UNESCO x Guerlain Women for Bees Programme: Awareness Raising Training on the Importance of Native Bees at Phnom Kulen National Park

On Tuesday, 30^th July 2024, UNESCO supported the first awareness raising training on the importance of native bees and their roles in pollination, organized by NTFP-EP Cambodia at Phnom Kulen National Park. This significant training brought together 19 trainees, including selected villagers from five Community Protected Areas (CPAs) - Along Thom, Kla Khmum, Sang Ke Lak, Ta Penh, and Popel of the Phnom Kulen National Park, park rangers, and four former women beekeepers trained in the first phase.

The primary objective of the training was to raise awareness among local communities about the crucial role of native bees in pollination and the ecosystem, as well as their conservation. The training included a variety of activities designed to educate and engage participants. Each participant was provided with a booklet covering all the training contents. The full-day training also included a sharing session by four former women beekeepers from the first phase, who played significant roles as resource persons, sharing their experience, knowledge, good practices, and the challenges they faced in beekeeping. During the training, participants were actively engaged, illustrating their strong interest in the programme. Pre-test and post-test were also conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the training. As a result, participants achieved higher scores in the post-test after completing the training.

The training emphasized the importance of community involvement in conservation efforts. By including villagers from various CPAs and former participants from the first phase, the training aimed to foster a sense of collective responsibility and encourage sustainable practices that support native bee populations.

The awareness raising training at Phnom Kulen National Park was a significant step towards fostering a deeper understanding of the importance of native bees. Through education and involving the community, the training aimed to inspire collective action to protect these essential pollinators and strengthen the protection of the ecosystems.

The UNESCO x Guerlain Women for Bees Programme started its first scientific pilot through conducting assessments, providing beekeeping trainings and awareness raising activities at the Angkor Archaeological Park since 2021. The programme aims to promote sustainable beekeeping through training and capacity development, with a specific focus on women's empowerment. Currently in its second phase, UNESCO is working closely with the Ministry of Environment, international expert, and local NGOs on advancing scientific beekeeping practices with stingless bee. The programme also focuses on promoting awareness of the importance of native bees conservation among selected trainees, particularly honey hunters and women from the five CPAs of Phnom Kulen National Park. To enhance efficiency and increase participation from female participants, the next training will be organized at CPAs, providing opportunity not only for women but also for village heads, commune chiefs, and councilors.