Training for upstream assessment on safety risks associated with tree climbing -VEC

The volunteer will be in charge of coaching NTFP team on how to improve tree-climbing safety for Malva nuts collection.

Description

Objectifs

In the Ratanakiri province of Cambodia, support for indigenous communities living in forestry areas is limited.
However, the local NGO NTFP (Non-timber Forest Products) operates in two national parks, representing some of the largest protected landscapes in the Mekong basin. NTFP has played a crucial role in helping indigenous people secure their rights to their land and natural resources, including Community Protected Areas and Community Forestry creation.
NTFP aims to support these communities in developing new income-generating activities to improve their living conditions and better protect their lands.
Malva nuts, for example, represent a potential high-value source of income, but the trees can grow more than 20 meters high, presenting a significant safety risk to those who must climb them to harvest the nuts.

A previous mission with Planète Urgence aimed at assessing market opportunities for Malva nuts, but the issue of tree-climbing safety was raised as a major concern. Every year, people die or are injured falling from these trees while harvesting the nuts.
Therefore, the current mission’s goal is to train NTFP team members on how to identify the best techniques and equipment to improve the safety of the climbers.

The support of Planète Urgence volunteers is crucial, as NTFP lacks the necessary skills and specific knowledge required to address this safety issue.

Intervention attendue du volontaire

o Observation of existing practices and analysis of the reasons behind those practices (e.g. community members take risks because they are on a rush to collect Malva nuts).
o Identification with NTFP team of different potential solutions to improve safety (traditional techniques, technical equipment, etc.) and selection of the best solution according to the situation (safety level, price, time-consumption, accessibility, level of training required, etc…)
o On site: demo on climbing trees by the volunteer.
o Identification of an action plan to raise awareness on safety issues and train communities on the identified technique.

This first mission will be followed by a second mission aiming at implementing the action plan.

Remarque(s)

Banlung is the capital city of Ratanakiri Province (636 kilometers from Phnom Penh – approx. 9h of mini-bus), located in Cambodia’s far northeast. Eight major hill tribes and ethnic groups live in Ratanakiri, accounting for 80% of the province’s population. Its forests and rich biodiversity also characterize the province.
There are some touristic hotels and restaurants in Banlung city, and a supermarket selling western products.

Malaria and Dengue are present in Ratanakiri

Type de bénéficiaires

5 NTFP team members involved in the income generating activities.The mission will be supervised by the project manager.

Profil des bénéficiaires

The executive director and the project manager have a good level of English.
The other beneficiaries have a low level in English and translation by the project manager is required.

Nombre de volontaires requis

1 volontaires

Motivation attendue

Motivation to work in a very rural and remote area of Cambodia. Volunteer must be easy to adapt to a new environment.
The journey to the location of the mission is long (9 hours) and tiring (mini-bus with no much space).

Le partenaire

Notre partenaire local

Non Timber Forest Products (NTFP)

Historique

Non-Timber Forest Products, NTFP, is a local Non-Government Organization based in Ratanakiri Province, NE Cambodia. Since we were established in 1996 we have played a critical role in helping indigenous people secure their rights to their land and natural resources. We also recognize the vital importance of preserving the cultural heritage of indigenous people, often inextricably linked with their lands and forests.

NTFP works in Virachey and Veun Sai-Siem Pang National Parks that form part of a 11,217 km2 network of protected areas in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, one of the largest protected landscapes in the Mekong basin.

Wildlife surveys in 2021 confirmed the exceptional biodiversity of the Key Biodiversity Areas (hotspot) with presence of mega fauna and flora (In total, there are ten CR species present at Veun Sai – Siem Pang National Park that consists of 84.30% of evergreen forest, 13% of deciduous and bamboo forest, and extensive upland savannahs.)

Informations pratiques

Accueil et transfert

The volunteer will be welcomed at Phnom Penh’s airport by a member of PU’s team and will be transported to a hotel near the airport for an overnight stay on Saturday night.

The volunteer will leave by mini-bus on Sunday (9 hours’trip max).
Mini-bus schedule (day time only): 07.30 am – 4.30 pm

The volunteer will leave Banlung by mini-bus on Friday and will spend an overnight stay in a hotel near the airport in Phnom Penh.

Aéroport d’arrivée

Phnom Penh

Hébergement

The volunteer will be staying at a hotel in Banlung near NTFP’s office (individual private room, with key-lock, private bathroom)

Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be taken in hotels or restaurants nearby.