Phnom Penh, Cambodia | 9–11 June 2025 — Dr. Chongho Park, Executive Director of the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO), conducted an official visit to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and the Forestry Administration (FA) of the Kingdom of Cambodia from 9 to 11 June 2025. The visit aimed to reinforce institutional partnerships and expand collaboration on forest-based climate action, carbon project development, and sustainable community livelihoods.
Strengthening Cooperation with the Forestry Administration
On the morning of 10 June, Dr. Park paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Suon Sovann, Director General of the Forestry Administration, at the FA headquarters in Phnom Penh. The meeting served as a platform to review the achievements of ongoing collaborative projects and explore ways to strengthen future engagement.
Key agenda items included:
- Finalization of a new FA–AFoCO Forest Carbon Program MoU to consolidate all carbon-related initiatives;
- Support for the Brambey Mom Community Forest and capacity building for sustainable livelihoods based on non-timber forest products (NTFPs);
- Expansion of CSR-linked tree planting programs and community engagement;
Dr. Park commended the Forestry Administration for its leadership in REDD+, forest restoration, and community forestry, and expressed AFoCO’s willingness to do its utmost to provide technical and financial support where feasible to advance these shared priorities.
Advancing Forest Carbon Cooperation with MAFF
In the afternoon on 10 June, Dr. Chongho Park met with H.E. Dr. Keo Omaliss, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), to advance policy dialogue on forest carbon cooperation and land-based climate initiatives. The meeting provided a platform to align national priorities with AFoCO’s regional strategies.
AFoCO presented its newly adopted Climate Change Action Plan (2025–2034) and introduced the Global Voluntary Carbon Mechanism (GVCM), a results-based finance initiative jointly developed by the UNFCCC and the Korean Ministry of Economy and Finance. Discussions highlighted Cambodia’s potential to serve as a pilot country for GVCM, leveraging its strong REDD+ experience and institutional capacity.
Vice Minister Omaliss expressed strong support for enhanced cooperation and welcomed AFoCO’s engagement in the following key areas:
- Facilitating the allocation of Economic Land Concessions (ELCs) for afforestation and reforestation projects supported by Climate Asset Management (CAM);
- Advancing the Acorn Agroforestry Carbon Project, with emphasis on smallholder participation and benefit-sharing mechanisms;
- Integrating agroforestry into national training systems and expanding seedling provision through MAFF-operated nurseries.
A major outcome of the meeting was the shared commitment to finalize an umbrella Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the FA–AFoCO Forest Carbon Program in Cambodia. The MoU is intended to serve as a long-term institutional framework to coordinate and consolidate all AFoCO-supported carbon-related initiatives. It will streamline approval processes, reduce administrative overlap, and ensure continuity through dedicated focal points and project teams.
Dr. Park stated:
“This mission marks a renewed step forward in our strategic partnership with Cambodia. We look forward to finalizing a unified framework that enables scalable, high-integrity forest carbon action across the country.”
Field Engagement and Institutional Strengthening
On 11 June, the AFoCO delegation visited the Phnom Tamao Zoological Park and Wildlife Rescue Center, an FA-managed conservation site, and toured the new Forestry Administration Headquarters in Phnom Penh. These visits highlighted Cambodia’s infrastructure and capacity in forest protection and biodiversity conservation.
Looking Ahead
The three-day visit concluded with a reaffirmed commitment to deepen technical cooperation, mobilize climate finance, and position Cambodia as a regional partner in forest-based mitigation and resilience. AFoCO and its Cambodian counterparts will continue close coordination to finalize the MoU and launch the next phase of collaborative projects.
AFoCO remains dedicated to delivering inclusive and high-impact forest and climate solutions that benefit local communities, ecosystems, and future generations in Cambodia and across Asia.