Locations
Cambodia Delegation’s Study Mission to the Republic of Korea on Community-Based Forestry Management
December 13, 2024
UNDP Seoul Policy Centre hosted a delegation from Cambodia for a study visit to the Republic of Korea from 11 to 13 December, focusing on Community-based Forest Management (CBFM). This initiative was part of the Centre’s SDG Partnership project with Cambodia, aiming to foster knowledge exchange and explore best practices in sustainable forestry management. The Cambodian delegation was composed of representatives from the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, Changkran Roy Community Forestry, Teuk Chob Khnar Po Community Forestry, and the UNDP Cambodia Country Office. By engaging with key partners in the Republic of Korea including the National Institute of Forest Science (NIFoS), the study visit provided an opportunity for the delegates to enhance their understanding of CBFM, Non-timber Forest Products (NTFPs), and sustainable ecotourism practices while also sharing national and local practices from Cambodia with Korean partners.
Cambodia’s rich biodiversity and ecosystems play a critical role in rural livelihoods, with nearly half of the rural households relying on forests for 20 to 50 percent of their income. However, the country faces challenges due to rapid economic growth and increasing pressure on natural resources. In response, the Cambodian government has introduced community forestry programmes to empower local communities to manage forest resources sustainably. Despite the establishment of Community Protected Areas (CPAs) and Community Forestry (CF) initiatives, many communities still struggle to realize the full economic potential of their forest resources. Following a previous field visit of Korean experts to Cambodian community forestry sites – Changkran Roy and Teuk Chob Khnar Po, both based in Siem Reap province – the Cambodian delegates visited the Republic of Korea to learn from Korean best practices in CBFM, with a focus on improving livelihoods and promoting sustainable forest management.
The mission commenced with a visit to the National Forestry Cooperative Federation Forest Mushroom Research Institute to learn about advanced techniques for cultivating NTFPs, particularly high-quality mushroom varieties. The director of the institute shared insights on substrate selection, optimal growing conditions, and sustainable harvesting practices, which are essential for the Cambodian delegation to provide alternative livelihoods for local communities.
The delegates then visited the NIFoS Forest Medicinal Resources Research Center, where they gained insights into the preservation of forest medicinal resources and the cultivation of high-functionality medicinal plant varieties. By exploring the forest garden and the forest medicinal plant exhibition garden, the delegation learned the significance of harvesting medicinal plants both in economic development and conservation efforts.
Following this, the delegation continued their engagement at the NIFoS Forest Technology and Management Research Center, where they interacted with experts on nursery and reforestation practices. Through presentations and field visits to key facilities, NIFoS provided the delegates with a comprehensive understanding of advanced smart nursery systems and data-based afforestation techniques to improve tree survival rates, growth and quality while reducing management costs.
The delegates also explored successful ecotourism initiatives at Icheon Sansuyu Village, learning about integrating local culture and natural resources into tourism offerings, which not only attracts visitors but also empowers local communities. Thanks to a seminar led by Professor Juhee Lee from Daegu University, the delegation gained insights on practical considerations for designing community-based ecotourism models.
At Saneum Natural Recreation Forest, the delegates discovered the first recreational forest in the Republic of Korea, an eco-tourism model which was then emulated to more than 45 sites throughout the country. At Saneum, the delegates also explored how to design forest-friendly programmes for ecotourism, engaged in forest exploration and participated in various forest healing programs such as walking meditation. They also toured the facilities within the recreation forest, learning about economic operations, environmental preservation, and concrete management strategies that support sustainable tourism.
The mission concluded with a South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) session led by Mr. Mark Anthony Ramirez, Programme Analyst in the UNDP Philippines Country Office, who shared the lessons learned from a previous SDG Partnership Project on CBFM in the Philippines (2021-2024), in collaboration with UNDP Seoul Policy Centre.
