The US government celebrated the closure of the USAID Greening Prey Lang project, a five-year activity funded through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), with a closing ceremony and exhibition of the projects achievements.

Over the past five years, USAID Greening Prey Lang awarded small grants to 47 community-based organisations to improve conservation practices and promote community development, according to a recent press release.

“USAID Greening Prey Lang represents USAID’s commitment to improving conservation and livelihoods in Cambodia,” said USAID mission director Kerry Pelzman, as she commented on the lessons learned over the course of the project.

“We have supported green financing projects that we expect to generate over $50 million dollars for protected area management and community co-benefits in the next 10 years and have laid the foundation for a successful approach to community engagement,” she added.

The event included interactive booths, displaying the activity’s impact directly from dozens of beneficiaries.

The event’s guests were presented with achievements highlighting ecotourism, support to community-based organisations, wildlife friendly value chains, green finance projects and biodiversity conservation. Guests included representatives of local communities, civil society organisations, the private sector, government institutions and development partners.

The USAID Greening Prey Lang project was a five-year programme that promoted resilient, low-emission development and inclusive sustainable management in the Prey Lang Extended Landscape through a focus on communities, conservation, and improved governance.