Wildlife Alliance is donating 197,000 saplings in support of the “One Million Trees Campaign”. Wildlife Alliance has been growing the saplings of 18 tropical forest tree species in its nursery in Chi Phat, Koh Kong, and they are now ready to be planted.
Of the saplings, Wildlife Alliance plans to donate 82,000 to the Ministry of Environment, 50,000 to the Provincial Department of Environment (PDoE) of Koh Kong, 20,000 to the PDoE of Pursat, 20,000 to the PDoE of Kampong Speu and 20,000 to the District Administration of Veal Veng. The remaining 5,000 will be kept in reserve for planting at Antong Aing area along National Road 55.
Species include Thnong (Pterocarpus Macrocarpus), Kra Nhoung (Dalbergia Cochinchinensis), Beng (Afzelia Xylocarpa), Neang Nuon (Dalbergia Oliveri), Pdeak (Anisoptera Costata), Kaki (Hopea Ferrea) and Chheu Teal (Dipterocarpus alatus), among many others.
Seven of the species are classified as endangered according to International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). All the saplings are approximately one to one and a half years old, in excellent health and have developed a strong resistance to harsh weather conditions, preparing them for planting this year.
Wildlife Alliance aims to protect and preserve the Cardamom Rainforest and also to replant lost forest. This donation follows the pledge announced last year by H. E. Eang Sophalleth, Minister of Environment, to plant at least one million trees every year. Wildlife Alliance and the Ministry of Environment have worked together for over two decades to protect Cambodia's rainforest, and this campaign strengthens the aim.
"I am officially announcing that the campaign to plant at least one million trees per year starts today," H. E. Eang Sophalleth, Minister of Environment, posted to social media on October 10, 2023.
Dr. Suwanna Gauntlett, Chief Executive Officer of Wildlife Alliance, said, "This donation is in response to the ‘One Million Trees Campaign’ launched by the Ministry of Environment. We expect the donated saplings to help restore the Cardamom Rainforest Landscape”.
“We thank H. E. Eang Sophalleth, Minister of Environment, for his unwavering support for reforestation and restoring Cambodia's forest cover. The reforestation initiatives will have a positive impact on the climate and will also contribute to enhancing the international reputation of the Royal Government," Dr. Gauntlett added.
The first delivery arrived in Koh Kong on June 08, 2024, with 13,730 saplings. The species include Thnong, Kra Nhoung, Ka Koh, Beng, Pdeak, Kaong Kang Phnom, Trasek, Mo Pich and Cheung Cheav Moul.
Then on June 10, 2024, another 13,120 saplings arrived in Kampong Speu. These sapling species include Thnong, Kra Nhoung, Ka Koh, Beng, Pdeak and Neang Nuon.
The remaining saplings will be distributed through August 2024 to the designated locations.