Background
The Ministry of Environment implements the Keo Seima REDD+ project in partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) to protect forest areas, conserve wildlife, and support the livelihoods of indigenous and local communities within the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary. The project combines conservation actions with efforts to move financing away from short‑term aid toward more sustainable, longer‑term funding mechanisms.
On 6 June 2026 the Ministry opened a stakeholder workshop to prepare the project’s 2027 annual action plan and to coordinate activities across national, provincial and local agencies. Construction of the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary central headquarters gate had reached approximately 40% completion and was scheduled for completion in August 2026.
Key Developments
On 6 June 2026 a Secretary of State and senior REDD+ officials presided over the opening of a consultation workshop in Mondulkiri province to draft the 2027 action plan for Keo Seima REDD+. The session included representatives of the national REDD+ secretariat, the Department of Environmental Impact Assessment, provincial environment departments from Mondulkiri and Kratie, district and commune administrations, and roughly 50 local participants from project areas.
Following the opening, the delegation inspected ongoing construction at the sanctuary headquarters where the gate structure is under development; project communications indicated the build was roughly 40% complete at that time with an August 2026 target for finishing works.
Institutional Role
The Ministry of Environment acts as the lead government agency for the Keo Seima REDD+ initiative while WCS provides implementation support and partnership coordination. Provincial environment departments and local administrations are engaged in planning and stakeholder consultation to align field operations, impact assessment, and community outreach with national REDD+ priorities.
Operational Implications
Preparation of the 2027 annual action plan is intended to set operational priorities for forest protection, community engagement, and infrastructure needs at Keo Seima. The reported progress on the sanctuary headquarters gate represents a tangible project infrastructure milestone that supports on‑site management and access control for conservation operations.
Project communications emphasize a strategic shift toward sustainable financing models for the Keo Seima protected area to reduce dependence on short‑term donor budgets and strengthen long‑term conservation capacity.
Source
Official project and event details were published by the Ministry of Environment on 6 June 2026: source.
