Phnom penh: H.E. Dr. Eang Sophalleth, Minister of Environment, officially launched the US$9-million SCALE+ project, 'Building Climate Resilience of Communities in Cambodia's Protected Landscapes through Biodiversity-Friendly Crop-Livestock Systems.' The project is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), with technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and financial backing from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the initiative aims to bolster the climate resilience of communities, ecosystems, and livelihoods across Cambodia's protected landscapes while promoting biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of natural resources. Ms. Rebekah Bell, FAO Representative in Cambodia, emphasized FAO's commitment to supporting climate-resilient livelihoods and biodiversity conservation.
Cambodia is highly vulnerable to climate change, with increasing pressures affecting agriculture, forests, and rural livelihoods. These challenges threaten development gains and disproportionately impact rural communities that rely on natural resources for survival and income. The project targets protected landscapes, such as Boeung Per Wildlife Sanctuary, encompassing 28 Community Protected Areas, and Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary, which includes 9 Community Protected Areas.
These landscapes are crucial for 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 threaten these ecosystems, highlighting the urgent need to strengthen livelihoods while safeguarding biodiversity.
SCALE+ promotes integrated solutions to enhance climate resilience and protect ecosystems. The project supports adaptation planning, biodiversity-friendly production systems, inclusive livelihoods, and knowledge sharing to scale up climate action. It will benefit over 84,000 people, at least 50 percent 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.
The workshop brought together government agencies, development partners, civil society organisations, and community representatives to review the project framework, strengthen coordination, and identify opportunities for collaboration and co-financing. Participants discussed implementation priorities, risks, and practical solutions to ensure effective delivery and long-term sustainability. Strengthening sustainable production systems and inclusive value chains, SCALE+ will enhance resilience for communities living in and around protected landscapes while safeguarding biodiversity and ecosystem services.