The Monks Community Forest (MCF) is an 18,261 hectare stretch of evergreen forest in northwest Cambodia. MCF was created in response to deforestation from economic concessions, illegal logging, and land encroachment. The monks of the Samraong Pagoda acquired legal protection of the forest, and have since established patrol teams, demarcated forest boundaries, raised environmental awareness among local communities, organized community patrol volunteers, developed co-management committees with local villagers, linked with government authorities and NGOs, established Cambodia’s largest community forest, attracted external support for patrolling, and significantly reduced illegal logging activities.
In 2010, Monks Community Forestry won the Equator Prize which is awarded biennially to recognize outstanding community efforts to reduce poverty through the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. This video was created as part of our Biodiversity for Local Livelihoods project.
