Ecosystem-Based Climate Change Along the Mekong River

PURPOSE OF PROJECT

The project aims to reduce the vulnerability of communities along the Mekong River to the adverse impacts of climate change by protecting and restoring Community Forests.

KEY RESULTS

• The adaptive capacity of target communities to climate related hazards is increased; and
• Knowledge of ecosystem-based climate change adaptation in Kratie Province is increased.

BACKGROUND

Climate change poses a real threat to the ecosystems and communities along the Mekong River between Kratie and Stung Treng towns. The communities in this project are highly dependent on the aquatic and forest resources and is heavily impacted if droughts, floods, higher average temperatures, and other climatic changes lead to the loss or degradation of these resources. Over the last 18 months WWF worked with six communities to prepare a Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment (VAA) to help communities understand and prepare for the anticipated impacts of climate change.

The results of the VAA and subsequent consultations with the communities identified forest protection as the single most effective climate change adaptation strategy for this area. This focus on protecting the natural assets and ecosystem functions in a region to help people adapt to the adverse effects of climate change is known as ecosystem-based adaptation. The principle objective of this project is to reduce the vulnerability of communities along the Mekong River to the adverse impacts of climate change by protecting and restoring Community Forests.

The principal beneficiaries of this project are the 2238 people living in the villages of O’ Krasang, Kampong Kboen, Kampong Damrei, KohEntrachey, and Boeung Char. The people in these five villages are primarily from the Kuoy indigenous group. In the sixth village, Puntachea, the people are mostly from the Phnong indigenous group. Most of the people in these villages are poorly educated and are not able to fully participate in the political and economic development of the country. This project helps them adapt to the challenges posed by climate change and gives them the opportunity and capacity to manage the forests on which they depend. This project also helps to build the capacity of the Kratie Forestry Administration Cantonment (FAC) to understand ecosystem-based climate change adaptation and integrate this approach into the provincial development plan and particularly their efforts to develop and restore Community Forestries in Kratie Province.

PROJECT INFORMATION
DURATION	15 monthsJan. 2013- Mar. 2014	PROJECT PARTNERS	Kratie Forestry Administration Cantonment
TOTAL BUDGET	$180,625	LOCATION	Kratie province, Cambodia
CCCA-TF CONTRIBUTION	$150,000	CONTACT	Counterpart Contact: Mr. Gordon Congdon, WWF#21, St. 322, BoeungKeng Kang I, Khan Chamkarmon, Phnom Penh, CambodiaTel: (855-23) 211 909 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Website: www.cambodia.panda.org
CO-FINANCING	$30,625
PROJECT DELIVERY	N/A
PROJECT STATUS	New project
LEVEL OF INTERVENTION	Provincial level

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