In Their Hands: How Community-based Organizations in Cambodia are Advancing Biodiversity and Forest Conservation 

March 9, 2022

To protect biodiversity and improve livelihoods in the Prey Lang Extended Landscape USAID Greening Prey Lang (implemented by Tetra Tech), requires a variety of expertise, networks, and advocates. Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) play an important role in the protection and conservation of protected areas. They are like the living fences to protect natural resources. 

A representative of Aphiwat Prey Veng Community Protected Area in Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province signs a grant agreement with USAID Greening Prey Lang. Photo: USAID Greening Prey Lang

Since July 2019, USAID Greening Prey Lang has awarded US$2.8 million through 17 grants to private companies and non-governmental organizations. Grantees include Sansom Mlup Prey, Non-Timber Forest Products-Exchange Program, RECOFTC, Cambodian Rural Development Team, Our Future Organization, Fauna & Flora International, People in Need, Growway Partner Co., Ltd., Sam Veasna Conservation Tours, NatureWild Co., Ltd, and Krassna Management Co., Ltd.


Community-Based Organization members patrol in the protected forests. Photo credit: USAID Greening Prey Lang

The majority of these grants have been awarded to respond to the secondary economic impacts of COVID-19 in communities living in the Prey Lang Extended Landscape. In addition to supporting private sector and non-governmental organization grant projects, USAID Greening Prey Lang is also providing small grants to 47 community-based organizations. These grants are supporting deforestation-free agricultural value chains, community forest patrolling, ecotourism, financial literacy, and institutional development.


Community-Based Organization committee members discuss proposed activities to apply for a grant from USAID Greening Prey Lang. Photo credit: USAID Greening Prey Lang

Leveraging the skills, relationships, and long-term investments of non-governmental organizations and private sector firms enables USAID Greening Prey Lang to expand its engagement across the landscape. Community-based organizations play a critical role in the protection and conservation of protected areas. Direct grants to community-based organizations enhance their technical and organizational capacity, allow communities to respond to the secondary impacts of COVID-19 across rural Cambodia, and prepare communities to effectively solicit and manage anticipated forest carbon co-benefits.

 
Community-Based Organizations across Cambodia provide ecotourism experiences to domestic and international tourists. Photo credit: USAID Greening Prey Lang

Learn more about the USAID Greening Prey Lang project on Tetra Tech’s website and see more stories from the project on their Exposure.