On August 17-18, 2017, Ponlok Khmer conducted the first meeting with Buddhist monks on Forest and Natural Resource conservation. There were 16 monks and 8 lay persons from Ordor Meanchey, Oaral, Kg. Thom and some monk activists from Phnom Penh. The general aim of the first meeting was to share experiences of forest, biodiversity and natural resource conservation and also to discuss on how the Buddhist monks can work together.
The results of the meeting are:
1- The monk participants learned from each other on the experiences of forest and natural resource conservation. 2- The monk participants discussed and agreed on establishment of Sangha community network called “Monk Community for Environment” and discussed their initiatives of concrete strategies for conservation through Buddhist practice.
3- A specific capacity building plan prepared for strengthening the Sangha Sangha network prepared.
During this meeting, we founded that Cambodian Buddhist monks play critical roles in conservation through concept of Buddhism. Socially engagement of monks is the most value in Cambodian society in the past time. But in current society, a few people recognize social work of Buddhist Monks in conservation.
This project will assist the Buddhist Sangha community to promote their social works and conservation in Cambodian society widely.
