In the quiet village of Krom, nestled along the Mekong River in Stung Treng province, 46-year-old Mr. Son Bai lives with his wife and daughter in a modest household with no electricity or reliable water supply. A person with disability, his livelihood depends on farming, forestry, and fishing—activities that have grown increasingly difficult as local ecosystems deteriorate. Once residing on an island with abundant fish stocks, declining catches and weakened physical health forced Bai to relocate to the mainland, where fishing trips are longer and more strenuous.

Despite these challenges, Mr. Bai emerged as an active contributor to the IP2 project implemented by My Village Organization (MVi). His firsthand knowledge and experience became vital in shaping inclusive dialogue around cross-boundary river ecology and fisheries management.

During a community meeting focused on environmental changes, Mr. Bai shared insights on shifting fishing practices and ecological impacts in the Mekong. He later participated in a household interview, providing detailed accounts of declining fish stocks and the economic strain on his family. Recognizing the value of his voice, MVi invited him to a regional dissemination workshop—where he engaged directly with local authorities and other stakeholders.

This rare opportunity allowed Bai to express the lived reality of marginalized fishers with disabilities. His perspectives helped bridge the gap between community members and policymakers, calling attention to the pressing need for inclusive approaches to water governance and natural resource protection.

Through his involvement, Mr. Bai not only amplified the concerns of his community but also demonstrated how persons with disabilities can contribute meaningful insights to environmental decision-making. His story reminds us that inclusion isn’t just a principle—it’s a necessity for sustainable, equitable resource management.

For years, the Punong Indigenous People of Pu Rang village—home to 64 families within the biodiverse Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary—have sought formal recognition of their ancestral lands.

Despite submitting applications for 21 parcels spanning 775.83 hectares, their Indigenous Collective Land Title (ICLT) was obstructed by unresolved land disputes with outsiders.

Tensions mounted as delays persisted, leading to discouragement and the threat of community disbandment. Yet in a pivotal moment on June 6, 2024, My Village Organization (MVi), alongside CLEC and CIPO, convened a high-level community meeting with a Ministry of Interior representative. This event reenergized the community’s determination to pursue land justice.

In 2023, MVi supported the Pu Rang community in petitioning the Senate to resolve a long-standing conflict over 255 hectares of contested land.

Their appeal urged intervention from both the Senate and provincial authorities, citing the barriers the dispute posed to securing their ICLT.

Initially met with hesitation due to internal challenges, the community stood firm, exemplifying resilience through organized advocacy.

The momentum continued. On September 19, 2024, the Ministry of Interior convened a multi-stakeholder meeting to gather facts and chart a resolution path. Encouraged to speak directly, Pu Rang representatives presented their grievances and supporting evidence. A follow-up meeting was held on January 31, 2025, signaling increased urgency and attention from national authorities.

Ultimately, Pu Rang’s unwavering efforts bore fruit: the 255-hectare dispute was resolved, clearing a major obstacle in their ICLT process. This victory not only secured their territorial rights but also affirmed the strength of collective voice, legal advocacy, and Indigenous-led mobilization.

The Pu Rang experience stands as a beacon of how perseverance and community solidarity can overcome systemic barriers and protect Indigenous heritage for generations to come.

This is a part of improvement for the community development work of Pou Chrey Protected Area, which is placed in Pou Chrey Commune, Pichreada District, Mondulkiri Province. On October 29th, 2020, My Village Organization team organized a meeting with the community of Pou Chrey Community Protected Area in order to present the results of the work for community management that has been implemented so far by focusing on the four main pillars: (1) Natural resources are conserved, (2) The well-being of community members has been improved, (3) Community welfare is guaranteed and (4) External support to be used as a tool for reflecting on community performance. There were a total of 15 participants, 7 females. As a result, after the community meeting, we observed that external support received 2.83 points, natural resources were maintained at 2.71 points, and the well-being of community members improved about 2.43, but for community welfare guaranteed got only 1.75 points. Through this meeting, we can assess that the management of the community in the Community Protected Area of ​​Pu Chrey should be further strengthened on the third pillar, which focuses on ensuring the well-being of the community.

Note: For each pillar, we score from 1 to 4, score 1 is the lowest point and score 4 points is the highest score, used as a tool for reflecting the efficiency of the community.

The Bounorng Indigenous community of Pu Treng village in Mondulkiri Province, home to 179 households and 733 residents, has long worked to safeguard its ancestral lands within the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary.

Recognized by both the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Rural Development, Pu Treng initiated its Indigenous Communal Land Title (ICLT) process in 2012.

The indigneous community submitted formal documentation, including internal statutes, maps, and a recognized management structure, covering 1,338.69 hectares of communal land.

Determined to secure land titles and protect against encroachment, Pu Treng CLT, with support from My Village Organization (MVi) and other CSOs, pushed forward the ICLT process.

On September 13, 2024, a landmark meeting was held with the governor of Mondulkiri and three key departments—Land Management, Environment, and Forestry & Fisheries—to accelerate the public display for Pu Treng and neighboring Pou Leh communities.

The public display marked a major milestone. Community members carefully reviewed land information for accuracy, identified missing plots, and formally requested their inclusion.

A follow-up discussion on January 15, 2025, with the Department of Land Management addressed these concerns.

To resolve the outstanding issues, MVi in collaboration with other CSOs, committed to assisting the community in verifying the missing land titles.

Responding to this effort, the Department of Land Management scheduled verification of nine remaining plots, starting in April 2025.

Recognizing that threats to forests, wildlife and biodiversity are the most important issues in the eastern landscape of Cambodia. My Village is an NGO that carries out a number of activities to conserve natural resources by empowering indigenous communities such as protected area communities, ethnic women’s networks, and ethnic youth networks.

Project of Youths’ Action for Biodiversity Conservation (YABC) focus on youth participation to increase the capacity for widespread dissemination of forests, wildlife, biodiversity and the environment, especially to local communities effectively.

Through the above issues, My Village Organization organized a training course on: “Reduction of Luxury Wood Furniture Consumption” for 13-school youth in the target area of ​​Mondulkiri province for youths. The purpose of this training is to 

– Increase awareness of the benefits of forests and biodiversity

– Raise awareness of the impact of using luxury wood furniture

– Increase the positive attitude of the participants and share it with their friends, family as well as through Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC)

A total of 325 youths (226 women) and 159 indigenous youth (116 women) participated. Through pre-testing the ability of youths, we observed that we provided the training, only about 43 percentage have an understanding of the forest and luxury wood furniture. In contrast, after they received the training from My Village Organization on: “Reduction of Luxury Wood Furniture Consumption”, they can learn more about the forest, as well as the problem of furniture made from luxury wood up to 80 percentage. In addition, they committed to reduce of using the furniture made of luxury wood from day to day, as well as to share the knowledge they gained from this training to share to their families, relatives, friends and the community as much possible. Furthermore, they also gained a lot positive thinking and how to talk about forest issues and luxury wood furniture to their relatives, families, friends and community for reduction of luxury wood consumption and forest and biodiversity conservation. The methods that have been successfully implemented in this training course include group discussion, presentation, Q&A, watching educational videos and role play which can encourage they to reduce shyness or fear to express themselves, especially the performance from role play helped the youths to remember and better understand the relationship between the forest and luxury wood furniture. 

***Note: For scoring the test of youth’s ability before and after the training, use the evaluation level of five numbers, the lowest score is represented as number 1 and the highest score is represented as number 5. Thank you!

In Pu Treng village, Dak Dam commune, Mondulkiri province, Bournorng Indigenous community continues to protect its ancestral heritage and lands through collective governance rooted in tradition.

With a population of 108 households and 532 members, including 274 women, the community practices rotational farming and sustainable forest use while preserving cultural spaces for ceremonies, music, and spiritual worship.

Despite formal recognition of their Indigenous identity by the Ministry of Rural Development and Interior in 2014, the community’s journey toward securing its Indigenous Communal Land Title (ICLT) faced significant obstacles.

Though an application for collective land registration was submitted in 2017—covering 1,338.69 hectares—prolonged government delays led to rising land encroachment and frustration. Some households even withdrew from the ICLT process out of disillusionment.

In response, My Village Organization (MVi) and supporting NGOs partnered with the community to revive the ICLT efforts.

Together, they reviewed and updated legal documentation, restructured the ICLT committee, and facilitated community engagement with authorities from village to provincial levels. This renewed momentum helped address encroachment issues, revalidate land boundaries, and strengthen the community’s legal standing.

By the end of 2024, these efforts yielded tangible results. The Mondulkiri Provincial Department of Land Management conducted a public display—signaling the final procedural step toward issuing the ICLT certificate. Community representative Mr. Chren expressed hope and gratitude: “Thanks to MVi and donors for their continued support. I believe our land rights will soon be formally secured.”

Recognizing that threats to forests, wildlife and biodiversity are the most important issues in the eastern landscape of Cambodia. My Village is an NGO that carries out a number of activities to conserve natural resources by empowering indigenous communities such as protected area communities, ethnic women’s networks, and ethnic youth networks.

Project of Youths’ Action for Biodiversity Conservation (YABC) focus on youth participation to increase the capacity for widespread dissemination of forests, wildlife, biodiversity and the environment, especially to local communities effectively.

Through the above issues, My Village Organization organized a training course on: “Reduction of Luxury Wood Furniture Consumption” for 13-school youth in the target area of ​​Mondulkiri province for youths. The purpose of this training is to 

– Increase awareness of the benefits of forests and biodiversity

– Raise awareness of the impact of using luxury wood furniture

– Increase the positive attitude of the participants and share it with their friends, family as well as through Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC)

A total of 325 youths (226 women) and 159 indigenous youth (116 women) participated. Through pre-testing the ability of youths, we observed that we provided the training, only about 43 percentage have an understanding of the forest and luxury wood furniture. In contrast, after they received the training from My Village Organization on: “Reduction of Luxury Wood Furniture Consumption”, they can learn more about the forest, as well as the problem of furniture made from luxury wood up to 80 percentage. In addition, they committed to reduce of using the furniture made of luxury wood from day to day, as well as to share the knowledge they gained from this training to share to their families, relatives, friends and the community as much possible. Furthermore, they also gained a lot positive thinking and how to talk about forest issues and luxury wood furniture to their relatives, families, friends and community for reduction of luxury wood consumption and forest and biodiversity conservation. The methods that have been successfully implemented in this training course include group discussion, presentation, Q&A, watching educational videos and role play which can encourage they to reduce shyness or fear to express themselves, especially the performance from role play helped the youths to remember and better understand the relationship between the forest and luxury wood furniture. 

***Note: For scoring the test of youth’s ability before and after the training, use the evaluation level of five numbers, the lowest score is represented as number 1 and the highest score is represented as number 5. Thank you!