Mother Nature Cambodia reaches many people with their creative and courageous protests (© Mother Nature Cambodia)
Members of Mother Nature Cambodia on the island of Koh Kong, which they want to save from destruction (© Mother Nature Cambodia)
Demonstration by Mother Nature Cambodia as a funeral procession. The sign reads “Justice is Dead”. (© LICADHO - CC BY-NC 4.0)
The arrest of activist Phuon Keoraksmey – internationally Mother Nature Cambodia was honored with the Alternative Nobel Prize, but at home ten members were handed long prison sentences. (© LICADHO - CC BY-NC 4.0)
The island of Koh Kong is to be “developed” for luxury tourism and plantations. (© Mother Nature Cambodia)
Mother Nature Cambodia successfully stopped a dam in the Areng Valley. (© Rod Harbinson)
Risking their freedom for nature and democracy
Mother Nature Cambodia is one of the most prominent environmental movements in Cambodia. Their creative campaigns reach millions of people, yet they face repression and even imprisonment for their courageous and successful activism.
Project Overview
Project FocusEcosystems / Rainforest Defenders
Project Objective strengthening the environmental movement in Cambodia
Activities political campaigns, protest actions, raising awareness
With their arms painted green, the young activists of Mother Nature Cambodia parade through the streets of Phnom Penh with megaphones and petitions in hand. They want to draw as much attention as possible to the protection of their country’s largest island. “Make Koh Kong Island a marine national park,” reads their banner. “Our green arms show that we are standing up for our natural resources,” they explain.
Successful protests
Rainforest Rescue has supported Mother Nature Cambodia’s spectacular and successful campaigns for more than a decade. The movement’s young members take to the streets to fight for the future of their country. They demonstrate against deforestation, fight corruption, expropriation and displacement of Indigenous communities, and for democracy. Their masterful use of the media to denounce devastating large-scale projects make them a thorn in the side of Cambodia’s autocratic government.
For example, they led a successful campaign to stop a dam in the nearly pristine Areng Valley that would have flooded its forests and destroyed its biodiversity.
They have also put an end to devastating sand mining along riverbanks and coastlines in the west of the country, protecting mangrove forests and marine life.
Mother Nature Cambodia is one of the country’s most influential environmental movements. Their creative protests and videos reach millions of people. The group was awarded the Alternative Nobel Prize for their unwavering stance and dedicated work.
Bravely fighting for nature despite repression and imprisonment
The young conservationists regularly reach a wide audience with their posts and actions about the environmental problems the government is responsible for, influencing public opinion and putting pressure on politicians. It thus comes as no surprise that they are relentlessly targeted by the Cambodian regime, facing threats, harassment and reprisals. Time and again, young activists from Mother Nature Cambodia are thrown in prison.
MNC campaign director Phuon Keoraksmey has already served 14 months and has now been sentenced to six years in prison. “Protecting Cambodia’s nature outweighs the risk to my freedom,” says the 22-year-old student. “How could I look my daughter in the eye if she were to know that our generation did nothing?”
On July 2, 2024, five members were unjustly arrested, and another five were sentenced to six to eight years in prison.
We want to help the wrongfully convicted and their families with expenses such as legal fees, prison visits, food for the prisoners, and other costs. We have launched an emergency fundraising appeal to cover these financial burdens and help them cope with horrific prison conditions.