Svay Rieng Province is located in the southeast of Cambodia and covered by lowlands. Most families living in this province mainly depend on firewood to cook their meals due to the lack of other alternative sources of energy. The dependency on firewood can lead to unsustainable use of the forest resources in this province.

The bio-digester technology is one of the available options in Cambodia to reduce the demand of local communities for timber and non-timber forest products. It can provide clean energy for cooking meal and lighting the house by burning the methane gas released from animal manure.

Currently, the Community Forestry Office (CFO) of Forestry Administration, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), a grant recipient from CCCA 1^st call for proposal, is helping a number of families in Svay Rieng and from other provinces to install bio-digesters in their homes. Families who have received the support are delighted with this technology installment since.Mr. Men Tith and his wife Ms. Sam Sambo said they have saved some spending from collecting and buying firewood, andreduced health risks associated with inhaling firewood exhaust. Also, they can earn some income by raising livestock including chickens, to produce more animal manure for the bio-digester. Waste from the digester can fertilize their paddy field to substitute chemical fertilizer, and serve as food for fish.

At the same time, the project is also providing support for sustainable community forestry management practices in this area.

This initiative has attracted many villagers’ interest in this province and many are now seeking to learn and apply these techniques to diversify their income. As a result, it is expected that the local demand of timber and non-timber products will be reduced, incomes have increased and the lack of electricity can be out of concern.

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