Wednesday, July 17, 2024 Cardamom Tented Camp introduces a new brew supporting forest conservation efforts in Cambodia, highlighting sustainable tourism’s impact on wildlife protection. Cardamom Tented Camp ecolodge in Cambodia has introduced a unique conservation beer, proudly carrying the tagline, “Your Beer Keeps the Forest Standing”. The revenue generated from the Cardamom Mountains Steam beer, now on offer at the ecolodge, supports the crucial conservation efforts of 16 forest rangers dedicated to safeguarding 18,000 hectares (180 km2) of lowland evergreen forest within Botum Sakor National Park, Cambodia’s largest national park.
Since its inception in 2017, this nine-unit, award-winning camp has championed the motto, “Your Stay Keeps the Forest Standing”. “Now it’s the turn of beer drinkers to take one for the team and do their bit for conservation,” says camp manager, Allan Michaud. Mr.
Michaud selected the hybrid Steam beer after tasting sessions with Mr. Yuki Aotani, the founder of Flowers Microbrewery in Phnom Penh. This slightly hoppy beer, already popular with camp guests, has an alcohol content of 5.
2% and is sold in 330ml bottles for US$4.50 at the lodge’s cozy riverside restaurant. For Michaud, supporting local businesses is a key priority.
“With local Khmer dishes also on our menu, we make it easy for our guests to enjoy food and drink that reflect the best of Cambodia. Almost everything we do at the camp helps conservation of the forest and supports local suppliers,” he says. Cardamom Tented Camp also offers locally made Ibis beer, with profits directed towards the protection of the rare Ibis bird in Cambodia.
Additionally, they feature craft beers from Stonehead Brewery, another Phnom Penh-based brewery. The Steam beers sold at the camp come in recycled 330ml bottles provided by the camp to the brewery. A portion of the monthly income from beer sales and guest stays supports forest rangers in combating illegal poaching, land grabs, and riverbank sand dredging.
This summer, the camp expanded its team by adding two new Wildlife Alliance forest rangers, bringing the total number of rangers on patrol to 16. Due to these conservation efforts, illegal hunting has decreased by approximately 90% over the past seven years, leading to increased sightings of rare wildlife such as Asian elephants, silver langurs, smooth-coated otters, and leopard cats in the lowland forest surrounding Cardamom Tented Camp..
