28 October 2025, Seoul — The Forestry Administration (FA) of Cambodia and the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO) held a signing ceremony on 28 October 2025 in Seoul to launch the “FA–AFoCO Forest Carbon Program in Cambodia.” The MoU formalizes long-term collaboration to establish a national program framework for forest carbon development in Cambodia, identify and prepare program sites under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and FA, and strengthen coordination among national and provincial stakeholders for future carbon initiatives. The Program also builds on earlier cooperation under the “Mekong REDD+ Project – Phase I,” jointly pursued by FA, AFoCO, and Woori Bank since the signing of their tripartite MoU in December 2023.
Building on previous feasibility studies on community forestry-based forest carbon opportunities in Kratie and Stung Treng, agroforestry carbon in Battambang and Kampong Thom, and afforestation and reforestation (A/R) options in Stung Treng, Mondulkiri, Kratie, and Ratanakkiri, the Program will support the preparation of forest carbon projects and related activities in collaboration with provincial stakeholders, and explore potential transition of the Program into a Jurisdictional and Nested REDD+ (JNR) framework to strengthen alignment with international carbon standards.
(From left) Hang Suntra, Advisor, Ministry of MAFF; Dr. Chongho Park, Executive Director of AFoCO
The signing ceremony was attended by Dr. Chongho Park, Executive Director of AFoCO, and Mr. Hang Suntra, Advisor to Cambodia’s MAFF, together with participants from both AFoCO and the Forestry Administration.
Through this partnership, FA and AFoCO will work jointly through a Program Management Unit (PMU) to coordinate with provincial authorities, engage with potential development partners and investors, and mobilize resources to advance forest carbon project development across Cambodia under the FA-AFoCO Forest Carbon Program.
Group photo of AFoCO and FA
Contributed by Carbon Project Team, AFoCO