KEO SEIMA REDD+

Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary (KSWS) is a uniquely diverse rainforest protected area facing increasing threats from illegal land clearance. This project area is home to over 1,000 wild species, including 85 globally threatened species. It is also the ancestral and current home of the Indigenous Bunong people, whose unique culture and beliefs are deeply intertwined with the forest they inhabit.

Originally designated as a protected area in 2002, KSWS is managed by the Royal Government of Cambodia’s Ministry of Environment, with technical and financial support from WCS Cambodia. KSWS plays a vital role in preserving the region’s important and vulnerable wildlife, including the world’s largest populations of two primate species: the black-shanked douc langur (Pygathrix nigripes) and the southern yellow-cheeked crested gibbon (Nomascus gabriellae).

The project also supports the sustainable development of local communities by securing legal title to their traditional lands and through the REDD+ Benefit Sharing Mechanism, which provides significant funding for community-led development projects.

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