FILIP AGOO

Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary

The Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary REDD+ Project in Cambodia is a significant effort by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) to conserve a vital area of 292,690 hectares, known for its rich biodiversity and importance to local and Indigenous communities​​​​. This project, launched in partnership with the Royal Government of Cambodia, aims to protect the habitat of endangered species such as the Giant Ibis, Cambodia's national bird, and to promote sustainable livelihoods by reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. Over its first 10-year period (2010-2019), it is projected to avoid more than 14 million metric tons of CO2 emissions, leveraging the sale of carbon credits as a sustainable revenue stream for conservation activities​​.

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During my 12-day visit, I documented the diverse facets of this sanctuary, capturing the lives of the Bonong indigenous community and their harmonious existence with nature, traditional ceremonies, and the pressures of modernization and agricultural expansion. The imagery also includes the dedicated efforts of rangers confiscating illegal logging equipment, the presence of forest elephants, and the work of the biodiversity team in the field. These visuals underscore the ongoing need for support to preserve this critical forest area and its biodiversity.

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The WCS has been pivotal in integrating the Bunong indigenous ethnic group into the design and management of the project, which faces threats from illegal logging and forest clearance for agriculture. The project's innovative approach to conservation finance, through the sale of carbon credits to companies like Disney, demonstrates a sustainable funding model for preserving tropical forests in eastern Cambodia​​.

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For more info please visit: WCS webpage or Everland webpage