Plant Trees in Cambodian Community Forests

On September 3, 2023, in a remarkable display of community engagement and environmental stewardship, the "Women Participate in the Protection of Natural Resources (WEC)" initiative, as part of the #CommunityPeacebuildingInitiatives for World Environment Day, orchestrated a meaningful event in Vattanac village, Vattanac commune, Sambo district, Kratie province. A total of 159 enthusiastic participants, including 78 women, 1 disabled individual, 15 young people, and 30 children, came together for a collective mission. Among the attendees were esteemed figures such as the Vattanac commune chief, village chief, post chief, along with teachers, students, representatives from the Prey Lang community network, and a dedicated group of women. Under the theme "We plant green saplings together," the event unfolded at both the Vattanac Primary School and the commune hall, symbolizing a harmonious blend of education, community leadership, and environmental action. This collaborative effort not only exemplified the power of collective action but also heralded a promising future for sustainable development and conservation efforts in the region.

Links:

• Tree Planting Event in Prey Lang areas in Kratie Province

Hello friends!

Thanks to your support, we have continued our efforts to support local environmental activists, the protectors of trees and turtles. We work with Indigenous communities in the Prey Lang area to strengthen their nonviolent advocacy strategies and resilience to internal and external conflict. In recent months, we have continued to do this work but have also facilitated some celebratory events, like the PLCN annual meeting--complete with a tree ordination ceremony--and a turtle release to boost the local population of turtles. This work is not easy; deforestation continues despite the efforts of these communities as a result of entrenched corruption and lucrative markets for timber. Yet without their efforts, deforestation would likely be much worse. Therefore we continue to put our hope in local forest defenders and keep working for a more peaceful and green home.