Linking Environmental Preservation with Economic Development: The Green Corridor of Koh Kong

Background Information

Proclamation on Cardamom Biodiversity Corridor’s Zoning and Regulation of May 7, 2009, issued by the Koh Kong Province Office of the Ministry of Interior.

This eco-tourism development does not allow large infrastructure, especially infrastructure made from concrete or that which uses large amounts of wood. Trekking and boating tours in the permanent forest estates to view the natural landscape, waterfalls, wildlife and other environmentally-compatible activities will be allowed.

Goals of the Initiative

The goal of the ecotourism project was to provide work for local people in tourism rather than in plundering the forest. With the opportunity of ecotourism and rising incomes from the green economy, villagers no longer need to unsustainably and illegally exploit the forest. Rather than being the problem, they are now part of the solution, and are pro-active in preserving and protecting the Cardamom Mountains. Local people now manage their own forest patrols, collaborating with the Wildlife Alliance. These patrols are funded in part by guests who join them.

Parties and Partners to the Initiative

The three main partners are: the government of Koh Kong province, the international NGO Wildlife Alliance, and the local community of Chi Phat.

Members receive all income from tourists, but contribute 20 percent of their income to a community fund. This fund supports some of the central services, and helps develop infrastructure and services in the village and surrounding areas, such as drainage culverts, bridge repairs, waste management and support for the elderly.

The project attracts foreign volunteers who help in local schools with teaching, repairs, and installing sports areas.

Resources Used for Implementation

To implement the initiative, funding was secured by the Wildlife Alliance for initial startup infrastructure investment, capacity building, and ongoing marketing. Contributions from tourists go into the CBET Fund and keep the project funded adequately for further improvements, continued maintenance, and salaries of CBET committee staff. Furthermore, volunteers from abroad help train CBET staff in hospitality, guiding skills, and food preparation.

Innovation for the Initiative

The Chi Phat CBET project is revolutionary for Cambodia. Local people had no concept of ecotourism, and were mystified as to why foreigners would find it interesting to pay and travel to their village to see how they live.

No community-based, nor ecotourism destination had been organized in Cambodia before Chi Phat. There was no base to evolve from. Instead, the idea to convert hunters and loggers into accommodation hosts and tour guides was introduced externally.

Innovation has been applied in

The innovation in the Cambodian context comes in creating a self-managed community organization to manage an economic venture, creating the legislation required, and introducing tourism services specialized for the ecologically conscious market segment.

Obstacles and Solutions for Innovation

The primary challenges are cultural difference, requiring training local service providers about the expectations of Western tourists. Also the community management model required new policy decisions at the provincial and national level, and to enable provision of services such as booking, transportation, and waste management outside the commune and village government organizations.

Outcomes and Assessments

The CBET program is now financially self-sustainable. That is, revenues to the CBET Fund from homestays and services exceed costs of salaries and infrastructure investment. More importantly, overall incomes to families living in the Chi Phat area have increased while incomes from non-sustainable forest sources (poaching, illegal logging) have decreased. This means that the economy is shifting toward preservation of the forest and wildlife and away from destruction. 

The management of the ecotourism project has been progressively localized, requiring fewer external inputs such as direct financial management, operations, investment decisions, and service improvements. Community support for the ecotourism industry has become ingrained.

The community became empowered to transform their own lives –– yielding a higher standard of living for individuals, effective local management of natural resources, and increased economic opportunities and sustainable livelihoods.

The Chi Phat ecotourism community now has a national and international reputation, recognized by awards:

•The Cambodian Ministry of Tourism Clean City, Clean Resort, Good Service and Good Hospitality Award for 2014-2015.