Environmental policy and administrative management

The project was developed in consultation with and at the request of local communities and commune council. It also draws on the priorities of the commune development plans. It will target all the 10 villages of Lovea commune in Prey Chhor district of Kampong Cham province. Part of the commune is inundated by the Mekong River via its tributaries (Moukh Kampoul and Kruos) during the rainy season. The commune has a total population of 7 079, including 58 % women and 61 % children below 17 years old, who have been trapped in the vicious cycle of poverty due partly to the changing environment and condition of the Mekong River (e.g. bank erosion, siltation, etc.). The project will be implemented for a period of twenty four (24) months starting in July/August 2007 and will: (a) enhance agricultural productivity of local communities and promote agricultural diversification to ensure food security and to increase income; and (b) promote agro-forestry practice to provide alternative source for firewood and diet (e.g. fruits) and to improve local, natural environment (including terrestrial and aquatic). These will help improve living condition of local population and draw pressure away from natural flooded forest As local population will be able to increase productivity of and diversify their agricultural production through acceptable and improved organic farming techniques, and to have alternative source of fuel-wood, they will cut down or halt the usage of agro-chemicals and stop clearing and harvesting flooded forest. The project will enable them to cope with changing environment and condition of the Mekong River and, indirectly, contribute to sustaining and improving its environment and bio-diversity. The goal of the project is to improve and conserve quality of local natural environment and resources which will allow local people to cope with changing environment and condition of the Mekong and indirectly contribute to the maintenance and improvement of the overall Mekong River s environment and bio-diversity. Objectives: The objectives of the project are to: (i) Enhance agricultural productivity of local communities and promote agricultural diversification to ensure food security and to increase income through organic farming, sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural practices; (ii) Promote tree and fruit tree planting agro-forestry to provide alternative source for firewood and diet (e.g. fruits) and to improve local, natural environment and resources (including terrestrial and aquatic); and (iii) Support local livelihood development activities. Outputs: Toward the end of the project life, following outputs will be achieved: Around 100 training and extension sessions on soil and water conservation and agro-forestry practices will have been conducted; 2 tons of improved crops seeds of, especially rice, cash crops and vegetables will have been distributed; Number of or some 200 farmers will have been trained in and/or will have received and will be practicing improved agricultural techniques; 50 farmer-managed demonstration / model farms will have been established and maintained; 20000 saplings of trees for fruit, fuel-wood, food and fodder production will have been distributed and planted; About 30% of target families will have used skills gained from training and extensions in their agricultural production and diversified their agricultural production; At least 10 ha of homesteads and/or public properties will have been planted with trees or fruit trees; and US$2 500.00 (two thousand five hundred US dollars) credit is put in place so that target beneficiaries could access for agricultural productivity improvement and diversification as well as for livelihood development activities.

Cambodia