Regardless of the many CFs in Sandann district, Kampong Thom province, including one in Tbong Toek village, Meanrith commune, covering 1,593 ha forest land, deforestation remains rampant and this will continue if there is no sufficient support to complete the process for its management. Deforestation occurs as result of encroachment and conversion of forest for agriculture by some of community members and illegal logging by a few community members and outsiders as middlemen or networks buy illegal timbers from community forest to sell further to private companies holding licenses. It is also aggravated through corroboration of officials and offenders, weak law enforcement by competent agencies, lack of understanding of the long term benefits of forest in the national economy, environment and society including lack of participation and ability to take part in patrol on the part of the community. These have led to forest degradation although some of the claimed lands have been recovered and returned to community management.
To contribute to addressing the issues of deforestation and forest degradation as stated above the management committee of Prey Kbal O?Krangak CF has developed a project titled ?Prey Kbal O?Krangak Community Forestry Management towards REDD+? to be implemented in Meanrith commune, Sandaan district, Kampong Thom province. The project emphasis three main areas: 1) promotion of understanding on the benefits of forest conservation, understanding of the REDD+ concept among community management committee, members and relevant stakeholders through provision of training of trainers, dissemination to community people and relevant stakeholders and their study visits to communities with experiences in implementing similar projects in the past 2) defining clear community forest area on the ground by planting 200 boundary markers (adding 170 more markers) and building a 6,100m x 1m x 1 m ditch as boundary at selected locations and strengthen patrol through establishment of revolving fund for the CF management committee with USD2,000 fund provided by the project and promotion of awareness on the community by-law, agreement and benefits of community conservation and 3) promotion of local livelihood of the community people through provision of fund to savings groups and training on appropriate agricultural techniques for example how to select appropriate crop (cassava) and planting techniques that improve productivity so to reduce dependence on expansion of land for cassava planting and strengthening their participation.
a. Overall objective: To manage and use 1,593 ha Prey Kbal O?Krangak CF sustainably as part of the community preparedness for implementation of REDD+ in the future.
Specific objectives:
1. By mid 2017 70% of management committee members, CF members at large and relevant stakeholders have better understanding of REDD+ concept and their more effective participation in community forest conservation;
2. 1,289 community people, 698 women, from 248 HHs in the target area have secured their right to manage and use resources in 1,593 ha on a sustainable manner; and
3. The poorest farmers from 20 HHs have improved their livelihood through savings groups, an improved farming technology and sustainable use of NTFPs.
c. Expected outputs
1.1 Four trainers, 1 project staff, 1 CF member, 1 FA official and 1 commune councillor have improved their understanding on REDD+ concept and how to use REDD+ IEC materials and are able to raise awareness with other members of the CF;
1.2 At least 70% of CF members from 248 HHs and relevant stakeholders have understanding of REDD+ concept and participate in community forest protection and conservation;
2.1 A ditch 6,100 m built and 170 boundary markers planted to provide buffer for protection of the community forest from encroachment;
2.2 20 members of CF management committee and patrol team have necessary capacity to protect their CF forest;
3.1 Two self-help groups of 17 members will have capacity strengthened and additional fund received to provide loan to community members for expanding their crop production and necessary inputs after relevant training on agriculture is provided;
3.2 Poor farmers from 20 HHs have improved livelihood through savings group, application of appropriate agricultural techniques and sustainable use of NTFPs.
Project activities
1.1.1 Sending a project staff, a CF member, a commune councillor and a local FA official to participate in a training of trainers on REDD+ concept held at the national level;
1.1.2 Developing teaching materials on REDD+ for training of 9 CF management committee members and local authority of REDD+ concept;
1.1.3 Holding a training for 9 CF management committee members and 2 commune councillors of REDD+ concept and the forestry law;
1.1.4 Leading a study visit of 15 participants to Buddhist CF in Uddor Meanchey;
1.2.1 Convening 2 village meetings each with 50 participants to raise awareness on REDD+ concept, forestry law, land law and the adverse impacts of deforestation;
1.2.2 Distributing IEC materials produced by national REDD+ programme to the CF members;
1.2.3 Funding selected management committee and members to participate in lesson sharing meeting of REDD+ projects at the national level;
1.2.4 Producing a short video clip of success story on achievements of the CBR+ SGP/UNDP supported project to share with relevant stakeholders;
1.2.5 Disseminating to CF members the project success story by video screening at the village level to raise public awareness of the REDD+ project;
2.1.1 Disseminating to community members of the plan for building boundary ditch and placement of boundary markers to relevant villages;
2.1.2 Advertising for contractor to produce boundary markers and 4 billboards and planting of 170 markers at 0.15 x 0.15 x 1.5 m;
2.1.3 Advertising for contractor to build a 6,100 x 1 x 1 m ditch;
2.1.4 Organising supervisory visits to billboards production, boundary maker planting and building ditch activities;
2.2.1 Establish a CF revolving fund with USD 2,000 capital to make loans and gain interest to cover cost of forest patrol by the community;
2.2.2 Provision of training on project financial and revolving fund management;
2.2.3 Conducting community forest patrol as schedule or as needed using co-finance from Mlup Baitong and the community;
2.2.4 Meeting to disseminate information and promotion of awareness of the community by-law, agreement and management plan;
3.1.1 Strengthening existing self-help groups on book keeping, reporting, review and disseminate the groups? by-law;
3.1.2 Provision of fund to establish self-help groups, with USD500 to each group;
3.1.3 Monitoring and providing technical support to the community;
3.2.1 Provision of training to poor farmers from 20 HHs on farming techniques for cassava and vegetables;
3.2.2 Provision of technical support to participating farmers in their home gardening or farm based production;
3.2.3 Produce a short video clip on success story and lesson learned from the farming practices.