Cambodia – Cambodian farmers adopt ingenious ways to stem deforestation 

148

Location: Tabos village, Sangkum Thmei district, Preah Vihear province

Language: Cambodian

Duration: 00:5:53

Source: A24

Restrictions: A24 Subscribers

Dateline: 27-01-2022

Storyline:

The Our Future Organization (OF) has launched a program to stem deforestation in the Preah Vihear province, Cambodia, through which it distributed more than 60,000 Cashew seedlings to farmers. The program seeks to show farmers and villagers a different way and help them protect their environment and the overall ecosystem. A forest defender said that the program also supports the global efforts in combating climate change, as it would stem the cutting down of trees. He said the issue of deforestation could be addressed by raising the awareness of people, putting in place deterring laws and raising the farmers’ income. The OF director worried that despite the efforts to stop deforestation, some would still resort to cutting trees, unhinged by laws.

Shotlist

–           (SOUNDBITE) Mr. Ben Davis (Forest Defenders in Preah Vihear Province):

“We currently have three programs for reducing deforestation in this area. These three programs are very important if none of them our mission not go forward.”

–           (SOUNDBITE) Mr. Ben Davis (Forest Defenders in Preah Vihear Province):

“The first is to provide education so that they understand the importance of forests. The second is effective law enforcement programs. The third is to help people earn extra income through various activities without deforestation.”

–           (SOUNDBITE) Mr. Ben Davis (Forest Defenders in Preah Vihear Province):

“We have been supporting cashew seedlings to the people because I understand that if we have more trees, it will be good for the environment to help climate change. Both last year and this year, we donated 60,000 cashew seedlings to the community, with four villages for last year and seven for this year.”

–           (SOUNDBITE) Mrs. Sharyn Davis (Director of Our Future Organization):

“We see a lot of cashew plantations here, so we also support them with cashew seedlings. If we sponsor anything else, we spend a lot of time to teach them and find the market for them. So cannot do that, on the other hand, cashews already have better market here, so we continue to do it.”

–           (SOUNDBITE) Mrs. Sharyn Davis (Director of Our Future Organization):

“For the people who live here and near the protected areas, when they are too busy taking care of their cashew plantations, they will not go to cut down the forest that we protect.”

–           (SOUNDBITE) Mrs. Yat Van (cashew nut farm’s owner):

“I was having financial problems, but when OF donated the cashew nut seeding, I was a little relieved to save the money for other things. I grow it naturally because I have no money to buy fertilizer for maintenance.”

–           (SOUNDBITE) Mr. In Bun (Farmer in Tabos Village at Preah Vihear):

“Through this program, he wants to reduce poverty in this area. Second, he wants to reduce deforestation in areas where he is banned. He has created jobs for farmers, such as providing cashew seed subsidies, so when farmers are busy with plantations, they forget about deforestation.”

–           (SOUNDBITE) Mrs. Yat Van (cashew nut farm’s owner):

“He only allowed to planting in out of protected areas. After receiving the cashew seedlings, farmers are busy to cultivate, so deforestation is greatly reduced. I used to be a logger, but now I have stopped because I am too busy with my plantation.”

–           (SOUNDBITE) Mr. Thorng Chea (Farmer in Tabos Village at Preah Vihear):

“After a year of planting, it has not yet been able to harvest, but it shows that we have had some success. I have to take care of this cashew plantation for another 4 years, so, I can harvest.”

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