About Us
Mother Nature Cambodia (MNC) is a youth-led, award-winning movement of environmental and civic activists founded in 2012. We defend Cambodia’s rivers, forests, coastlines and communities through public education, investigations, creative campaigns and peaceful civic action.
Over the past decade, Cambodia’s environment has faced unprecedented pressure from large-scale developments and extractive industries. Despite state-sponsored repression—including surveillance, judicial harassment and the imprisonment of several of our colleagues—we continue to work lawfully, peacefully and effectively, mobilizing young Cambodians to protect their shared natural heritage.
Our work has reached millions of people through social media campaigns that regularly go viral, sparking public debate, inspiring action and achieving tangible results. Through this innovative approach, we have exposed environmental destruction, pressured authorities to act, and achieved major campaign wins that have protected forests, rivers and coastal ecosystems.
Unlike many organizations, we rely not on government or corporate funding, but on small donations from individuals around the world who love nature, along with modest grants from independent foundations. This grassroots support keeps us independent and true to our mission.
MNC’s courageous work has been recognized nationally and internationally, earning prestigious distinctions such as the Front Line Defenders Award (2021) and the Right Livelihood Award (2023).
Today, our growing network continues to mentor and empower Cambodia’s youth—especially women—to lead non-violent environmental defense. Despite intimidation and repression, we strive on, guided by hope, solidarity and the conviction that protecting Cambodia’s environment is inseparable from protecting its people’s future.
Our impact so far
- Successful campaigns that helped stop or reshape destructive projects and strengthened community rights.
- Massive online reach: videos and posts viewed by millions of Cambodians, making environmental protection a mainstream public issue.
- Youth empowerment: training and mentoring dozens of young activists in investigation, communication and leadership.
- Global recognition: winners of multiple international human-rights and environmental awards for impact and courage.
- Resilience under repression: continuing lawful work and supporting imprisoned colleagues and their families.
Our mission
- Raise awareness, mentor, and empower young people – especially women – across Cambodia to value, protect, and restore the country’s natural environment. We believe youth leadership is key to building a just, sustainable future.
- Promote peaceful, lawful, and creative civic action for the protection of Cambodia’s forests, rivers, coastlines, and communities. We help young activists build the confidence, knowledge, and teamwork skills needed to create real change.
- Use the power of social media to reach millions of Cambodians with accurate information, creative storytelling, and viral campaigns that inspire pride, awareness, and action in defense of nature.
- Monitor, document, and publicly expose activities—by companies or government bodies—that cause environmental harm or threaten the rights of local communities, always relying on verified information and non-violent means.
- Provide training, advice, and small-scale financial support to emerging environmental and human rights activists in Cambodia. Our focus is on activists under the age of 30 who demonstrate courage, creativity, and commitment to positive change.
- Support community struggles—from farmers and fishers to Indigenous groups—working to defend their land, water, and livelihoods. We stand in solidarity with them as they seek to protect both nature and cultural identity.
- Remain independent and people-powered, relying not on government or corporate funding, but on small donations from individuals around the world who share our love for Cambodia’s environment, along with modest grants from independent foundations.
Contact Us
mothernaturecambodia@gmail.com
