Background
Legacy Landscapes Fund has committed approximately US$1 million per year for at least 15 years to the Central Cardamom Mountains landscape program in Cambodia’s Cardamom National Park. The commitment represents a multi-year conservation finance arrangement designed to support protected-area management, biodiversity conservation, and community-based livelihood activities in a single landscape.
The Ministry of Environment’s green development strategy includes targeted tree-planting and forest restoration aimed at expanding forest cover as part of Cambodia’s goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Cambodia is implementing national contributions under NDC3.0 and promoting carbon-credit style projects that link forest conservation and restoration to climate finance mechanisms.
Key Developments
On 25 May 2026 a Legacy Landscapes Fund delegation, led by LLF Executive Director Stefanie Lang and accompanied by Conservation International Cambodia, met with the Minister of Environment to discuss ongoing support for protected-area management. The meeting highlighted community participation in on-the-ground protection, and Government emphasis on combining conservation with sustainable livelihoods for local people around protected areas such as the Cardamom range.
Institutional Role
The Ministry of Environment oversees protected-area policy and implements national conservation strategies, while international conservation funds and NGOs provide multi-year financing and technical support for landscape programs. Donor commitments are intended to be coordinated with national planning instruments, including forest restoration targets and community-based management arrangements in priority landscapes.
Operational Implications
The announced funding profile provides a predictable finance stream for multi-year activities such as protected-area management, biodiversity monitoring, ecosystem restoration, and community livelihood support. The Ministry and partners have cited techniques such as drone-assisted seeding and improved restoration practices among potential operational approaches that could be scaled under sustained financing.
