The project is proposed as a continuation of the community forestry (CF) project in Phnom Rei, Soung 1, and Kandal villages, Ta Toak and Soung communes, Samlot district, Battambang province. The communities in the three villages have already implemented the following activities: 1) Organizing CF, 2) management structure of the CF, 3) development of internal rule, 4) demarcation of CF areas, and 5) development of CF by-law. However the communities need to implement other 3 major activities including securing agreements, management plan development and M&E.
The VRA results by The Saving Vulnerable Children conclude that the 3 communities are particularly vulnerable to CC impacts such as wind storms, prolonged droughts, erratic rainfalls, compounded by significant deforestation, and some major problems such as pest infestation on crops, inappropriate application of pesticides, outbreak of domestic animal diseases, lack of access and knowledge by the communities on modern technologies and lack of capitals and seeds.
To improve natural resource management and facilitate communities to adapt their livelihood to CC (CC), the project provides skills on animal husbandry, and seed management to improve income and plans trees on 50 ha of land. The communities and commune councils facilitated by The Saving Vulnerable Children propose that the project focus its effort on three major components: 1) strengthening CF management; 2) improvement of livelihood through household animal husbandry and home gardening; and 3) enhancing local capacity to adapt to CC impacts.
1.2 Project Goal
The project aims to strengthen capacity of 23 members of CF committee and reduce vulnerability to CC and deforestation by improving the livelihood of 760 households in 3 villages in 2 communes of Samlot district.
The project?s specific objectives are:
Objective 1: To reduce vulnerability of the communities from CC through strengthening management capacity of local CF and tree planting over 775 ha of land within the 3 villages, by engaging 3,000 local villagers, 1,500 women;
Objective 2: To improve livelihood of 3,311 people, 1,285 women, from 760 households, an increase by 30% through the provision of climate resistant seeds and farming technique, and animals for animal husbandry; and
Objective 3: To promote community awareness about livelihood impacts from CC and incorporate adaptation actions as priority into commune investment plans (CDP).
1.3 Project outcome
Outcome 1.1 (Objective 1): The 3 CFs, participated by 1,000 women, better managed with the use of knowledge to manage forests in a sustainable manner;
Outcome 1.2 (Objective 1): 50 ha of community forest land planted with trees to increase forest density within the communities;
Outcome 2.1 (Objective 2): Income of 365 households (2,490 people, 1,239 women) increased by 30 per cents through appropriate application of knowledge on home based animal husbandry, crop faming and use of quality seeds;
Outcome 3.1 (Objective 3): Actions on adaptation to CC mainstreamed into the commune investment plan as one of the priorities.

1.4 Expected outputs and main activities
Output 1.1.1 (Outcome 1.1, Objective 1): Agreements secured for the three CFs with their 775 ha of community forest land registered with FA.
Activities
- Conduct boundary demarcation and development of map to include additional 115 ha in Kanthor village;
- Finalize maps with 3 CFs and FA, with the participation of 560 women;
- Development of CF agreements in coordination with the FA;
- Organize a signing event for the 3 CFs with FA; and
- Disseminate CF agreements to 1,800 people, 1,000 women, including CF members and relevant agencies.
Output 1.1.2 (Outcome 1.1, Objective 1): Members of the 3 CF committees, 40% women, have their management capacity developed and are accountable before CFs and relevant sectoral agencies;
Activities
- Provide 3 training sessions (9 days) for 20 participants, 7 women, in the 3 CFs, on leadership, project management, report writing, meeting facilitation, and proposal writing;
- Organize a 4 day field visit by 29 participants including CF committees and members, and livestock raising group, 50% women, to similar projects in Kampot;
Output 1.2.1 (Outcome 1.2, Objective 1): Management plans of the 3 CFs developed with FA?s engagement throughout the process;
Activities
- Facilitate CF committee?s monthly meetings to plan for follow-on activities and to develop monthly report;
- Hold quarterly meetings with CF committees, CF and staff of SVC to develop quarterly workplan and seek solutions to emerging issues in the communities;
- Conduct 3 M & E by the commune councils on how CF management plans are implemented, at 3rd, 8th month and end of the project);
- Conduct an VRA; and
- Organize for an external evaluation.
Output 1.2.2 (Outcome 1.2, Objective 1): 30,000 saplings planted on 50 ha of community forest and effectively protected by the CFs for the benefit of 3,000 CF members, 1,500 women.
Activities
- Develop sapling production station at Kandal village with the capacity to produce 26,000 saplings;
- Buy 3,000 community-produced saplings which encourages communities to produce saplings;
- Coordinate with FA to obtain 1,000 saplings for the communities;
- Organize a tree planting event at the district level to plant 30,000 trees on 50 ha of land; and
- Develop firebreaks in the 3 CFs areas to protect exiting forest and newly planted trees.
Output 2.1.1 (Outcome 2.1, Objective 2): Knowledge gained by 980 villagers, 479 women, from 180 households in the communities, on improved home gardening such as onion, garlic, shallot, Chinese kale, cabbages, mash melon, peeper, etc.
Activities
- Provide 2 trainings for 40 participants, 30 women, on pig raising, including feeding and caring for the animals;
- Provide 2 trainings for 80 participants, 58 women, on chicken raising including feeding and caring for the livestock;
- Provide 2 trainings for 20 participants, 10 women, on fish and earth worm production including how to build fish ponds, fish feeding and caring;
- Provide 4 trainings for 40 participants, 15 women, on integrated home gardening including land preparation, seed selection, seeding, preparing seeds for the next farming cycle and selection of products for marketing; and
- Arrange for a distribution of seeds and agricultural inputs to the participating community members.
Output 2.1.2 (Outcome 2.1, Objective 2): Credits provided to 890 villagers, 540 women, from 140 households, for raising chicken (80 households), pig (40 households), fish raising in earthen pond with tarpaulin lining (20 households).
Activities
- Arrange for farmer groups to raise pig, chicken, and fish, and to do vegetable farming;
- Through credit scheme, provide piglets, chicken, fingerlings, and vegetable seeds to the organized farmer groups. Each household could receive 2 piglets (1 male and 1 female), or 10 chicken (8 hens and 2 rosters), or 400 fingerlings and some earth worm;
- Provide technical support on a regular basis to the communities;
- Assess and purchase animals and vegetable seeds for their suitability with home gardening; and
- Provide vaccination for piglets and chicken before distribution to the communities;
Output 2.1.3 (Outcome 2.1, Objective 2): Knowledge gained by 45 members, 30 women, of credit management committee, on record keeping, cash management, and village credit scheme.
Activities
- Provide training to 45 members of credit management committee on village bank administration;
- Encourage farmer groups with credit scheme to (300 members, 200 women, of 15 communities) to form village banks, and
- Monitor cash disbursement and manage records.
Output 2.1.4 (Outcome 2.1, Objective 2): Three seed banks developed in 3 communities for corn, mung bean, soya and sesame, and participated by 3,311 villagers, 50% women, from 760 households.
Activities
- Establish seed banks starting with mobilizing membership;
- Elect members to the 3 seed bank management committees for Phnom Rai, Soung 1 and Kandal villages, from among 3,311 members, 1,551 women;
- Develop by-laws for the community seed banks;
- Provide 760 households with seeds to start their home garden; and
- Follow up regularly on the expenses and income of the 3 community seed banks.

Output 3.1.1 (Outcome 3.1, Objective 3): Awareness on impacts of CC raised with 3,311 participants, 1,285 women, in the communities, targeting women, students, Buddhist monks, and with relevant sectoral agencies.
Activities
- Conduct meetings with 3,311 villagers to raise awareness on the potential impacts of CC;
- Screen videos on CC in the villages; and
- Organize provincial workshops with 70 participants, 30 women, to discuss potential impacts of CC.
Output 3.1.2 (Outcome 3.1, Objective 3): Priority activities identified under VRA incorporated in the commune investment plans (CDPs).
Activities
- Present findings from VRA for village and commune authorities;
- Mainstream CC in the communities;
- Liaison with commune authority to incorporate CC in the commune?s step 1 planning process; and
- Coordinate with commune councils to incorporate VRA findings and projects in the commune investment plans.
Output 3.1.3 (Outcome 3.1, Objective 3): Community activities documented and filmed and shared with the three communities.
Activities
- Produce posters, folders, and case studies, and documents about 10 livestock raising households, capturing situation prior to and after their engagement in the livelihood activities;
- Produce posters, folders, and case studies, and documents about 15 vegetable farming households, featuring their actions including seeding, caring, and their daily lives;
- Produce 20 min video clips featuring impacts from CC in the 3 communities.
Output 3.1.4 (Outcome 3.1, Objective 3): A community library is established in each of the 3 communities for use by community members.
Activities
- Conduct meetings to discuss and agree on the development of the library;
- Build 1 community library in each community;
- Collate and generate documents from outside on subject related to CC for the libraries; and
- Motor the use of library and awareness among community members.