In Cambodia like in Vietnam, too many trees have been cut, large areas are without, erosion on the hills is visible. In Cambodia it is done by powerful people, above the law, sometimes they come from across the Vietnamese border.
PTEA helps poor villagers to protect "their forest", and to replant: pilars in concrete to put a clear border, surveillance, alert systems... (photos)
For many years the children have collected plastic waste in their village, as part of the health education program in primary schools. Every year about 150 tons are thus collected. This has 3 benefits:
a formidable psychological impact on the people in general. People think twice before throwing out garbage and use less plastic. The children are very conscious about the environment and of their own responsibility.
Everywhere the problem of waste management becomes serious. Around a few large Vietnamese cities new plants were born, the fruit of large investments. But Vietnam is basically a rural country where capital is lacking and expensive. Waste cannot be carried over long distances, it must be recycled on the spot.
The environmental footprint of a Khmer or Vietnamese peasant should humble us: about 1, against 10 more an average European. From this point of view they could be considered as model citizens of the planet!
