Phnom Penh (October 3, 2020) – His Excellency Neth Pheaktra, Secretary of State and Spokesman of the Ministry of Environment (MoE) is leading an MoE delegation and a group of local journalists on a visit to Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary (KSWS) in Mondulkiri province October 3 – 5, 2020.
The visit, organized by Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the MoE with USAID support, aims to provide an opportunity to learn about and raise the public’s awareness about (i) the design and implementation of the Keo Seima REDD+ Project, (ii) protection and conservation of biodiversity, and (iii) the community-based livelihood improvement program.
During the visit, the delegation will meet with the Director of Mondulkiri Provincial Department of Environment, Chief of KSWS Office, the department’s forest rangers, and WCS representatives at KSWS Office where they will be briefed about the implementation of the REDD+ project and associated community benefit sharing mechanisms. The delegation will then visit the Sre Preah Community Protected Area in Sre Preah commune of Keo Seima district, Jahoo Gibbon Camp in Andoung Kraloeng village, and Leng Ang and Leng Khin waterfalls in Oreang district. There they will meet with a bamboo producer group, the Ibis rice farmer group, a community-led ecotourism group, and observe some achievements brought about by REDD+ support such as a village level water supply system, community meeting hall, deep well, and village access bridge.
“The successful implementation of REDD+ provides mutual benefits to communities, nature, and the economy,” noted Ms. Veena Reddy, USAID/Cambodia Mission Director. “This approach can serve to retain key endangered species, diverse biodiversity, and forest cover. It can also conserve local culture.”
Ministry of Environment spokesman, His Excellency Neth Pheaktra, said: “On behalf of the Ministry of Environment, I would like to thank all relevant NGO and donor partners, especially USAID, for their continued support to protect and conserve Cambodia’s forest which have led to the sale of carbon credit in KSWS. The engagement of all partners not only benefited the ecosystem, but also the communities through the establishment of ecotourism. Thanks to the good cooperation between the MoE and its partners and thank all our rangers, local authorities at all levels and the provincial department of environment for their high commitment to conserve Cambodia’s biodiversity and wildlife for our next generation.”
Ken Sereyrotha, Country Program Director for WCS Cambodia said, “With continued support from our donors, WCS has made significant conservation achievements in recent years. We are proud of these efforts and are grateful for the support provided by MoE, Provincial Department of Environment and local authorities to achieve our shared long-term conservation and community development goals.”
About the Keo Seima REDD+ Project
REDD+ (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation) is a mechanism to create an incentive for developing countries to protect, better manage and wisely use their forest resources, contributing to the global fight against climate change. The KSWS REDD+ project started in 2010 and focuses on a core region (166,983 hectares) of the protected area. The project includes 20 villages, home to around 18,000 people that benefit from better management of the protected area and support for community development. The Royal Government of Cambodia’s Ministry of Environment (MoE) in partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), has sold nearly $4 million worth of carbon credits to date. Revenue from these carbon sales is now being used to support a full range of conservation and forest management activities including the training of Cambodian
government staff in forest and wildlife management. Revenue has also been shared with communities to improve their livelihoods by funding development projects of their choice such as toilets, wells, bridges, meeting halls, and mobile health clinics. To learn more visit: https://bit.ly/3ici6vO
Media Contact:
Leak Ratna
Communications Manager
Wildlife Conservation Society
Email: rleak@wcs.org
Tel: 012 819121