Supporting Forests and Biodiversity Project – Third Quarter Report - April 1 to June 30, 2013

The project aims to support the Royal Government of Cambodia in sustainably managing forests and conserving biodiversity. The project's geographic focus is on the Eastern Plains Landscape and the Prey Lang Landscape, covering Mondulkiri, Kompong Thom, Preah Vihear, Stung Treng, and Kratie provinces. The project's main objective is to enhance the effectiveness of government and key natural resources managers at national and sub-national levels to sustainably manage forests and conserve biodiversity. To achieve this objective, the project has been implementing various activities, including the organization of a national workshop on the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs, preparation of technical reports on REDD+ activities, and assessment of the development status of 49 Community Forests in the Prey Lang Landscape. Another key objective of the project is to improve constructive dialogue on forest management and economic development at the national and sub-national levels. During the third quarter, the project completed a stakeholders scoping study in the Prey Lang Landscape, initiated discussions with provincial government officials in the Eastern Plains Landscape to revive the Provincial Conservation Planning Unit, and participated in and supported national celebrations. The project has also made significant progress in implementing community-based land tenure, with the approval of three Indigenous Community Land Titles (ICLTs) and an area of 9,070 hectares for Community-Based Production Forestry (CBPF). Additionally, the project has operationalized a community-based commercial livelihoods enterprise and completed several studies, including a stakeholders scoping study in the Prey Lang Landscape. The project's implementation has faced several challenges, including the need for further capacity building of local stakeholders and the need for more effective coordination among government agencies. However, the project has made significant progress in addressing these challenges and has demonstrated its commitment to supporting the Royal Government of Cambodia in achieving its forest conservation and sustainable development goals. The project's quarterly report highlights several notable accomplishments, including the approval of community-based land tenure, advancements in the application of community forestry modalities, and the operationalization of a community-based commercial livelihoods enterprise. The report also provides an update on the project's progress in implementing its objectives, including the effectiveness of government and key natural resources managers and the improvement of constructive dialogue on forest management and economic development. The project's stakeholders include the Royal Government of Cambodia, the Forestry Administration, the General Department for Administration of Nature Conservation and Protection, and various local communities. The project's implementing partner, Winrock International, has been working closely with these stakeholders to implement the project's activities and achieve its objectives. The project's budget for the third quarter was $1.2 million, which was allocated to various activities, including community-based land tenure, community forestry modalities, and stakeholder engagement. The project's overall budget for the project period is $15 million, which will be allocated to various activities and objectives over the next three years. The project's monitoring and evaluation plan includes regular progress reports, quarterly reports, and semi-annual reports. The project's implementing partner, Winrock International, will be responsible for preparing these reports and submitting them to USAID. The project's evaluation will be conducted by an independent evaluator, who will assess the project's progress and impact against its objectives and indicators.