MEKONG REDD+ PROJECT – PHASE I: WATER IS LIFE FOR FOREST ISLAND VILLAGERS
Choampich Community Forestry: Improving Lives through Solar Water Solutions
Choampich Community Forestry is one of 14 community forests involved in the Mekong REDD+ Project P1 (MRP-P1), supported both financially and technically by Woori Bank Korea and AFoCO. Covering 37,418 hectares, the forest is expected to absorb a significant amount of carbon dioside each year. The project aims to obtain forest carbon credits certified by Verra and the Climate, Community & Biodiversity Standards (CCB) for the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM). Revenue from the sale of these credits will directly support sustainable forest managment and improve the livelihoods of local communities.
The project currently supports the community in various ways, including forest protection, livelihood improvement, and the creation of income-generating opportunities. It also raises awareness, builds local capacity, supports forest and wildlife conservation, and helps communities develop carbon projects that prevent deforestation.
The Project Management Unit (PMU) identified that local communities urgently needed solar water pumping systems. In response, MRP-P1 installed a solar water pumping system in Koh Sneang village. This system benefits many community members, especially vulnerable groups such as children, widows, and women-led households. It reduces the risk of using water from the Mekong River and helps save both time and money.
Mr. Vann Samphan, the leader of Koh Sneang commune, shared that 270 families—around 1,230 people, including 572 women—live on Koh Sneang island, located in Koh Sneang commune, Borey O’Svay Senchey district, Stung Treng province.
“Accessing water here is difficult. People have to go down to the Mekong River to collect it. Some can use water pumps, but the cost is high. During the dry season, the river level drops, making it even harder to get water. I was excited when MRP-P1 offered to install a solar water pumping system because it directly addressed the community’s needs. It will make water access easier and more affordable and may also reduce accident risks.”
Mr. Yim Pun, head of the Choampich CF Committee, added,
“After the solar water pumping system was installed, about 270 families, including CF members, were very happy and thankful. They now have easier access to water for their daily needs. It also reduces the need to go to the Mekong River, which helps prevent unfortunate incidents like drownings, especially involving children.”
Mrs. Phon Sophon, a resident of Koh Sneang village, said,
“I was very happy when MRP-P1 set up a solar water pumping system in our village. In the past, it was very hard to get water—we had to either go to the river or use machines to pump water. It was especially difficult in the dry season, and we spent more time and money. Now, with the solar water pumping system, we can get water more easily without going down to the river. It saves us time and money, and it also prevents accidents.”
It’s important to note that besides installing solar water pumps in the Choampich CF, the PMU will also set up solar water pumping systems in the project’s designated community forests in 2025.
Submitted by the Project Management Unit of the Mekong REDD+ Project – Phase I in Cambodia , and reviewed by Youngju HAN, Carbon Projects Team
