Environmental policy and administrative management

The project will work in collaboration with the CALM project (GEF Full size project) a joint initiative of UNDP Cambodia, MAFF, MoE and WCS. The Forestry Administration of MAFF is responsible for management of Protected Forest areas, whilst MoE is responsible for management of Kulen Promtep Wildlife Sanctuary. Local government will be involved in project implementation, including Commune Councils, District authorities and Provincial Departments of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries, Environment, Land Management and Rural Development. All activities will also be integrated into the National Decentralisation and Deconcentration (the successor to PLG, Partnership for Local Governance) annual planning process. The project aims to reduce deforestation in Kulen Promtep Wildlife Sanctuary (KPWS) and Preah Vihear Protected Forest (PVPF), by sustainable land management through improving agricultural productivity and soil conservation, targeting families identified as contributing to forest clearance. The project will work with farmers in four villages Tmatboey, Dangphlat, Chhep Lech and Chhep Kert (833 households total) within or adjacent to two conservation areas: KPWS and PVPF. Within these communities, FLD will target and assist 100-150 families with sustainable land management, which will serve as examples for others. This will lead to real reductions in poverty and food insecurity for the target families. By adopting a village-based approach, with coordination and conflict resolution by the village committee, the project will also help to build community capacity for sustainable land management. As a consequence, the village committee will be better equipped to deal with future land issues as they arise. Finally, by introducing new alternative income options, the project will begin to reduce dependence on forest resources for local livelihoods.

Cambodia