BeTreed Adventures is all about community development, so we are working closely with the people of Ta Bos Village to implement this eco-tourism initiative. Ta Bos Village is the “guardian” of the 6,400 hectare community forest centred around Phnom Tnout (“Sugar Palm Mountain”). The village is seven kilometres from Phnom Tnout and the community has traditionally used the forest for hunting, fishing, resin tapping, other non-timer forest products such as honey and medicinal plants, and then of course, timber – both for local use and for export. Since some of these activities are just not conducive to conservation, it is a long road.
The community forest was, in 2017 included newly zoned 42,000 hectare wildlife sanctuary under management of the Ministry of Environment. This has been important and the Ministry of Environment has become an important partner in our conservation efforts.
Ecotourism plays an important part as funds from tourists are programmed into community development activities. Roads, sanitation, bridges and tree planting have been supported through this income; and as BeTreed grows we hope this will become an important resource for the community.
BeTreed Adventures is looking to hire locally as much as possible. Rangers, guides, housekeeping, groundskeepers, gardeners and kitchen staff, we hope can all come from the village and close by.
Through these initiatives, the people will be able to see that “you can have your cake and eat it to” but not if you eat it first! So, first – secure the forest! Then all can profit from its many bounties.