Mlup Baitong - Chambok eco-tourism community

Mlup Baitong is a Cambodian NGO working to increase environmental awareness and conservation, seeking solutions for sustainable and equitable use of natural resources through education, training, and advocacy and community-based natural resource management activities.

The vast majority of Cambodian people still lives in rural areas and depend on surrounding natural resources to make a living. Deforestation and degradation of forests continues to be one of the major problems threatening these natural resources. This is caused by a number of factors including commercial logging, land concessions to the powerful, forest fires and unsustainable exploitation by local communities. Furthermore, at village level there is very limited awareness on issues such as pesticide use and waste management.

At the same time the population continues to grow increasing the pressure on land for farming purposes while about 40 percent of the Cambodians are still living below the poverty line. Most of these poor households depend on farming less than 1 ha of land and in the more remote areas of the country families often depend on collecting non-timber forest products (NTFP) as well as other natural resource products to sustain living.

In this situation the environment and biodiversity of Cambodia's natural resources are severely affected, which in turn threatens the livelihood of especially the rural communities. Therefore conservation and sustainable use and management of natural resources are essential for sound economic development of the country, for the benefit of Cambodians today and in the future.

Cambo Challenge 2011 Project: Water Supply Pipeline System

Implemented By: Mlp Baitong, Chambok Community and Large Minority

Total Project Estimated Cost: USD 20,000.

2010 Fund Raising Achievement: USD 3,170.00

2010 Fund Raising Target: USD 16,830.00

The Chambok community in Kampong Speu, located on the outskirts of Kirirom National Park is the first successful sustainable community-based ecotourism model (CBET) developed in Cambodia by Mlup Baitong. The project which was implemented in 2002 was developed as a way to generate alternative income for the local community which consists of 9 villages and over 2,500 people.

The Water Supply Pipeline project was initiated and implemented by Mlup Baitong in 2007. The first pipe line constructed supplies drinkable water to 350 households / about 1,500 people (average 4-5 member/household) with a total water capacity of 400-500 liter/household/day (100,000 – 150,000liters/day). However due to lack of funding there are still 3 villages and over 1,000 people with no access to fresh water supply. When visiting the community, it became obvious that this was the most crucial and urgent project to finance and support.

* If we are unable to raise the USD 20,000 required to finance the entire project,  Mlup Baitong will rely on other private  donations to complete the project.

We would also like to share some of the eco-friendly initiatives implemented by LARGE Minority on all its events:

• Sourcing locally from independent suppliers which use natural raw and or recycled materials.
• Using plates and cups made out of the “sheath” of Arecunut palm (Areca catechu) – beetle nut tree. No chemicals used when made.
• Using bags made out of jute, a vegetable fibre widely available and polypropylene, a material commonly recycled.
• Minimizing printed collateral and using recycled paper folders and envelopes (30% rice - 70% recycled paper).
• Collecting litter created throughout the event in order to minimize waste and hand over for recycling purposes.
• Supporting start-up and handicraft businesses and educating them on social/green practices.
• Encouraging participants to follow our green practices and devise their own initiatives throughout the Challenge.
• Supporting the local Government on their responsible travel initiatives.