REDD+ – Keo Seima, Cambodia

 Project Description

The Seima Protection Forest (SPF) covers 292,690 ha with the REDD+ Project Area covering 166,983 ha of forest within the SPF Core Protection Area

The project area comprises the forested parts of the Core Protection Area forested at the project start date.  The leakage belt encompasses adjacent areas of forest in case the project displaces some deforestation activities.  The leakage management area, where selected livelihood improvement activities take place, comprises the non-forest, agricultural areas used by the participating villages

The project’s holistic approach has four direct interventions:

• strengthening legal mechanisms and political support
• direct law enforcement
• strengthening community natural resource management
• developing alternative livelihoods

Effective law enforcement is essential, underpinning all other activities

Sustained investment in supporting land titling for all indigenous communities protects livelihoods and land rights while forming a strong basis for cooperation

Sustainability Beyond Carbon

Preserved forest areas provide the basic needs and traditional cultural identity for over 2,500 households (about 12,500 people)

Unplanned deforestation of culturally significant forest is prevented with ongoing patrolling reducing illegal land conversion, logging and unsustainable non-timber forest product harvest; this reduces the loss, degradation, or disturbance of ecologically functional habitats.  Patrolling has reduced wildlife poaching and removed thousands of snares responsible for indiscriminate killing of numerous species of global conservation concern

The conservation area is within the Indo-Burma Hotspot with high levels of biodiversity and endemism and includes parts of two important eco-regions:

• Annamite Range Moist Forests with high levels of local endemism among evergreen forest species
• Lower Mekong Dry Forests, crucial for the survival of many species typically found in lowland deciduous forests

It has 41 globally threatened vertebrate species (4 critically endangered and 14 endangered), with globally or regionally outstanding populations of Asian Elephants, primates, wild cattle, carnivores and birds like the Giant Ibis and Green Peafowl.  It is considered of high importance for long-term Tiger reintroduction

Part of the ancestral homeland of the Bunong people, the forest is a key source of income and central to their spiritual beliefs.  The project strengthens tenure rights and reduces landlessness of Seima forest communities through legal and planning support for indigenous communal land titling, participatory land-use planning and land-use agreements

It supports alternative livelihoods, providing income generation and skill development opportunities including:

• literacy and numeracy education for increased off farm options
• establishment of the Jahoo Gibbon Camp ecotourism enterprise
• community savings groups
• market garden development

Agricultural extension and infrastructure support, plus extensive enhanced agricultural and livestock productivity training, increases food security and incomes