USAID Pledges US$24M to Propel Biodiversity and Conservation Initiatives in Cambodia

• 5 December 2023
• Property Focus
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USAID unveils a groundbreaking five-year project, injecting US$24 million into safeguarding biodiversity and natural resources while enhancing the well-being of Cambodian communities. The official announcement was made through a USAID press release on December 4, 2023.

Through the “USAID Conservation” project, the focus is on empowering communities to spearhead initiatives that create local employment opportunities rooted in natural resource utilization. This innovative approach leverages private capital to establish sustainable, long-term solutions to address the pressing climate crisis.

Spanning a breadth of regions, the project extends support to communities residing in and around protected areas in Preah Vihear, Kampong Thom, Stung Treng, and Kratie provinces. Additionally, strategic initiatives will be implemented for communities surrounding the Tonle Sap Lake and coastal areas of Koh Kong and Sihanoukville.

The project’s commitment goes beyond financial aid, as it plans to allocate a substantial US$8 million in small grants directly to at least 250 local communities, organizations, and private sector entities across Cambodia.

Furthermore, building upon the success of previous forest carbon financing endeavors, the project will champion the development of the Blue Carbon project in Cambodia’s floodplain and coastal regions. Simultaneously, impactful social change campaigns at national, provincial, district, and commune levels will be initiated, focusing on combatting illegal wildlife trafficking.

Guided by Tetra Tech ARD and collaborating with esteemed organizations such as the Wildlife Conservation Society and International Conservation, the USAID Conservation Project stands as a testament to the commitment to environmental stewardship and community upliftment.

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