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Appendix 2.5.1

Consultancy Services for the Establishment of Restoration Research in Kampong Thom and Siem Reap Provinces

Prepared for

Institute of Forest and Wildlife Research and Development (IFWRD),

Forestry Administration (FA)

Consultant’s Interim Report

Edward V. Maningo, Ph.D. Consultant

1.0 Background The project “Multi-function forest restoration and management of degraded forest areas in Cambodia”, launched in December 2011, aims to restore the community forests in Siem Reap and Kampong Thom provinces for production of timber and NTFPs as a means to improve livelihoods of local communities. To achieve the objective, a series of activities have been proposed, one of which is the establishment of research areas on forest restoration in each pilot site. At the completion of the project, project results and experience will be compiled, published and distributed to interested stakeholders. The proposed study will help the managers and the communities in the rehabilitation of the CFs in Kampong Thom and Tbeng Lech. 2.0 Objectives of the Consultancy, Key Responsibilities and Tasks The objective of this consultancy is to prepare research design on forest restoration in community forests, in Kampong Thom and Siem Reap provinces, for biodiversity conservation and livelihood improvement. Specifically, the consultant has the following duties:

Conduct field visit to the two pilot sites to get ideas of developing research design;

Preparation of research design on forest restoration, including justifications, methodology, layout plan of research plots and monitoring plan, for biodiversity conservation and livelihood improvement;

Make presentation on the initial findings at the end of the mission; and Complete the consultancy report.

The restoration models will be established in the selected pilot sites. The consultancy is expected to generate a description of the site, and the detailed research design, including justifications, methodology, layout plan of research plots

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and monitoring plan. After developing the research design, the consultant is expected to present the research design to the project staff.

3.0 Approach of the Development of the Study Proposal The development of the research methodology and problem identification was conducted in a participatory and consultative method. The initial approach was being consulted to the Research Staff and the community on the specific focus of the research. The field work was conducted together with the key research staff. The design, including the variables to collect was adjusted following the consultation with the research staff and the community. A tentative research methodology was submitted and currently being reviewed by the staffs of the Executing Agency for comments. 4.0 Activities 4.1 Consultation with the Research Staff Individual consultations were made with the Research Staff prior to the field work and development of the research proposal. An initial and consultation on the concept of the research, approach and the method of collecting data. 4.2 Desk and Literature Review Literatures were reviewed on the researches conducted related to the species being studied. Secondary data such as maps were also referred to determine the exact location of the research site as well as the vegetative condition of the area. 4.3 Community Consultation A field visit was conducted in May 12-15, 2013 in the CFs of Ou Saom and Tbeng Lech. The meetings were conducted with the CF members (Figure 1). In the meeting, the communities were informed about the study that will be conducted in their CF. In that meeting, the CF members identified the species that will be cut and the commercially important species that will be retained. In the consultative meeting, the communities were also consulted on the most important and preferred species to be propagated and piloted for planting in the community forest. In Ou Saom, the CF community identified the following less important species to be removed or cut: Phlong, Krie, Smat, Kosh, Sma Krabei, Pou Plea, Cheu Pleung, Ongkot Khmao, Seimoan, Kreang, Poeu. The desirable trees that the community would like to retain in their CF are: Pdeak, Poupeil, Trap Thom, Kreu, Kohkoh, Chromash, Kreu, Trameing, Tbeng, Sra (Pinus merkusii), Trach, Kokei (Hopea odorata), Cheutiel (Dipterocarpus alatus), Kreuneung (Dalbergia cochinchinensis) and Ta Trou. When asked on one species that are most important yet too difficult to propagate, the community decided to propagate and plant Pine species (Pinus merkusii) including rattans (Daemonorops jenkinsiana). The pine is used for boards but the community is most interested for the production of resin that has a good

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market in the area. Rattans are potential product that can be raised in the area. They already started raising the rattan species “lopeak”, a native species that has pencil-sized canes and growing profusely in the area especially in the degraded parts of the CF. In Tbeng Lech, the communities identified the following trees to be cut: Chr’mas, Pngea, Kroung, Prieng, Kraek, Seymoan, Angkat Khmao, L’ngeang, Kreang, Thlork, Thromoung, Thromoung Saek, Thromeing, Trouyeaung and Troseik. The species that will be marked to be retained are: Pdeak, Beng, Jieng, Kohkoh, Trak, Thnong, Kroeneung (Dalbergia cochinchinensis), Thres, Kokei, Krolang, Seymoan, Kuoy, Thnong and Neang Nuon. In this CF, the communities identified Dalbergia cochinchinensis to be propagated and piloted for planting. They also identified rattan as important NTFP to be developed in their CF.

Figure 1. Consultation with the village members in Ou Saom CF in Kampong Thom and in Tbeng Lech CF in Siem Reap.

4.4 Field Works: Site Identication and Selected Sites for the Study A visit to the CF site was conducted after consultation with the communities. The boundary of the study sites were established using the GPS. Adjustments were made on the exact size of the study plot in the GIS map. The identification of the research site was based on the forest condition, terrain and accessibility. 4.5 Writing the Research Proposal The research proposal was drafted, detailing the research problems to investigate, the objectives/research questions and the methodology (please see the proposed research proposal and Section 5.0 for the summary of the research proposal). 4.6 Preparation of the Presentation and Guide A guide in conducting the research and in analyzing the data is also developed to be used by the Research Staff who will implement the research (please see the submitted guide). The guide is part of the capability building commitment of the Consultant as provided in the TOR. The guide will be used in the briefing and

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orientation of the research staff about the research proposal. A power point presentation is also developed and is ready to be presented to the Research Staff. 4.7 Presentation to the Research Staff the Research Proposal The presentation still has to be scheduled based on the availability of the Research Staff. 4.8 Capability Building At present teh Research Staff are highly skilled and experienced in terms of conducting researches and the use of sophisticated instruments (Figure 2). The institution has also some equipments and facilities that can support the conduct of research. Among the important facility is the nursery established in teh two CFs, where important species are being growth and that will produce teh identified species – Pinus merkusii and Daemonorops jenkinsiana (Figure 3). The capability building that will be provided in this consultancy will focus on teh data gathering of data (i.e. measuring and recording the needed variables in teh prescribed form, the layout of the K-Tree plots, the encoding of the data in the prescribed worksheets, and the statistical analysis using MS Excel and NCSS-PASS softwares.

Figure 2. Skills of the FA staff in conducting research

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Figure 3. Rattan and Dalbergia seedlings raised in the nursery 4.10 Completing the Report The report will be completed as soon as the research proposal will be presented to the Research Staff. 5.0 Brief Description of the the Study Proposal 5.1 Description of the Site Ou Saom CF is located in Kampong Thom province. The forest cover is composed of semi-evergreen and deciduous forests. The area is flat with sandy to sandy clay soils. The area is composed of relatively young and dense semi-evergreen and deciduous forests that has recently reestablished from disturbances (Figure 4).

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Figure 4. Vegetative condition of the research site

5.2 Problem of the Study The research will trial plant Pinus merkusii (in Ou Saom CF), Dalbergia cochinchinensis (in Tbeng Lech CF) and Daemonorops jenkinsiana (in the two CF sites). P. merkusii naturally grows and abundant in Ou Saom CF but has significantly diminished due to cutting and tapping. It was also observed that the remaining stands of Pines were attacked by termites. The resins are tapped by the HHs for sale. The decision to trial the three species was based on the consultation made with the communities. 5.3 Research Approach A Community Participatory Action Research (CPAR) will be used in testing the growth performance of the selected species. The use ethnoecological research to understand the ecological requirements of selected species and a quasi-experiment to test or compare the performance of the selected species on the different restoration conditions will be the predominant approach in implementing the study. CPAR is an effective approach in working with the communities who will be the ultimate beneficiary of the project and trained on how to conduct researches. CPAR will be implemented using the following steps: Consultation with the community on the condition of the important species, the

current condition of the site and the economic importance of the plants to be restored.

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Formulation of the research questions with the community Making an initial hypothesis (making initial assumptions on the effective

method/approach of restoring the site) Planning for action (agreeing on preliminary restoration techniques) Implement the study Observation thru participatory data gathering Analysis and reflection of the results of the research and whether the restoration

technique is successful, generating possible answers, and analysis) Make an improvement of the restoration technique and make the necessary

observation with the community. Generating conclusion to the research hypothesis and answer to the research

questions 5.4 Research Indicators The variables will include the density (no. of trees per sq.m. and basal area in sq.cm./per sq.m. of land). The study will also collect the overstory species where the seedlings are planted. The study will analyze the influence of the site factors, stocking or density and the effect of the overstory plants on the survival and growth of the three seedlings. 5.5 Plant Layout and Out planting

The study will be conducted in Tbeng Lech CF in Siem Reap and in Ou Saom CF in Kampong Thom, each measuring approximately 2 hectares. The research plots in each site will be subdivided into 2 subplots, of 1 hectare each. The other plot will be planted to Rattan and the other half will be planted to Dalbergia cochinchinensis (in Tbeng Lech CF) and for Pinus merkusii (in Ou Saom CF) (Figures 5 and 6). The seedlings will be planted in the field using a spacing of 10 x 10.

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Figure 5. Layout of the Rattan and Dalbergia Plantings in Tbeng Lech CF

Figure 6. Layout of the Rattan and Pinus merkusii Plantings in Ou Saom CF

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6.0 Recommendations 1. Briefing of the research methodology, how to fill up the forms and how to conduct the statistical analysis. The office should secure the NCSS-PASS software that will be needed in the training exercise. 2. Partially start the research by planting of Dalbergia in Tbeng Lech. It was observed that Dalbergia seedlings are already raised in Tbeng Lech. The project can start planting this species in the designated plots. Following the CPAR framework, the research staff will brief the community on the participatory approach of conducting the research. 3. The project will use wildlings of Daemonorops jenkinsiana and Pinus merkusii as planting materials. The project has no seeds of these species and has no experience in germinating the seeds of P. merkusii. The collected wildlings will be raised in the nursery and will be out planted by the next year’s rainy season. . 7.0 Attachments 1. Research proposal 2. Guide 3. Power point presentation