Khampaeng Phatvisay from Son Koua Village in Houaphan Province, Lao PDR, Sreuk Pich, chief of O’rona Village in Mondulkiri Province, Cambodia, and Saw Htoo Tha Po from Taninthayi Region, Myanmar share something in common. Through the WCS Mekong Drivers Partnership, all three have gained greater certainty over access to their own natural resources and are now better placed to benefit from their use.
The approach in each place has differed, but through WCS efforts in partnership with local governments across target high biodiversity landscapes in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar, 18,500 households across 180 villages enjoy more robust and equitable land use management. This has then helped them to start up a variety of business enterprises that enable them to increase their income whilst preserving their natural environment.