On Friday, October 11, 2024, H.E. Dr. Ken Sereyrotha, Director General, General Directorate of Local Community and Carbon Credit Secretariat as well as REDD+ Taskforce Secreterat, Ministry of Environment (MoE), and Mr. Oum Sony, Conservation International Cambodia (CI Cambodia) Country Director, jointly signed an agreement to implement the Veun Sai-Siem Pang National Park (VSSP) Project Agreement. The delegates of the Ministry of Environment including the REDD+ Taskforce Secretariat, and the Carbon Crediting Secretariat, and Global Green Natura (GGN), attended the event, bringing together a total of 34 participants (5 women). The signing project agreement indicates the commitments in supporting protected area management, sustainable agriculture, and ecotourism and REDD+ development that ensure long-term benefits for people and nature in Vern Sai-Siem Pang National Park, locates at Ratanakiri, and Stung Treng provinces.
Mr. Oum Sony, CI Cambodia Country Director said, "This is a crucial moment in which we must strengthen collaboration to promote sustainable development using market-based mechanisms, such as REDD+ development, in accordance with the safeguarding of nature. CI stands ready to support and carry out this significant mission in collaboration with all our partners. We are grateful to all stakeholders, including the Royal Government of Cambodia, the private sector, indigenous people, local communities, and development partners, for their trust and goodwill to foster relations in which humans and business can thrive with nature.”
With ongoing support from the Ministry of Environment and financial backing from the Arcus Foundation, the Mekong Regional Land Governance (MRLG) project, and GGN, CI Cambodia is expanding its efforts to conserve and restore the forest, enhance biodiversity protection, and improve local livelihoods. These initiatives focus on sustainable agriculture, land-use planning, and ecotourism development, ensuring long-term benefits for both people and wildlife in the region.
Since 2009, CI has been actively working with the Ministry of Environment and partners in the VSSP National Park to conserve its unique biodiversity and promote sustainable development for the benefit of both nature and local communities. In 2010, CI researchers discovered the northern yellow-cheeked crested gibbon in VSSP, a new species to science. CI has since worked with Indigenous people and local communities to develop an ecotourism initiative which enables visitors to hear and see the gibbons in the wild. This project provides a sanctuary for the gibbons while creating sustainable income sources for local families through tourism.
#MinistryOfEnvironment #CICambodia #SigningAgreemeent #Partnerships #PPP #Carbon #REDD+, #VSSP #VeunSaiSiemPang #NatureClimateSolutions