Nature-Positive Agriculture Takes Center Stage as Cambodia Seeks Green Financing Solutions

PHNOM PENH, August 10, 2026 – Cambodia is stepping up efforts to align conservation with economic development, as the Ministry of Environment and WWF-Cambodia co-hosted a two-day forum in Phnom Penh focused on unlocking financing for ecosystems and nature-positive agriculture.

The forum, which opened on August 10 at a Phnom Penh venue, brought together policymakers, financial institutions, practitioners, and development partners to explore practical mechanisms for mobilizing resources that support both environmental protection and community livelihoods.

In his keynote address, Minister of Environment Dr. Eang Sophalleth urged all stakeholders—from national institutions to international partners—to treat local communities as the backbone of conservation. He called for collective action to improve living conditions in protected areas while ensuring that natural resources are managed responsibly for future generations.

The minister highlighted the government's Environmental Circular Strategy 2023-2028, which rests on three pillars: Clean, Green, and Sustainable. He explained that the strategy prioritizes waste management, natural resource stewardship, and long-term development planning, with the goal of embedding sustainability across all sectors and sub-national administrations.

"This forum is a critical opportunity to bridge policy and practice," Dr. Eang Sophalleth said. "We must work together to ensure that financing reaches the communities and landscapes that need it most."

Janes Imanuel Ginting, Country Director of WWF-Cambodia, echoed the minister's remarks, emphasizing that landscape-level financing can drive lasting change. "By investing in nature-positive agriculture and ecosystem conservation, we can create a future where people, nature, and the economy all thrive together," he said.

The forum is part of a broader effort to strengthen Cambodia's commitment to sustainable development, with a particular focus on the Eastern Plains Landscape—a region of high biodiversity and agricultural potential.

— Sources: Ministry of Environment

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Reported by The Khmer Today