AKP Phnom Penh, January 15, 2025 --

The Indigenous Bunong community of Andong Kraloeng started the year with access to US$13,745 generated from Jahoo's Gibbon Fund through ecotourism revenue from 2024, with a total of 127 tours and 458 guests contributing towards conservation and community development actions.

According to a press release of Sam Veasna Conservation Co., Ltd., led by the Indigenous Community Committee of Andong Kraloeng, the agreed upon actions look to support community-led scout patrols combatting forest and wildlife crime in the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary landscape, offers food packages to elderly and vulnerable members of the community, along with free weekly English lessons and contributions to the Indigenous Bunong Cultural Centre in the provincial capital of Sen Monorom.

"The Gibbon Fund is very important for our community to continue to protect wildlife and forests for future generations, as well as to develop and improve the livelihoods of indigenous communities in our traditional way," said Sokha Thot, Community Chief of Andong Kraloeng.

Starting back in 2017, the Gibbon Fund has raised over US$50,000 through the contribution of US$30 from each guest who visits Jahoo and books on to any of the 1, 2 or 3 day tour options that are available. With feedback from the community, a total of 13 activities and actions have been planned by the committee throughout the coming year, helping to link the importance of preserving critical gibbon habitat and securing Indigenous Bunong land for future generations to come, ensuring that not only are the community beneficiaries, but full partners of Jahoo.

"This initiative looks to empower local leadership in creating meaningful benefits for the community whilst simultaneously protecting the habitat of the Southern yellow-cheeked crested gibbon, ensuring the positive effects of ecotourism are felt throughout the local community,'' said Chris Iverson, Ecotourism Technical Advisor.

Jahoo (Photo: Tong Len/Jahoo)

Gibbon (Photo: Mouerk Hong/Jahoo)

AKP