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.
Growing up in Sre Preah village, deep within Cambodia’s Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary, Kae Vert experienced firsthand the profound connection between nature and her community’s traditions. Raised in an Indigenous Bunong family, she was taught the importance of preserving her culture so that future generations could continue their animist way of life.
From a young age, Vert was passionate about conservation and community-development. As a teenager, she actively participated in community initiatives and found inspiration in a former community chief. “The former chief inspired me with his way of leadership,” she recalled. “He guided me with patience and clear explanations. I admired the work that he did.”
With the support of her parents and years of experience working alongside other community members, Vert was nominated for the role of chief of the Sre Preah Community Protected Area. After multiple rounds of voting and discussions, she was elected at just 28 years old—making her one of the youngest women to lead a natural resource conservation effort in her community.
Despite her passion for community work, stepping into a leadership role came with challenges. “I was afraid I might not be able to fulfill the responsibilities,” she admitted. Skepticism from some former community committee members added to the pressure. “They thought I was too young to handle the job.”
Rather than letting their doubts discourage her, Vert used them as motivation. “Whoever looks down on me, I will show you what I can achieve,” she said. With the support of her family and community, she remained firm in her decision. Over time, even those who once doubted her began to recognize her capabilities, including her in key decision-making meetings, traditional ceremonies, and special events.
Fifteen months into her leadership, Vert has gained the trust of her community, local authorities, and conservation project coordinators. She now works closely with development teams to improve local livelihoods and protect the forest. Every month, she joins patrol teams to monitor the community’s land and prevent illegal deforestation.
“This forest is essential to my community,” she explained. “We rely on it for our livelihood, gathering non-timber forest products. But beyond that, it holds deep spiritual significance—we need it to honor our ancestors, bury our deceased, and preserve our traditions for future generations.”
She emphasized the severe consequences of losing sacred lands: “If our spiritual and burial forests are destroyed, it will cause serious problems in the community—illness, misfortune. That is why we must protect them.”
Vert is a strong advocate for women’s leadership in conservation and community development. She believes that women have just as much responsibility and capability as men in protecting natural resources, driving progress, and making key decisions. “Women and men have the same rights and responsibilities in all kinds of work—including natural resource protection, community development, and decision-making,” she affirms.
Her message to other women is simple but powerful: “Trust yourself first—only then will others trust you too.”
