PLCN nominated for Innovation prize (Press release)

Press release on the nomination for the ISTF Innovation Prize (23.01.17)

Smartphones, a specially designed app and satellite gathered data. This modern-day tools are an integral part of the community forest monitoring carried out by the Prey Lang Community Network (PLCN). To use this tools – and to involve community members in systematized forest monitoring – is something that is being recognized as quite new, also internationally.

This week the innovative PLCN approach receives attention at Yale University in the US. PLCN has been selected as one of the two finalists for the Innovation Prize at the International Society of Tropical Foresters Conference 2017. The prize honors “outstanding multidisciplinary projects” and is given to projects that suggest new solutions to forest conservation.

In the letter of invitation from Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies it says that the work of PLCN and its partners “is exemplary” and that the nomination of PLCN by University of Copenhagen from Denmark was one of the top two nominations received.

Mr. Phai Bunleang, member of the PLCN Steering Committee from Kratie, travels to Yale to present the work of PLCN. For him, the selection is an important indicator for the successful work of PLCN.

“The selection shows that we are a strong and successful network. It shows that our work is important and that it is being recognized as such internationally. This encourages our members to continue to work for protecting Prey Lang”

He also hopes that the attention given to PLCNs innovative approach to forest monitoring can spread internationally.

Mr. Bunleang is presenting the work of PLCN on January 27 at Yale. The winner announcement is on January 28.

About the International Society of Tropical Foresters (ISTF) Innovation Prize

“The Yale Chapter of the International Society of Tropical Foresters (ISTF) is offering a $3,000 Innovation Prize to honor outstanding multidisciplinary projects that address sustainable resource use in the tropics. Winning projects will have created strategic partnerships to address tropical forest use and conservation.

Issues related to tropical forests are complex and intertwined, stressing the need for multidisciplinary teams working towards collaborative solutions that ensure the health of tropical forests and the well-being of those living in or depending on them. In order to aggrandize the impact of projects and achieve sustainable resource use in the tropics, collaborations across various sectors is imperative.”

Source

Contact details

Mr. Phai Bunleang, steering committee of PLCN, 011 403 563/097 611 3807

Mr. Chea Sokhoeun, steering committee of PLCN, 096 316 2866/088 510 0588

Ms. Phork Hong, steering committee of PLCN, 012 948 682/092 257 186

Mr. Hoeun Sopheap, steering committee of PLCN, 096 632 8573/012 373 441