Plant Trees in Cambodian Community Forests

From 07–10 August 2025, under the Community Peacebuilding Initiatives (CPI), Peace Bridges Organization (PBO) partnered with the Prey Lang Community Network (PLCN) in Kampong Thom Province to celebrate National Tree Day through a community-led tree planting event. A total of 170 participants—including 48 women, 30 Indigenous people, and 20 youth from Kampong Thom, Preah Vihear, Stung Treng, and Kratie—came together to plant 6,000 seedlings in degraded forest areas.

The event integrated environmental restoration with cultural and spiritual practices led by monks, creating a meaningful space for reflection, unity, and collective responsibility. It brought together local authorities, teachers, students, community leaders, and civil society actors, strengthening cooperation and dialogue across sectors.

This activity demonstrated that environmental action can serve as a practical platform for peacebuilding. By working side by side, participants built trust, reinforced relationships, and deepened a shared commitment to protecting natural resources. The strong participation of women and Indigenous leaders further strengthened community ownership and confidence in local leadership. Engagement with local authorities enhanced legitimacy and encouraged ongoing collaboration, while traditional rituals and prayers added moral depth, linking conservation with cultural and spiritual values.

Participants and stakeholders expressed strong appreciation for the initiative. Monks highlighted the importance of collective action in safeguarding natural resources, noting the encouraging involvement of diverse community members. Local authorities welcomed the collaboration among government, communities, and civil society, recognizing it as a positive model for joint action. A woman leader from the PLCN, Ms. Phally, emphasized the value of cooperation within the network to restore degraded forests and raise awareness—especially among children—about the importance of conservation. Representatives from the Prey Lang network also called for continued collaboration across the four provinces, stronger engagement with environmental authorities, and sustained commitment to protecting the Prey Lang Forest.

On 13 July 2025, the Monk Community Forest (MCF) organized a large Arbor Day celebration in Chhouk Meas Village, Samraong City, Oddar Meanchey Province, under the Community Peacebuilding Initiatives project. A total of 614 participants, including 161 women, joined the event—among them monks, community leaders, youth, students, local authorities, provincial departments, and civil society partners from several provinces.

The event aimed to strengthen forest conservation, raise public awareness on climate change, and encourage collective responsibility for protecting natural resources. Through an interfaith approach, participants from Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, Indigenous, and other traditions shared reflections on the moral and spiritual importance of caring for nature.

A total of 7,420 tree seedlings were planted across four hectares of forest land. The ceremony strengthened cooperation between communities, authorities, and partners, promoted peaceful coexistence, and reinforced local leadership in environmental protection. The event demonstrated strong community ownership, unity, and commitment to long-term forest conservation and climate resilience.

Links:

• Some Insights from Participants in the Tree Planting Event