Giant king grass is high in protein, easy to grow and tolerant of hot weather. - 10x Agriculture via PPP/ANN
PHNOM PENH: The Ministry of Environment has announced plans to promote the planting of “giant king grass” as an alternative energy source to curb the use of native firewood, expand green cover and help improve the livelihoods of communities in protected areas.
The pilot project was initiated following a working discussion on August 29 between Minister of Environment Eang Sophalleth and Adam Henson, Director of Conservation at the Wild Earth Allies, at the ministry headquarters.
According to the ministry, the meeting highlighted the importance of growing giant king grass, also known as elephant grass, to meet the daily cooking needs of local people. The grass can also be used as biofuel, replacing firewood and charcoal, which often come from the cutting of natural forests.
Sophalleth explained that cultivating the plant will contribute to better forest protection, curb deforestation and expand Cambodia’s green coverage. This complements the ministry’s “Ponlork Baitong” campaign, which encourages the cultivation and distribution of at least one million tree saplings to citizens every year.
He added that the Royal Government of Cambodia remains committed to improving local livelihoods by supporting community-level development, thereby generating additional income while contributing to forest conservation. With giant king grass, communities will no longer need to rely on firewood collection in the forests, and can also generate extra household income.
The pilot project will be implemented in line with the ministry’s environmental strategy framework, which is built on three pillars: Cleanliness, Greenness (Baitong) and Sustainability. Under the “Greenness” pillar, the ministry is working to increase green coverage nationwide, aiming toward its 2050 vision through reforestation, stronger law enforcement in protected areas and improved community livelihoods.
Wild Earth Allies expressed its strong support for the ministry’s clear and proactive measures and praised its past efforts in natural resource management and biodiversity conservation in Cambodia.
Henson explained that his organisation has been supporting conservation work in Cambodia’s forests and coastal areas. He pledged to strengthen cooperation with the ministry to protect and conserve natural resources while promoting sustainable livelihoods for local communities. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
