Empower Rural Communities and Help Protect Forests

The Chi Phat Community Based Eco-Tourism (CBET) program has continued to serve as a model of an effective eco-tourism site. In July, two groups of tourism communities from different parts of the country visited Chi Phat to learn how Wildlife Alliance and local authorities developed and grew the project. The CBET team was also invited to the Phnom Penh International School to give a presentation to university students on sustainable eco-tourism development. And in October, Chi Phat CBET was chosen as the best initiative of the UIAA Mountain Protection Award (MPA) 2017.

The total number of tourists who visit Chi Phat has continued to grow and the number of Cambodian visitors has already more than doubled as compared to 2016. As the number of visitors increases, Chi Phat has made an effort to increase security by installing four CCTV security cameras. To improve their offered services and accommodate the growing number of visitors, CBET purchased 20 new life jackets for boating activities. In August, 20 student volunteers from Outlook Expedition, UK, came to Chi Phat to build two new forest campsites in O’ Sampov and Damnak Khos camping areas.

The Chhay Areng CBET project is scheduled to open to tourists in January 2018, which will bring a new source of income to another local community!

Thank you for supporting the Chi Phat community and others, helping them develop and grow their sustainable sources of income! 

The ultimate goal for every animal under our care is reintroduction back into the wild. Hundreds of animals have been rehabilitated at our Wildlife Rehabilitation Station inside the protected forest of the Southern Cardamoms. Here, the animals are kept in large forested enclosures and provided with expert care until they are ready to be released into the wild. The program has seen remarkable success, but as the forested area has become increasingly populated with native species, it has also become increasingly targeted by poachers. To address this vulnerability, community rangers from the nearby village of Chi Phat have been recruited to provide additional protection. Groups of 3-4 rangers patrol the forest for 5-6 days at a time, removing snares and deterring wildlife traffickers. Managed by the Community-Based Ecotourism Project in Chi Phat, the Community Ranger program serves as an extra layer of protection for current and future wildlife in the area, while generating additional employment opportunities for local villagers. The program has also helped villagers find value in the protection of their natural heritage, not only as it directly supports their families, but as it bolsters the ecotourism program as a whole, bringing more tourists and more income to the community.

Release is futile if we cannot ensure the animals are given the best chance at survival. At only $105 a patrol, the added protection these rangers provide is invaluable. This year, rangers have gone on 14 patrols, collected 469 snares and removed 100 meters (328 feet) of netting. We only have one team currently making patrols, however two teams in the forest would provide the critical protection needed. Make a gift to help our Community Ranger program run at full capacity. Your gift will allow us to conduct wildlife releases with more confidence and consequently expand the number of animals and variety of species being released at our Wildlife Rehabilitation Station.