CI and partners have implemented a diverse information, education and communication program throughout the Cardamom forest over the past four years.
In collaboration with CARE Cambodia and ABE, we produced a 24-minute film on the CCL, “The Cardamoms: Have Forest, Have Life". The film was a collaborative effort between Flora and Fauna International, CI, Wildlife Alliance (formerly WildAid), the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
The film aimed to educate people who live in and around the Cardamoms forest about the importance of the Cardamoms to their livelihoods and well being, to demonstrate the link between smaller families and the well being of the local environment, and to highlight the current projects that promote local livelihoods and conservation in the Cardamoms.
As a result of the continuing community awareness campaigns involving the different sectors (including youth, schools, People’s Organizations, rural health workers, local leaders and women), community residents became more receptive to the PHE program, as evident by the increasing number of couples engaged in family planning (both permanent and temporary methods).
It was also evident in the observed project impacts in natural resource management, including the reduction of families engaged in slash-and-burn agriculture within the natural forest, active community participation in tree planting and agroforestry activities and the improved attitude of the local people in reporting illegal activities in their areas.
In interviews, local health support workers were able to identify many benefits of CI's programs, both long-term and short-term. While most were aware immediate and obvious benefits such as provision of buffaloes and tractors, support for teachers and transportation for families to the health post, a few also identified less tangible benefits. These included increases in rainfall, more timber available and less disease.
IN DEPTH: Learn about more population, health and environment initiatives in Cambodia.