A collaborative initiative saw youth and stakeholders gather in Kampong Thom province to plant 6,000 saplings, with the aim of fostering sustainable resource management and environmental restoration
Hundreds of youth helped to plant 6,000 saplings in Kampong Thom province as part of a collaborative effort to restore Cambodia’s forests under the ‘Every Tree Counts 2024’ initiative.
On June 12, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), in collaboration with the Forestry Administration of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, organised the tree planting activity.
The ‘Every Tree Counts’ initiative saw 6,000 saplings given to participants in the organised tree-planting session, which took place alongside various presentations by youth that focused on environmental restoration.
The main aim was to nurture partnerships in tree plantation and forest restoration efforts in support of the Government’s objectives. These include its Nationally Determined Contributions, Long-Term Strategy for Carbon Neutrality and the targets outlined in the National Forestry Programme, with a broader goal of enhancing forest cover across the country.
“Cambodia heavily relies on natural resources and agriculture, and faces severe climate impacts like rising temperatures and extreme weather, exacerbating vulnerabilities. We aim at increasing communities’ resilience to climate change and disasters, supporting them in obtaining secure and equitable access to natural resources and building their capacities to manage these resources sustainably.”
The initiative was organised under the Community Action for Sustainable Forests (CASFor) project, a collaborative effort spearheaded by multiple organisations, including MAFF, the Ministry of Education, FAO, UNDP, Wildlife Conservation Society and the Regional Community Forestry Training Centre for Asia and the Pacific.
Supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, CASFor prioritises bolstering community forestry by rolling out management practices, particularly those that promote restoration activities.
“Today’s activity symbolises our collective commitment to building partnerships for forest and land restoration, promoting sustainable management of local forest resources, enhancing resilience, improving livelihoods, ecosystem services for local communities, and aligning with national and global goals on climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation,” added Rebekah Bell, FAO representative in Cambodia.
Chheng Dany, Director General of FA, urged all partners to support tree planting initiatives and help contribute to the restoration and preservation of the Kingdom’s natural and forest resources.
“On behalf of the Kampong Thom Provincial Administration, as a local authority, we consistently endorse efforts aimed at safeguarding and conserving natural resources, particularly through activities such as reforestation, tree planting and increasing forest cover, with active involvement from communities and partners,” he said.
“These efforts aim to foster sustainable local development, ensuring that our people reap the benefits of our forests.”
Source: Kiripost
