VCS1650 REDD+ Cambodia

VCS1650 | REDD+, Cambodia is a forest (nature-based) Verified Carbon Standard project protecting biodiversity and supporting local communities.

Project Description: VCS1650 | REDD+, Cambodia

The Seima Protection Forest (SPF) covers 292,690 ha and is within the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot.

It includes parts of two important eco-regions which have high numbers of endemic species and overall biodiversity.

The Annamite Range Moist Forests have high levels of local endemism among evergreen forest species.

The Lower Mekong Dry Forests are crucial for the survival of many species typically found in lowland deciduous forests.

The Project Area is 166,983 ha and was forested when the project started.

The Leakage Belt encompasses adjacent areas of forest in case the project displaces some deforestation activities.

The participating villages’ non-forest, agricultural areas are in the Leakage Management Area.

The forest is a part of the Bunong people’s ancestral homeland and is central to their spiritual beliefs.

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

The project uses a holistic approach to address deforestation with effective law enforcement essential as it underpins all other activities.

Sustainability Beyond Carbon

There is more to offsets than just carbon.

Each VCS carbon credit is a tonne of verified climate benefit, no matter the type of project.

This carbon offset project provides multiple sustainability co-benefits beyond just carbon and helps link your climate response to improved sustainability.

It is strengthening legal mechanisms, law enforcement, political support and community natural resource management.

Sustained investment in support of land titling for all indigenous communities protects their land rights and encourages cooperation.

The project strengthens land tenure rights and reduces landlessness of Seima forest communities.

It does this through legal and planning support for indigenous communal land titling, participatory land-use planning and land-use agreements.

Ongoing patrolling prevents unplanned deforestation of culturally significant forest.

Patrols reduce illegal land conversion, logging and unsustainable non-timber forest product harvesting.

The patrolling reduces the loss, degradation or disturbance of ecologically functional habitats.

It has reduced wildlife poaching and removed thousands of snares that kill numerous species of global conservation concern.

The project’s forests contain 41 globally threatened vertebrate species (4 critically endangered and 14 endangered).

It has globally or regionally outstanding populations of Asian Elephants, primates, wild cattle, carnivores, the Giant Ibis and Green Peafowl.

These forests are of high importance due to their suitability for the future reintroduction of Tiger into this region.

The project supports alternative livelihoods to provide income generation and skill development opportunities.

It provides literacy and numeracy education for increased off farm employment options and helps create community savings groups.

The establishment of the Jahoo Gibbon Camp ecotourism enterprise and market garden development generates revenues and creates employment.

Agricultural extension and infrastructure support, as well as enhanced agricultural and livestock productivity training increases food security and incomes.

Want to know more about VCS1650 | REDD+, Cambodia?

The project’s design and monitoring, validation and verification reports are publicly available here: https://registry.verra.org/app/projectDetail/VCS/1650