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‘Green Pagodas’
Linking Buddhism and Conservation in the Central Cardamoms of
Cambodia
Deep in the heart of the Central Cardamom
Mountains, southwest Cambodia,
conservation and Buddhism are being
brought together in a new initiative to
conserve the region’s distinct biodiversity.
Through the ‘Green Pagodas’ project,
supported by Conservation International,
local monks are being trained as
conservation educators. When completed,
the selected monks will be able to
communicate conservation messages
through the media of Buddhist teachings
(dharma) and rituals.
The “Green Pagodas’
project is managed by
the Association of
Buddhists for the
Environment, a local
organization that
oversees the training of
monks and the
coordination of specific
project events (see
below).
Spiritual walks (dhammyietra) by
monks are used to inspire the
protection of the environment by
local communities.
The present project is a
new pilot initiative.
More support is being
sought to scale-up the
project across the
Central Cardamom
Protected Forest.
The importance of protecting
forest systems is promoted
through Buddhist tree
ordination ceremonies.