Mondulkiri: The Keo Seima REDD+ Project is making a significant impact on the lives of local communities in Mondulkiri province, creating vital livelihood opportunities that are simultaneously easing pressure on the region’s forests and wildlife.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the project, which stands for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, has focused on supporting sustainable, income-generating activities such as poultry, fish, pig, and cattle raising, as well as vegetable farming. These efforts are directly aimed at reducing community reliance on forest exploitation and wildlife hunting, linking conservation with economic stability.
For residents like Ms. Hang Diya, a 32-year-old farmer from Andoung Kroloeung village, the project has been transformative. “Before this, I had no income and depended entirely on my husband’s irregular daily wages,” Ms. Diya explained. She has been raising over 100 chickens for more than a year under the project’s guidance. “Now, raising chickens at home helps support our family financially.”
Her poultry business provides her family with an additional income of approximately 500,000 Riel (about US$125) per month by selling live chickens and eggs. Crucially, this stability has allowed her husband to work closer to home, eliminating the need to migrate to distant provinces for labour.
The project’s strategy involves more than just seed funding; it offers comprehensive support to ensure success. Mr. Khieu Samnang, Livelihood Improvement Advisor for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), stated that the REDD+ initiative targets 21 villages, providing farmers with technical training, veterinary guidance, feed, medicine, and necessary equipment like nets and coops.
“The REDD+ Project aims to assist farmers in 21 villages by providing them with income-generating activities and stable employment,” Mr. Samnang said. Since 2022, the programme has expanded its support across four districts in Mondulkiri, covering a diverse range of activities, including farming of common vegetables like morning glory, cucumbers, string beans, white radish, and carrots, in addition to livestock.
The Keo Seima REDD+ Project operates within the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary, a protected area spanning 317,456 hectares across Mondulkiri and Kratie provinces. The project is jointly implemented by the WCS and the Ministry of Environment and is crucial for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation, contributing to Cambodia’s commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Its core activities are multi-faceted, focusing on strengthening law enforcement, promoting community-led natural resource management, enhancing local livelihoods, and conducting biodiversity research and monitoring. The project is supported by several international partners, including USAID, AFD, and UNDP.