Posted on June, 19 2025

Phnom Penh, 19 June 2025 — WWF-Cambodia and Cambodia’s Ministry of Environment formally renewed their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today, marking a significant milestone in their ongoing collaboration to protect the country’s natural resources and biodiversity. The signing ceremony, held in Phnom Penh, brought together government officials, civil society representatives, development partners and key stakeholders committed to conservation and sustainable development.

The renewed MoU outlines a joint commitment to enhance cooperation in managing Cambodia’s rich ecosystems, promoting sustainable livelihoods and addressing pressing environmental challenges, such as deforestation and wildlife trafficking. This partnership builds on years of coordinated efforts that have yielded notable achievements in our priority landscapes: the Eastern Plains Landscape, in Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri provinces, and the Mekong Flooded Forest Landscape, in Kratie and Stung Treng provinces.

His Excellency Dr. Eang Sophalleth, Cambodia’s Minister of Environment, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working together with WWF for environmental protection: “Our collaboration with WWF-Cambodia strengthens the Ministry’s ability to conserve natural resources and enforce relevant policies. This MoU renewal reinforces our commitment to sustainable development that ensures harmony between people and nature.”

Chap Vibol, Country Director of WWF-Cambodia, emphasized the importance of this agreement as a continuation and deepening of a vital alliance. “This MoU renewal is not a starting point, but another significant step forward that reaffirms our shared responsibility to protect Cambodia’s environment for present and future generations,” he said. “Together, we have made considerable progress from reducing deforestation to supporting sustainable agriculture and community engagement in climate adaptation.”

Through a close and effective collaboration, WWF-Cambodia and the Ministry of Environment have successfully implemented a range of projects delivering tangible results for Cambodia’s environment and communities. Together, they have promoted the Circular Strategy for the Environment Sector (2023–2028), which emphasizes three pillars to be clean, green and sustainable. Their joint efforts support delivery of the United Nations Global Biodiversity Framework by providing technical assistance, building capacity and encouraging inclusive participation that respects human rights and engages local communities.

Sustainable agriculture initiatives have empowered farmers with training on best practices and integrated community data into Cambodia’s climate change mitigation plans. Thanks to our Sustainable Natural Rubber Project, multi-stakeholder platforms are helping communities practice forest-friendly rubber farming that safeguards biodiversity. In 2023, communities managing 18 protected areas expanded their stewardship to cover nearly 270,000 hectares, successfully keeping deforestation rates below 0.5%.

Other fruitful collaborations include the development of national guidelines for sustainable resin tree harvesting as well as the Zero Snaring Campaign to combat wildlife trafficking. Biodiversity research and monitoring have been conducted on key bird species, Asian elephants, hog deer, and Siamese crocodiles, along with studies on human-elephant coexistence.

To further strengthen natural resource protection and community well-being, WWF-Cambodia and the Ministry have supported various livelihood programmes, from  fish farming and cattle banks to ecotourism and agroforestry. These efforts are complemented by environmental education and awareness campaigns that aim to integrate conservation into Cambodian cultural values.

The renewed agreement also sets the foundation for WWF-Cambodia’s forthcoming Office Strategic Plan (2025–2030), designed to align conservation efforts with Cambodia’s national context and WWF International’s global priorities. The plan will focus on delivering measurable impact, strengthening stakeholder engagement with Indigenous Peoples and the private sector, and enhancing adaptive management with lessons learned.

“We aim to ensure our conservation work is both locally relevant and globally significant, with clear outcomes that benefit communities and ecosystems alike,” said Chap Vibol, highlighting our work’s meaning within and beyond Cambodia.

Through ongoing technical assistance, skills development, and financial support, WWF-Cambodia will continue to tackle climate change impacts, protected area management, and ecotourism development together to create a sustainable future where Cambodian people thrive in balance with nature.