China State Forestry and Grassland Administration provides USD 5.5 million to build high value tree breeding center in Cambodia

On January 11, 2018, China State Forestry and Grassland Administration (SFA) and the Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries agreed to establish a breeding center for high value tree species in Cambodia.

SFA will provide 5.5 million USD for: (1) the construction of a diagnostic laboratory and a greenhouse nursery in the compound of the Institute of Forest and Wildlife Research and Development of the Forestry Administration (FA) of Cambodia; (2) equipment for the laboratory and the greenhouse nursery; (3) training of local staff both in Cambodia and China; (4) survey and collection of high value tree species provenance in Cambodia; (5) breeding of high value tree species by means of tissue culture; (6) pilot planting of tissue-cultured seedlings; (7) provision of experts from Forestry Academy of Yunnan Province of China.

The total project cost is USD 6.6 million.

The Asia-Pacific Network for Sustainable Forest Management and Rehabilitation (APFNet) is implementing the project along with the Institute of Forest and Wildlife Research and Development (IRD). The contract has a period of ten years, and can be terminated by either party with six months notice.

APFNet also reported the project would establish a 100-hectare forest genetic resource conservation garden of valuable trees at the IRD research station in Siem Reap (Chan Sor restoration site) and develop a 20-hectare eco-forest farm at the IRD research station in Siem Reap. It is unclear if any of SFA's funding went towards these portions of the project.

Construction was approved and began in 2021. The tree breeding center and greenhouse was inaugurated in July 2024.