The project aims to improve the management of community forests in Cambodia and enhance the conservation efforts of state-owned forests. The goal is to rehabilitate ecological services and ensure sustainable forest management in Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS).
Develop a model for community forest management by strengthening Community Forestry (CF) management and testing suitable restoration and silviculture technologies;
Reduce the dependence of community on forests by improving household farming systems;
Enhance forest protection by adopting an advanced forest monitoring system called Forest Watcher; and
Share achievements and related techniques in Cambodia and GMS through demonstration and experiences sharing.
Formulation of a community forestry management plan.
Demarcation and patrolling of community forestry boundaries.
Improvement of the Forestry Administration triage nursery.
Establishment of restoration and silviculture models.
Establishment of a village water supply system.
Establishment of agroforestry and home garden farming systems.
Installation and maintenance of the Forest Watcher system and auxiliary facilities.
Assembly of an integrated forest management technology and technical handbook.
Dissemination of experiences and technologies
The project successfully developed and implemented a comprehensive community forestry management plan across 1,452 hectares, integrating modern and traditional restoration techniques to improve forest conditions. Restoration trials were conducted across degraded forests, including timber plantations, firewood forests, and multistory cropping systems, enhancing biodiversity and forest productivity. Agroforestry and home garden models were introduced, diversifying farmers' income sources and reducing dependence on forest resources. These initiatives provided sustainable livelihood options, such as cash crop cultivation, benefiting local communities economically.
In state-owned forests, the installation of Forest Watcher fire monitoring systems significantly improved forest protection, detecting and preventing fire incidents in real time. The system’s high-tech surveillance capabilities increased patrolling efficiency, reducing illegal activities and safeguarding critical forest areas.
Through capacity-building efforts and technical handbooks, the project equipped forestry practitioners and local communities with knowledge of sustainable forest management. By integrating ecological restoration with socio-economic benefits, the sub-project provided a scalable model for community forest management, contributing to both conservation and sustainable rural development in Cambodia.
