Environment Minister Eang Sophalleth launched the SCALE+ project, “Building Climate Resilience of Communities in Cambodia’s Protected Landscapes through Biodiversity-Friendly Crop–Livestock Systems”, on February 25. It aims to strengthen the climate resilience of communities, ecosystems and livelihoods across Cambodia’s protected landscapes while promoting biodiversity conservation and sustainable natural resource management.
The $9 million project will run until November 2030, contributing to Cambodia’s climate adaptation priorities. It will benefit over 84,000 people, at least 50 per cent of them women, while restoring 92,000 hectares of community-protected areas and rehabilitating 2,000 hectares of degraded land, strengthening sustainable land management and building resilient livelihoods, according to a joint press release.
The project is being implemented by the Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, with technical support from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and financial support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
In attendance at the launch were project director Ken Sereyrotha, director-general of the General Directorate of Local Communities, Meas Pyseth, agriculture secretary of state, and Rebekah Bell, FAO representative in Cambodia.
They presented an overview of the project, highlighted the importance of cross-sector collaboration for resilient agrifood systems and reaffirmed the FAO’s commitment to supporting climate-resilient livelihoods and biodiversity conservation.
The release explained that the project targets protected landscapes, including Boeung Per Wildlife Sanctuary, encompassing 28 Community Protected Areas, and Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary, which includes 9 Community Protected Areas. These landscapes play a vital role in sustaining livelihoods, conserving biodiversity and maintaining essential ecosystem services. They support hundreds of thousands of people who depend on forests, agriculture and natural resources for their livelihoods.
“However, growing pressure from climate change and unsustainable land management practices threatens these ecosystems, underscoring the urgent need to strengthen livelihoods while safeguarding biodiversity,” it warned.
“Cambodia remains highly vulnerable to climate change, with increasing pressures affecting agriculture, forests and rural livelihoods. These challenges threaten development gains and disproportionately affect rural communities that depend on natural resources for their survival and income,” it continued.
It said SCALE+ promotes integrated solutions to strengthen climate resilience and protect ecosystems. The project supports adaptation planning, biodiversity-friendly production systems, inclusive livelihoods and knowledge sharing to scale up climate action.
