Forest Protection in Cambodia
Cambodia has one of the fastest rates of deforestation in the world. Illegal logging and land concessions threaten not only biodiversity and climate but also the lives and spiritual traditions of Indigenous Peoples. Danmission and our partners support local communities to defend their forests and their rights.
Protecting Cambodia’s forests and indigenous rights
Cambodia has lost nearly one third of its forests over the past two decades. The destruction is driven by illegal logging, land concessions to agribusiness, and climate change. For Indigenous groups such as the Kuy people, the forest is not only a source of food and income but also a foundation for their culture, spirituality, and identity.
Together with local NGOs, grassroots networks, and the University of Copenhagen (KU), Danmission implements the EU-funded CEEJA project. The initiative strengthens forest-dependent communities’ ability to conserve natural resources, claim their environmental rights peacefully, and build resilience in the face of growing threats.
CEEJA emphasizes the leadership of Indigenous Peoples, who have proven to be among the most effective in protecting the forest. Training in advocacy and rights has enabled communities to engage with local authorities, challenge land concessions, and demand accountability.
“The forest is our bank – it gives us the resources to survive. If it disappears, we lose not only our income but also our identity.”
Strengthening Indigenous voices and community networks
Community patrols are at the heart of the project. Local networks of activists monitor the deforestation, confiscate illegal chainsaws, and deter loggers through their presence. To reduce risks, patrols are trained in non-violent strategies and equipped with digital tools such as the award-winning Prey Lang app.
The app allows communities to record deforestation in real time. Combined with satellite images and drone footage, this data feeds into I-FOROS, a public forest observatory that informs policymakers, researchers, and local populations.
For women like Sarin, who leads forest patrols while supporting her family through harvesting resin, the project has been transformative:
I was never a brave person. But leading patrols, I have become stronger. Even though I am afraid of the loggers, I can see that we succeed in saving the resin trees from being cut down, and that motivates me to continue.
Research and advocacy at multiple levels
By connecting grassroots actors with universities and international networks, the project ensures that local experiences influence national and global debates. Findings from the I-FOROS forest observatory have documented massive forest loss – 144,000 hectares in wildlife sanctuaries in 2021 alone – and are used to advocate for stronger forest governance and climate action.
Our Impact
- 5-year EU-funded partnership (Danmission, Cambodian NGOs, Indigenous networks and University of Copenhagen)
- 3 forested areas covered by community patrols
- I-FOROS, a forest observatory combining satellite, drone, and ground-level data
- Hundreds of activists trained in non-violent forest protection and advocacy
- Strengthened resilience among marginalized groups - particularly Indigenous Peoples, women, and youth
Part of a bigger change
Through CEEJA, Danmission links local struggles for environmental justice in Cambodia to global climate and biodiversity agendas. Together with partners, we work for a future where natural resources are managed fairly and sustainably, and where local communities can defend their rights.
Learn about our work for Nature & Climate here.