Background
The Ministry of Environment reported on the beginning of the seasonal harvest of a wild mountain mushroom known locally as “pok” in the Sre Ambel community protected forest. Following about a month of rainfall, members of the Sre Ambel community enter the forest to collect these mushrooms for food and sale. The mushrooms are commonly found in Phnom Kravanh and Veal Veng districts and are noted for their higher selling price and distinct taste compared with ordinary mushrooms.
The Sre Ambel community protected forest is one of the community sites supported by the Cambodia Sustainable Landscape and Ecotourism Project (CSLEP). This project is led by the Royal Government of Cambodia through the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Rural Development with financing from the World Bank, aiming to improve management of protected areas, promote opportunities for nature-based tourism development, and increase the value chain of non-timber forest products in key landscape areas.
Scope of Application
The update concerns community members in the Sre Ambel community protected forest and broader CSLEP target landscapes, particularly in areas where the “pok” mushroom grows after dry-season forest fires. The project currently supports 30 natural resource communities in seven target provinces: Koh Kong, Kampong Speu, Kampong Chhnang, Pursat, Battambang, Kampong Thom, and Siem Reap.
Key Provisions or Decisions
No new regulatory decision is described in this update. The post provides descriptive information on:
- Seasonal timing and conditions for the “pok” mushroom harvest following forest fires in the dry season.
- Collection practices, including typical daily harvest quantities per person of around 2 to 3 kilograms, depending on area and weather conditions.
- Use of the mushrooms for household consumption and preparation of natural dishes for visiting tourists, commonly by boiling or stir-frying.
- Income generation through sales to traders at prices reported between 37,000 and 40,000 riel per kilogram.
- The role of CSLEP in supporting the Sre Ambel community and other natural resource communities in the seven target provinces.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
The information highlights the link between community-based management of protected areas and nature-based tourism under CSLEP. For tourism operators and related businesses, it illustrates how non-timber forest products such as wild mushrooms are integrated into local ecotourism offerings and can provide supplementary income for community members. While no specific compliance obligations or new regulations are stated, the update underscores the importance of community-managed forests and sustainable use of forest products in landscapes targeted for ecotourism development.
Official Source
The information is based on an announcement published by the Ministry of Environment via its official Facebook page.
