Economic Growth Cambodia Project #7516

Empower Cambodian Communities to Protect Forests

by Wildlife Alliance

Project Report | Jul 28, 2016
Modern Sustainable Farming Implemented at Sovanna Baitong

By Jessica Knierim | Development Associate

Empowering the next generation to live sustainably

Wildlife Alliance continues to introduce innovative sustainable farming techniques to our Community Agriculture Development Project. The program aims to empower Cambodians to earn a livable and sustainable income so that they don't have to rely on slash and burn farming and wildlife poaching, practices that are detrimental to the forest. The Community Agriculture Development Project does this through training in modern agriculture techniques and marketing, and provides farmers with subsidized tools, irrigation and seedlings. Recently, the program has introduced farmers to a technique that is self sustaining, cost effective, and is made of recycled materials- aquaponics.

Aquaponics is the practice of combining aquatic animal farming and hydroponics in a symbiotic environment. It creates a a symbiotic ecosystem where the fish feed on the plants and then the fish’s excrement is used as nutrients to fertilize the plants. This creates a closed ecosystem, where the fish essentially feed themselves and do not require supplemental food. Additionally, the majority of the water in the aquaponics systems is recycled, making it even more sustainable and cost effective.

At Sovanna Baitong, community members have been consistently producing gallic, basilica, eggplants, sweet pepper, and fish in the aquaponics systems. The families not only use their aquaponics harvests for self-consumption, but can also sell their products at the local market. To produce the best agriculture, Wildlife Alliance has also taught families to create their own organic fertilizer through worm composting and composting grass and cow manure, and making a dry compost.

Your contributions allow us to bring these innovative techniques to rural communities. We hope you continue to support Wildlife Alliance in creating sustainable livlihoods in Cambodia!

Successful aquaponics ecosystem

Aquaponics system made from recycled materials

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May 1, 2016
The Chi Phat Green Ambassadors

By Sheena Thiruselvan | Assistant Director of Communications

Chi Phat Green Ambassadors

According to a new study by Australia’s Griffith University, ecotourism can be the critical difference between the survival and the extinction of an endangered species. The study used models to evaluate the net impact of ecotourism on nine threatened species, and found conservation gains for seven of them. Now in its 9th year of operation, Wildlife Alliance continues to see significant success with our Community-Based Ecotourism (CBET) model in Chi Phat. Revenue and number of tourists have steadily increased over the years, and community members have been able to achieve long-term financial stability by operating eco-friendly guesthouses, home stays, and restaurants and working as trekking guides, boat operators, and taxi drivers. The increase in revenue has allowed the community to increase the number of forest patrols conducted by Community Rangers. Their anti-poaching efforts have led to the reduction in the number of traps laid by hunters in the forest, and has resulted in a greater observation and documentation of endangered animals and their tracks.

An added benefit of the program has been the spread of the concept of recycling and waste management. To improve the tourist experience, it became necessary for the community to address their inadequate waste management system. Local authorities and school principals showed a strong support for recycling in the community and a self-sustained youth group called The Chi Phat Green Ambassadors grew out of this interest. The Chi Phat Green Ambassadors are a local volunteer youth group made up of 8th and 9th grade students that meet with Wildlife Alliance staff to discuss and address various environmental concerns in the community. The group plays a key role in litter education and prevention, as well as clean-up initiatives in villages, along trails and at forest campsites. The group has made a significant impact in cleaning up Chi Phat, and we know they will take this experience with them as they go into high school. In the meantime, the next class is already geared up and excited to take over! Show your support by liking their Facebook page!

Thank you for making a difference for communities, forests and wildlife in Cambodia!

Chi Phat Trash Clean Up

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Feb 3, 2016
Thank you for helping the new community orchard grow!

By Sheena Thiruselvan | Assistant Director of Communications

Irrigation system in the Community Orchard

To help the community of Sovanna Baiton reach financial sustainability, Wildlife Alliance helped create a Community Orchard to increase income for community members through the cultivation of high-yield cash crops. The development of the Community Orchard began in 2013, and if projections bear out, the orchard should be fully supporting the community within 3-5 years.

Now in it’s third year of implementation, the communal plantation has seen sustained effective management with the implementation of field activities by the project team with support from the Agriculture Economic Development Committee of the Sovanna Baitong Agriculture Association. The 20-hectare fruit tree orchard has 3,564 trees consisting of durian, longan, rambutan, and jackfruit; most are two years old already. The fruit trees were intercropped with spinach, green spinach, radish and mustard green; also planted were 4,000 pineapples and 254 bananas.

Work at the plantation includes grass cleaning, plowing between the rows, applying fertilizer, fertigation, spraying, treating diseased sapling, and replacing dead saplings. The local people from the village received additional income to help complete this work.

Thanks to your generous support, the community of Sovanna Baitong is on its way to becoming self-sustaining. Farmers like, Nak Sok, who joined the project and gave up slash-and-burn farming in the forest now earn a steady income that has allowed them to build a new home for their large family, send their children to school and generate savings. Most importantly, the family has achieved a level of stability and financial success that they never dreamed would be possible when they lived in the forest.

To continue to make stories like this possible, make a gift today to Empower Cambodian Communities to Protect Forests

Planting cash crop trees for the community

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