The US Agency for International Development (USAID) Green Prey Lang project provided support to the Non-Timber Forest Products-Exchange Programme Cambodia to enable the NGO to provide certificates and financial awards to three community based-enterprises in Stung Treng, Kratie and Preah Vihear provinces.

According to the Green Prey Lang project February bulletin released on March 10, the awards were given to the enterprises to reflect that they correctly followed technical instruction in their honey harvesting, processing and packaging. The evaluation was based on a procedure called Participatory Guarantee Standard (PGS), an audit methodology.

It said the PGS audit is an evaluation which ensures the businesses are practicing sustainable harvesting, maintaining hygiene procedures, and utilising high quality storage and packaging.

The bulletin said the highest-scoring enterprise received a certificate and cash prize of $500, with the first and second runners-up receiving certificates and $300 and $200, respectively.

“When the livelihood benefits from non-timber products are increased, communities are less likely to engage in illegal activities, such as logging, hunting and land clearance, and are more likely to participate in the protection of the forest to ensure continued benefits,” it said.