Tbeng commune is located in Banteay Srey district, Siem Reap province and is 36 km from Siem Reap town. There are 8,003 people from 1,664 HHs in the commune and 96.33% of them have income largely from farming. Climate change and lack of technical know-how in agricultural production result in their low yield and thus income.
Tbeng commune has a unique tourism potential including Tbeng Lech community forestry (CF), home stay in Wat village, and Sras Don Reak recreational site at Sras Kvav village.
However, the potential presented by the natural resources are being destroyed by illegal activities and limited management capacity. In response, a consultation with relevant stakeholders and potential beneficiaries including the commune councilors and the three CF management committees had been organized by Trailblazer Cambodia Organization (TCO) to propose the project: Promotion of community?s sustainable livelihood and management of natural resources in 3 target villages of Tbeng commune, Banteay Srey district, Siem Reap province. The project responds to two GEF SGP OP6?s country program strategies as follows:
? First program strategy: Conservation of community landscape with 3 key activities as follows:
- Participation in the promotion of capacity for management of 210 ha Tbeng Lech CF area and its sustainable use with a focus on the management committee capacity;
- Gaining 5 ha forest cover by filling gaps in the flooded forest with 1,000 tree seedlings including 500 seedlings of melaleuca and mangrove species and 200 sweet bamboos; and
- Documentation and sharing of lessons and good practices using appropriate pictures to develop a video story and a case study of a model farmer household (HH).
? Second program strategy: Climate Smart Agriculture
- Promotion of local community livelihood of 90 HHs, 43 women headed HHs in Tbeng Lech, Wat and Sras Kvav villages of Tbeng commune, Banteay Srey district by piloting Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) including livestock farming, fruit tree planting, and crop farming to improve food security and to contribute to reducing their dependence on forest exploitation to meet their livelihood needs.
Because of the above potential and with the close collaboration by all relevant agencies at all levels and the private sector particularly Forestry Administration (FA) and with strong commitments of the communities to strengthen their management capacity as well as sustainable use of natural resources, increasing community income from ecotourism is sought to improve their livelihood and reduce their poverty. The support, both technical and materials, will be provided to 90 poor farmers, 43 women, in the target area in implementing CSA ? livestock, fruit tree and crop farming ? by specialists in collaboration with provincial Department of Agriculture (DoA), agricultural extension workers, researchers, and community members through synergistic allocation of tasks. The project may also face with a number of challenges due to sensitive political situation as a result of the upcoming election in 2017 and the prolonged drought that may result from climate change. The 18 months project will require USD 106,226.30 of which USD 49,982.30 is requested from GEF SGP and USD 56,243.50 jointly co-financed by local community, authorities, FA, private sector and TCO.
Goal:
Promote local community people?s livelihood and sustainable management of natural resources in 3 target villages of Tbeng commune, Banteay Srey district, Siem Reap province.
Objective 1:
To increase income of 90 farmer HHs, 43 women headed HHs, in target villages by implementing CSA ? livestock farming, fruit trees and crop farming ? to improve food security by 2018.

Output 1.1: Baseline data and appropriate CSA techniques for the target villages are studied prior to their introduction to the farmers.
Activity 1.1.1: Liaison with university students and lecturers to conduct baseline and CSA study at the project beginning and end.
Activity 1.1.2: Meeting to document baseline data on CSA including the study of potential for ecotourism at the project beginning and end.
Activity 1.1.3: Data collection and research on CSA baselines and potential for ecotourism at the project beginning and end.
Activity 1.1.4: Writing CSA research findings at the project beginning and end.

Output 1.2: 90 farmers, 43 women, have understanding of CSA and existing agricultural practices and participated in consultation on identification of different priorities.

Activity 1.2.1: Organizing 3 meetings each with 30 participants to select farmers for piloting.
Activity 1.2.2: Provision of 3 training courses over 15 days in total, 5 days each, on CSA ? livestock, fruit trees and crop farming ? for 90 farmers, 43 women.
Activity 1.2.3: Project staff follow up and provide 36 technical advice sessions to the target farmers.

Output 1.3: Six volunteered farmers selected as model farmers to demonstrate CSA to other farmers in the target villages.
Activity 1.3.1: Organizing a meeting with 30 participants on the project and selection of 6 model farmers from the 3 villages in Tbeng commune.
Activity 1.3.2: Producing necessary supporting documents and agreement with the model farmers.
Activity 1.3.3: Provision of equipment, seeds and animals to the 6 model farmers.
Activity 1.3.4: Provision of technical advice and 36 mentoring sessions with the 6 model farmers.
Activity 1.3.5: Organizing farmer field day three times each with 30 participants on the field of the 3 model farmers.

Output 1.4: 84 farmers, 30 women, implemented CSA initiative.
Activity 1.4.1: Provision of vegetable seeds and animals to 84 households in Wat, Tbeng Lech and Sras Kvav villages.
Activity 1.4.2: Project staff provide technical support and 36 mentoring sessions with farmers.

Objective 2:
By end of 2018 75 community people, 30% women, increased their income at least 30% or USD 360 a year from ecotourism operation with organizing management committee, capacity strengthening and provision of skills on ecotourism to the whole community.

Output 2.1: Ecotourism management committee selected from the CF, Daun Reak recreational center and home stay community.
Activity 2.1.1: A dissemination session on ecotourism concept with 75 management committee members of the three communities.
Activity 2.1.2: A one day session with 75 participants from local authority and relevant stakeholders and community members to elect a joint committee by forming small groups to become ecotourism community.
Activity 2.1.3: Three meetings with the 75 selected committee and community members to develop by-law and internal rule.
Activity 2.1.4: A one day discussion meeting and adoption of the by-law and internal rule with 15 local authority and staff from sectoral agencies and community committee at Tbeng commune office.
Activity 2.1.5: A discussion meeting of the by-law and internal rule with 75 local community participants.
Activity 2.1.6: Two meetings to assess ecotourism management capacity using good governance tool with 25 participants form local authority, community people and ecotourism management committee.
Output 2.2: 25 eco-tourism management committee and community members, 13 women, have capacity to provide guiding service and reception of tourists.
Activity 2.2.1: Advertisement to select trainers with guide and reception skills.
Activity 2.2.2: Developing materials and identification of potential trainees.
Activity 2.2.3: Provision of training on tourism services, guide and reception skills.

Output 2.3: 25 Eco-tourisms management committee and community members, 13 women, have the necessary capacity to provide tourism service, home stay and food catering.
Activity 2.3.1: Advertisement to select trainers for training on homestay and food catering.
Activity 2.3.2: Developing materials and identify potential trainees to attend the training.
Activity 2.3.3: Provision of tourism service training to ecotourism management committee on home stay and food catering.

Output 2.4: 25 Eco-tourism management committee members, 13 women, have capacity to provide tourism services to tourists and small businesses.
Activity 2.4.1: Advertisement to select trainers to deliver training on small businesses.
Activity 2.4.2: Develop materials and identify potential trainees to participate in the training.
Activity 2.4.3: Provision of training on tourism services and small business.
Activity 2.4.4: Documenting results and conducting satisfactory survey in the area.

Output 2.5: A stall, with 2 rooms - 4m x 12 m - built in addition to the existing 2 stalls, 2 toilets, a kitchen 4m x 5m is elevated with 100 trucks of soil and 2 bill boards erected to serve the tourism operation at Boeung Daun Reak recreational site.
Activity 2.5.1: A meeting with 25 local authority, relevant stakeholders and community members to organize bidding for construction of the stall and 2 billboards.
Activity 2.5.2: Developing contract for construction of a stall 4m x 12m with 4 rooms and 2 billboards between the community and contractor witnessed by 25 relevant stakeholders.
Activity 2.5.3: Construction of a stall 4m x 12 m with 3 rooms to receive tourists.
Activity 2.5.4: Construction of 2 toilets with financial support from Apsara authority.
Activity 2.5.5: Adding 100 small trucks of soil from nearby area with contribution from local community.
Activity 2.5.6: Construction of a kitchen 4m x 5m with support from youth investment group.
Activity 2.5.7: Organizing and construction of 2 billboards at the entrance to the Boeung Daun Reak recreational center.
Activity 2.5.8: Monitoring process.

Output 2.6: 5,000 wild fish fingerlings released in the Sras Daun Reak reservoir to enhance biodiversity.
Activity 2.6.1: Dissemination meeting with 26 participants from local communities and relevant stakeholders on release of 5,000 wild fish fingerlings in Sras Daun Reak reservoir.
Activity 2.6.2: Liaison with provincial Department of Fisheries and community for supply of fingerlings.
Activity 2.6.3: Release of 5,000 wild fish fingerlings in Daun Reak reservoir.

Output 2.7: A three days study visit to ecotourism sites outside of the province by 34 participants, 10 women, including 3 from village authority, 1 from commune, 23 from community management committee, and 7 project staff to learn from good management practices.
Activity 2.7.1: Dissemination meeting with 30 participants from the community to arrange for a study visit to an ecotourism site.
Activity 2.7.2: Liaison with partners and relevant sectoral agencies.
Activity 2.7.3: A three day study visit to an ecotourism site outside of the province.

Objective 3:
By the end of 2018 Tbeng Lech CF management committee has the necessary capacity to manage 210 ha forest area and its sustainable use, with 5 ha forest cover expanded through filling the gaps with 1,000 seedlings of flooded forest trees including 500 seedlings of melaleuca and mangroves and 200 sweet bamboos.

Output 3.1: Tbeng Lech CF management plan is formally recognized by FA cantonment.
Activity 3.1.1: A review of existing documents by project staff and CF management committee.
Activity 3.1.2: An inventory of CF forest with the participation of FA, project staff and CF committee members.
Activity 3.1.3: Meeting for re-development of inventory list and a management plan for Tbeng Lech CF
Activity 3.1.4: Project staff and CF committee follow up the papers submitted for review and endorsement to relevant competent agencies.
Activity 3.1.5: Organizing for a half day dissemination meeting with authority and relevant agencies and 50 people at the community on the management plan and recognition of the community by FA.

Output 3.2: 11 CF management committee members, 3 women, have the necessary capacity on sustainable manage and use with training and strengthening of the role and responsibility of the dissemination committee and routine patrol.
Activity 3.2.1: Communicate with FA Cantonment to update the CF management plan.
Activity 3.2.2: Provision of a six days training for the community on community forest management including management planning, harvesting techniques.
Activity 3.2.3: Updating CF management committee
Activity 3.2.4: M&E of the implementation of the community management plan by Tbeng Lech CF management committee
Activity 3.2.5: Organizing 2 half-day dissemination meetings on the benefits of forest with 75 participants from the community.
Activity 3.2.6: Provision of patrol equipment including 4 radio transceivers, 11 flash lights, 11 hammocks, and 11 ponchos to the CF management committee.

Output 3.3: A canal (2.5m x 3m x 1,000m) constructed as boundary with markers planted and a wooden bridge constructed to protect the forest from illegal logging.
Activity 3.3.1: A meeting with local authority and CF management committee to procure service for construction of the canal.
Activity 3.3.2: Developing a contract for construction of the canal.
Activity 3.3.3: Construction of the canal.
Activity 3.3.4: Planting 40 concrete post on the west of the CF area.
Activity 3.3.5: Construction of wooden bridge 170 long to facilitate patrolling and for use in ecotourism service (with contribution from the community).
Activity 3.3.6: Project staff and local authority and community monitor the construction of the canal and planting of the post markers.

Output 3.4: Forest cover is expanded by filing gaps with 1,000 tree seedlings of Korki, Yeang, Tatrav tree species and flooded forest planted including 500 seedlings of melaleuca and mangroves and 200 trees of bamboos.
Activity 3.4.1: Organizing a meeting with 75 participants from the community to mobilize labor for planting 500 seeds of melaleuca and mangroves.
Activity 3.4.2: Liaison with CF Cantonment to purchase 1,000 seedlings of Koki, Tatrav and Yeang.
Activity 3.4.3: Liaison with bamboo seeds suppliers
Activity 3.4.4: Organizing tree planting day with the participation of 100 school children, CF management committee, community members and relevant stakeholder to plant 1,000 trees.
Activity 3.4.5: Maintaining and filling gaps in the planted field.

Objective 4: At the end of the project all key activities will be captured and developed as a video story and a case study on success story of a model farmer for sharing and dissemination to relevant stakeholders and other communities.

Output 4.1: By the end of the project a case study and a video story of the project is produced to promote community people?s sustainable livelihood and natural resource management in 3 villages of Tbeng commune, Banteay Srey district, Siem Reap province for dissemination.
Activity 4.1.1: Project staff collect information from model farmers for documentation as a case study.
Activity 4.1.2: Project staff select relevant pictures to document into a video story.

Output 4.2: 50 relevant stakeholders and community members, 15 women, have knowledge and experiences through workshops organized by the project.
Activity 4.2.1: Consultation by project staff with district councilors to plan for organizing a one day sharing workshop at Banteay Srey district office including the list of invitees, schedule and venue.
Activity 4.2.2: Organizing a one day workshop at Banteay Srey district office with 100 participants from communities, relevant stakeholders, and policy makers.
Activity 4.2.3: Quarterly meeting held to share information on achievement and challenges and to get recommendations from 42 participants including 25 ecotourism management committee members, 13 women, 9 model farmers, a commune chief, a FA officer, a district officer and 3 village chiefs and 2 project staff.

Output 4.3: A project evaluation report developed by an independent consultant and submitted to project owner (TCO) to measure its achievement under the project compared to the baseline.
Activity 4.3.1: Advertise for independent consultant to conduct project end evaluation.
Activity 4.3.2: Data and information collection by the recruited consultant to measure project achievement and develop a report for project owner (TCO) to measure project achievement compared to baseline.