June 2011

The Forestry Administration yesterday launched a new US$3.8 million project to conserve forests in four provinces in the Cardamom region through sustainable community forestry.

Kampong Speu, Kampong Chhnang, Pursat and Battambang provinces have been targeted because they contain forests with “globally significant biodiversity … and at the same time act as major carbon reserves”, yet face threats from logging and land concessions, according to an official summary of the project plan.

Ten forested communities, among them Muritaro, Aranaputa, and Bethany, yesterday signed the support US$50,000 agreement between the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), the Guyana Forestry Commission and the Forestry Training Centre Incorporated under the National Forest Programme Facility.
The three-year project, “Capacity Building of Small Loggers’ Associations” is not only geared at forest resources but provide training for villagers to generate income in alternative ventures such as craft and poultry.