Pangolin, Siamese Crocodile, Batagur Baska Turtle, Giant Ibis and White-earned Night Heron.