Growing up in the Ratanakiri province of northern Cambodia, Veit Phumi spent her childhood living amongst the lush forests and biodiversity native to her region. However, the dispersal of Economic Land Concessions (ELCs) to rubber tree and palm oil companies by the Cambodian government has threatened the vitality of these old-growth forests, in which 95% of local people depend upon. In response to the unequitable reallocation of 80,000 hectares of Phumni’s hometown’s land, Phumni and other community members have founded the O’Koki Community Protected Area. Now a Community Protected Area (CPA), the area has now been recognized with a decree from the Cambodian Ministry of Environment and operates as a community-led protection agency. Photo Credit: Savann Oeurm/Oxfam
