By Asnarith Tep, WWF Greater Mekong Cambodia Country Programme
Indigenous Phnong (also referred to as Bunong) communities in Krang Thes and Pou Chrey communes are operating a honey enterprise project, a non-timber forest product-based livelihood initiative which started in 2007 with support from WWF and Ecosystems Grants Programme (EGP)-IUCN Netherlands. The project currently covers 46 households, all honey collectors, and promotes sustainable harvesting practice that respects biodiversity and maintains the intimate relationship and harmony with the forests.
During their harvest period of March–May 2008, they achieved a honey collection of 1000 litres. Of this, 400 litres were packaged following hygienic practices, with support from Bethany Cares. In June 2008, the brand name ‘Mondulkiri Wild Honey’ kicked off its first promotions in ten shops and NGO-based selling outlets in both Mondulkiri province and Phnom Penh. Many environmental and commercial events were opportunities to introduce this new product.
“At the Third Cambodian Nationwide Trade Fair held in December last year, the community sold around US$799 worth of honey during the four-day event annually organised to promote Khmer products. This was good exposure for the community’s honey and a good opportunity to convey the message of linking forest conservation to the livelihoods of community,” said Amy Maling, Community Extension Technical Advisor with the WWF’s Eastern Plains Landscape Project (EPL).
Honey is one of the forest-based resources that has the potential to generate income among the Phnong indigenous communities in Mondulkiri. Properly handling and good honey harvesting practices does not only result in higher production, but maintains the intimate relationship and harmony between people and the wilderness. Honey bees need the forest to survive and produce honey. Bees require large trees for nesting; they are important agents of pollination for many plants in the forests – bees fly from flower to flower and transfer pollen fertilizing flowers and producing seeds.
Besides improving honey productivity, the development of the honey enterprise also brings change to the local honey trade situation. Traditionally, fresh wild honey is sold only to Mondulkiri’s local buyers who offer a low and unstable price. In 2007, for example, honey was sold for 10,000 Riel (around US$ 2.5) per litre. But with the increased market in the province and capital of Phnom Penh, the Phnong collectors sold an average of 18,000 Riel (around US$ 4.5) per liter in 2008.
Pich Phony, a Phnong villager living in Pu Rapet village, Krong Teh commune, Pech Chrada district, has completed a series of trainings for proper honey collection techniques and reaped the good results that he witnessed himself throughout the past years. “Rather than just collect one lot of honey from a nest, with the new technique I can collect up to three times more during a 25-day period. This is very important to me because it gives me more income to support my family,” he said. Before, he added, honey prices were unstable because prices were set solely by brokers. The selling price in the village was 10,000–12,000 Riel per liter, but if sold directly to tourists, the price could reach as high as between 18,000–20,000 Riel per liter.
According to Maling, the honey collectors are now collecting information about the number of honeybee nests, a crucial step for the management of this important NTFP resource. Trees where they collect honey are being tagged and mapping of the collection areas is being carried out.
“The honey collectors will maintain a database of these trees with the following information: name of tree, number of honeycombs in each tree, and amount of honey collected, the number of honeycomb harvested, and the number of times they harvested from the same honeycomb. This information will be used in monitoring population of honeybees and the volume of honey available,” she said.
To promote sustainable use of forest resources, the EPL’s community extension team conducts regular awareness raising of the importance of forests among 16 local villages and encourages them to protect these natural resources which can sustain their livelihood and for generations to come. The primary target groups are communities living in and around WWF’s protected areas of Mondulkiri Protected Forest and Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary, both of which are being managed in cooperation with the Cambodian government’s Forestry Administration and Ministry of Environment.
“Increased awareness of local people about the environment and their involvement in livelihood activities, conservation and natural resources management are a crucial contribution to preserving Cambodia’s unique wilderness of dry forest Eastern Plains, which harbour a number of globally important wildlife such as Tiger, Banteng, Gaur, Asian Elephant, Eld’s Deer, Wild Water Buffalo and many significant waterbirds and aquatic life,” said Craig Bruce, EPL Manager.
The benefits of using sustainable techniques for collecting honey has been recognized among villagers; they wait for honey combs to mature before harvesting and only collect the part that contains honey leaving bees to produce more. Local people wisely ensure that trees are maintained as food for bees, are more careful with not causing any fire while in the forests, and take part in reducing hunting pressures on wild animals.
For the community people, the joy of receiving concrete benefits from the honey project in which they are directly involved increases their ownership of the unique and globally irreplaceable natural resources in the Cambodia’s dry forest Eastern Plains Landscape. “While it is a livelihood success at this stage, there is much to do to maintain the level of commitment of the community people. The honey project being promoted among villagers of Pu Chrey and Krang Thes represents a social enterprise model that entrusts the community members with ownership opportunity, and I am very happy that the communities are so keen to take over this initiative and will depend less upon NGO assistance,” Bruce said.
The Eastern Plains Project provides the communities with capacity building for techniques and knowledge related to planning and marketing. For instance, they are trained for key aspects when dealing with selling outlets in Mondulkiri and properly managing the honey product. WWF and its NGO partner, NTFP-EP, will continue supporting the deals with outlets in Phnom Penh.
Asnarith Tep, Senior Communications Officer WWF Greater Mekong Cambodia Country Programme House 54, Street 352, Boeung Keng Kang I Phnom Penh, Cambodia Tel: +855 23 218 034 Fax:+855 23 211 909 Email: asnarith.tep@wwfgreatermekong.org
