The Wildlife-Friendly Ibis Rice Project, a partnership between NGOs and the government, aims to protect wildlife in Cambodia's northern plains through an initiative where local farmers grow high-quality Malis rice while agreeing to preserve the forests where they live.

Cambodia's national bird, the Giant Ibis [ pseudibis gigantean ]. Trips to see the Giant Ibis in several of the Ibis Rice villages can be arranged through Sam Veasna Center for Wildlife Conservation, a partner NGO.

Sey Chien with other farmers, signing up to become a member of the Dangphlat village marketing network (VMN). There are currently 10 villages with active VMNs.

Wildlife Friendly farmer's home in Prey Veng Village, Preah Vihear Province. Paddy rice is being collected by the VMN for sale.

Soun Borei bringing his paddy to Village Marketing Network storage building in Tmatboey. Remorks are used by the VMN to transport paddy from farmers' homes.

Narong farmer Toun Soun putting her thumbprint on receipt for selling paddy to VMN. When rice is purchased from farmers, accurate record-keeping is important for anyone to see how much rice was sold by each member.

Loading up paddy rice to sell to VMN from a typical rice storage out-building in Tmatboey. The rice for the rest of the year is kept in these little houses, high enough off the ground to remain dry during the wet season.

Primary school children in one of the two small schools in this village

Dangphlat's Norng Ruen and his wife, Hot Sotah with their two children, waiting for paddy to be picked up. The VMN committee organizes the rice purchases once the product passes inspection and it is ascertained that the selling member is in good standing and has not broken any Wildlife Friendly rules.

Farmers from the village of Kampong Veang in the province of Kompong Thom are helping protect the Bengal Florican. The Bengal Florican Conservation Area straddles the provinces of Siem Reap and Kompong Thom, and farmers must share their paddy fields with the florican, which uses it during the mating and nesting season.

Once paddy is packed in large sacks they are sewn up by VMN farmers for transport to storage -- in Narong Village. The procurement of Ibis Rice paddy takes place over several days in each of ten villages.

The Soria Moria in Siem Reap is an award-winning Wildlife Friendly hotel. The dining room features small table tents to inform tourists they are eating Ibis Rice.

The big family of Ibis Rice farmers Laeng Loeum and Hat Moeun, Dangphlat Village, Preah Vihear Province, Cambodia

Pkha malis (jasmine flower rice) ready for harvest in Tmatboey

White-shouldered Ibis (Pseudibis davisoni) can some times be found feeding in the Ibis Rice paddies, like this one, in the Preah Vihear Protected Forest.