Cambodia carbon credit project reinstated after rights abuse review

A carbon credit scheme in Cambodia, specifically the Southern Cardamom REDD+ project, was reinstated after being suspended for over a year due to allegations of human rights abuses. The project, which spans over 450,000 hectares, faced scrutiny following a Human Rights Watch report that detailed forced evictions and harassment of local residents by rangers and officials from the overseeing Wildlife Alliance group. These actions included the destruction of crops and homes, raising concerns about the project's impact on local communities. In response to the allegations, Verra, the leading certifier of carbon credits, stated that the Wildlife Alliance had implemented sufficient measures to address the issues raised. These measures included enhancing human rights policies, improving consultation processes with locals, and revising the complaints mechanism. However, critics, including HRW's lead author, argued that Verra's review lacked depth, as it did not involve interviews with victims and merely echoed the Wildlife Alliance's claims of compliance. The project is situated in the Cardamom Mountains, a vital rainforest habitat that is home to numerous threatened species and is earmarked for the reintroduction of tigers. Despite the reinstatement, local community representatives expressed ongoing concerns about the carbon scheme, citing fears of restricted access to their traditional lands and continued detentions for farming activities. The situation highlights the broader challenges faced by carbon credit projects in Cambodia, where deforestation rates are among the highest globally. While these projects aim to compensate local communities for forest protection, they often lead to conflicts over land rights and access, raising questions about their effectiveness and ethical implications.