Your contribution helps combat climate change, restore degraded forests, protect biodiversity, and build climate-resilient communities in Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Southeast Asia through large-scale reforestation, conservation, and sustainable land management programs.
Cambodia (50% Priority): Cambodia has lost 2.5 million hectares of forest since 2000—25% of total forest cover. Illegal logging, land conversion for agriculture and development, and forest fires have devastated the Cardamom Mountains, Central Highlands, and Northern Plains. Deforestation drives climate change, destroys wildlife habitat, and threatens indigenous communities who depend on forests for survival.
Lao PDR (20% Priority): Lao PDR loses 150,000 hectares of forest annually—one of the highest deforestation rates in Asia. Slash-and-burn agriculture, illegal logging, hydropower dams, and mining destroy pristine forests in northern mountains and Mekong basin. Forest-dependent communities lose livelihoods as forests disappear.
Other ASEAN Countries (30%): Southeast Asia has lost 32 million hectares of forest in 25 years. Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Philippines, and Thailand face severe deforestation, threatening biodiversity hotspots and accelerating climate change.
Deforestation Catastrophe: Southeast Asia loses 3 million hectares of forest annually—equivalent to losing a football field of forest every 2 seconds. Cambodia and Laos are deforestation hotspots, with primary rainforests being cleared for rubber plantations, cassava farms, mining, and illegal logging.
Climate Change Acceleration: Deforestation accounts for 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions. When forests are cut, stored carbon is released into the atmosphere, accelerating global warming. Cambodia and Laos contribute significantly to regional emissions through forest loss.
Biodiversity Loss: Southeast Asian forests are biodiversity hotspots—home to tigers, elephants, gibbons, pangolins, and thousands of endemic species. Deforestation drives species to extinction. Cambodia's Cardamom Mountains and Lao PDR's Annamite Mountains harbor critically endangered species losing habitat daily.
Indigenous Communities Threatened: 15 million indigenous people in Southeast Asia depend on forests for food, medicine, shelter, and cultural identity. Deforestation destroys their ancestral lands, forcing displacement and cultural loss. In Cambodia and Laos, indigenous Kreung, Tampuan, Hmong, and Khmu communities face land grabs and forest destruction.
Water Crisis: Forests regulate water cycles, prevent floods, and maintain river flows. Deforestation causes droughts, floods, and water scarcity. The Mekong River—lifeline for 60 million people—is threatened by upstream deforestation in Laos and China.
Soil Degradation: Without forest cover, soil erodes rapidly, destroying agricultural productivity. Landslides kill hundreds annually in deforested mountain areas of Cambodia and Laos. Degraded land cannot support crops or forests, creating permanent wastelands.
Economic Loss: Deforestation costs Cambodia and Laos billions in lost ecosystem services—water purification, flood control, pollination, climate regulation. Short-term profits from logging and land conversion create long-term economic devastation.
This contribution campaign may support large-scale reforestation, conservation, and climate action initiatives across Cambodia, Lao PDR, and ASEAN through GivingDonate's discretionary support model:
🇰🇭 Cambodia Reforestation & Conservation (50% Focus):
🇱🇦 Lao PDR Reforestation & Conservation (20% Focus):
🌏 Other ASEAN Countries (30% Focus):
Native Species Selection:
Scientific Planting Methods:
Community Engagement & Ownership:
Carbon Capture: Each tree planted absorbs 20-30 kg of CO2 annually. Our 7 million tree target will sequester 140,000-210,000 tons of CO2 per year—equivalent to removing 30,000-45,000 cars from roads annually.
Long-Term Storage: Mature forests store 200-400 tons of carbon per hectare. Restoring 15,000 hectares will store 3-6 million tons of carbon over 30 years—equivalent to annual emissions of 650,000-1.3 million people.
Climate Resilience: Forests regulate local climate, reduce temperatures by 2-5°C, increase rainfall, and prevent droughts. Reforested areas become climate refuges for communities and wildlife.
Wildlife Habitat Restoration: Reforested areas provide habitat for endangered species—Asian elephants, Indochinese tigers, gibbons, hornbills, pangolins, and thousands of other species. Wildlife corridors enable migration and genetic diversity.
Ecosystem Services: Forests purify water, prevent soil erosion, regulate floods, support pollinators, and provide food, medicine, and materials for communities. Restored forests deliver $10,000-50,000 per hectare in ecosystem services annually.
Biodiversity Hotspot Protection: Cambodia's Cardamom Mountains and Lao PDR's Annamite Mountains are global biodiversity hotspots. Protecting and restoring these forests prevents species extinctions and preserves genetic diversity.
Sustainable Income: Agroforestry, non-timber forest products (rattan, bamboo, mushrooms, honey), and ecotourism provide sustainable income for 10,000+ families. Communities earn 30-50% more income from sustainable forest management than from destructive practices.
Food Security: Forests provide wild foods, fruits, nuts, mushrooms, and game meat supplementing diets and nutrition. Agroforestry produces diverse crops reducing hunger and malnutrition.
Water Security: Reforested watersheds ensure year-round water supply for drinking, irrigation, and livestock. Communities downstream benefit from clean, reliable water flows.
Cultural Preservation: Indigenous communities maintain spiritual connections to forests, traditional knowledge, and cultural practices. Forest protection preserves cultural identity and heritage.
Geographic Allocation:
Total Impact Potential: 20,000 hectares reforested, 7 million trees planted, 12,000 families benefiting, 150,000+ tons CO2 sequestered annually
30-Year Forest Management: All reforestation projects include 30-year management plans ensuring forests mature, sequester maximum carbon, and provide lasting benefits.
Satellite Monitoring: Using satellite imagery and GIS technology to monitor forest growth, detect illegal logging, and measure carbon sequestration.
Community Forest Patrols: Trained community rangers conduct regular patrols preventing illegal activities and monitoring forest health.
Carbon Credit Certification: Pursuing verified carbon credit certification (VCS, Gold Standard) generating additional revenue for communities and ensuring rigorous monitoring.
Tree Survival Monitoring: Regular monitoring ensuring 85%+ survival rates, with replanting where needed.
Carbon Accounting: Scientific measurement of carbon sequestration using established methodologies.
Biodiversity Surveys: Camera traps and wildlife surveys documenting species returning to restored forests.
Socioeconomic Impact: Household surveys measuring income, food security, and wellbeing improvements.
GivingDonate operates on a discretionary support model. After platform fees and payment processing costs, we may provide discretionary financial support to verified reforestation and conservation organizations working in Cambodia (50%), Lao PDR (20%), and other ASEAN countries (30%) at our sole discretion. No specific allocation, amount, or timeline is guaranteed.
Important: See our Contribution Policy, Terms of Service, and Legal Disclosures for complete details.