Metta Nature team is organising a workshop to promote the “Rong Roeung Community” project at the Stung Areng Ecotourism Community in Koh Kong province. METTA NATURE
Under the banner of sustainable living, Metta Nature, and NGO with backing from the Ministry of Environment, has unveiled training programmes focusing on agriculture and animal husbandry for the inhabitants of the Stung Areng Ecotourism Community in Koh Kong province. The initiative aims to alleviate strain on local ecosystems while boosting the community’s economy.
Metta Nature deputy director Mot Kimry confirmed on July 5 that with the ministry’s support, the team is organising a workshop to promote the “Rong Roeung Community” project. This initiative will impart agricultural and animal husbandry skills to the local populace from July to December this year.
“We chose the Stung Areng Ecotourism Community in Chrak Russey village of Thma Bang district’s Chumnap commune for this initiative,” said Kimry.
“The area is teeming with tourism potential, and the land boasts a wealth of nutrients ideal for both farming and animal rearing,” he explained.
According to Kimry, the area previously lacked proper methodologies for productive farming and animal rearing to support both their communities and tourism efforts.
Traditional crop growing and animal raising techniques were not yielding adequate supplies of fish, meat, and vegetables for the community. Consequently, locals ventured into the forest for non-timber forest products, hunted wildlife and deforested land for plantations or timber sales.
“Thanks to the innovative vision of the environment ministry for the ‘Rong Roeung Community’ project, we can provide training to equip locals with appropriate agricultural techniques,” Kimry elaborated.
“They’ll learn how to efficiently grow vegetables and raise animals to satisfy both the local demand and support the tourism industry in the Areng region,” he said.
The “Rong Roeung Community” project, or prosperous community in Khmer, strives to alter local farming and animal rearing practices. It also envisages the establishment of a model farm for larger scale collaborative efforts.
Kimry was optimistic about the potential expansion of the project throughout the province, provided the initial implementation is successful.
“If this community excels in farming and animal husbandry, we’ll see reductions in wildlife snaring and tree felling,” Kimry predicted.
“This will ease the burden on nature and biodiversity in the region,” he said.
