In Cambodia’s Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary REDD+ Project, communities and conservationists are working hand-in-hand to build a future where people and endangered wildlife—especially Asian elephants—can live together in harmony. Through open dialogue, local wisdom, and creative solutions, a shared vision of human-wildlife coexistence is taking root in the forest.
This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the leadership of Kae Vert, a young Indigenous Bunong woman who has defied expectations to lead her community in protecting their ancestral lands. As the chief of the Sre Preah Community Protected Area in the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary, Vert is working to preserve both the environment and the cultural traditions of her people.
The Southern Cardamom REDD+ Project supports students in rural Cambodia, like Ra Srey Lin, in pursuing higher education through its scholarship program. These opportunities enable young people to achieve their aspirations, contribute to their communities, and shape a sustainable future.
As chief of the O Pong Rong Community Protected Area, Sari champions conservation and cultural preservation in the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary, inspiring his community to safeguard the land that sustains them.
In the heart of Koh Kong province, Mr. Tith Ly and his Chorng Indigenous community are safeguarding their ecosystem and revitalizing livelihoods. By partnering with the Southern Cardamom REDD+ Project, they are turning their deep connection to nature into a sustainable path forward, ensuring a thriving future for both their people and the forest.
“Through this ecotourism initiative, we are able to conserve the forest, protect our ancestral land, and preserve our tradition. And at the same time, wildlife’s habitat and their sources of food will be safeguarded.”
“In Cambodia, where rising temperatures have caused many of our water sources – such as rivers, ponds, and small brick wells – to dry up, the REDD+ Project’s provision of water couldn’t have come at a better time.”
Empowering Bunong heritage, the Krama Weaving Group, part of the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary REDD+ project, modernizes traditional weaving, enhancing efficiency and cultural preservation. With a focus on community collaboration, it introduces innovative techniques to scale production, currently engaging 34 women from Pu Rang and Pu Tang villages.
The Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary (KSWS) REDD+ Project partners with local communities through initiatives like Cash for Communities (C4C), providing direct financial support for projects like cow-raising, chicken rearing, and aquaculture. This approach fosters economic growth and natural resource conservation, contributing to deforestation mitigation.
Hear from community members about the positive impact REDD+ has had on their forests and livelihoods, and what life would have been like without it.
