Your Beer Keeps the Forest Standing
Cardamom Tented Camp ecolodge in Cambodia has launched its own conservation beer with the tagline, “Your Beer Keeps the Forest Standing”.
Profits from the Cardamom Mountains Steam beer, now available at the ecolodge, help fund the conservation work of 16 forest rangers who protect 18,000 hectares (180km2) of surrounding lowland evergreen forest in the Botum Sakor national park, Cambodia’s largest.
Since opening in 2017, the nine-unit award-winning camp has operated with the slogan “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 chose the hybrid Steam beer after tasting sessions with Mr Yuki Aotani, founder of Flowers microbrewery in Phnom Penh.
The slightly hoppy beer – already a hit with camp guests – is 5.2% strong and sells in 330ml bottles for US$4.50 at the lodge’s small riverside restaurant.
Keeping it local is important for Michaud.
“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 sells locally made Ibis beer – profits from which are used to protect the rare Ibis bird in Cambodia – and craft beers made by the Stonehead brewery, also in Phnom Penh.
Recycled bottles
The Steam beers sold at the camp are in previously used 330ml bottles given to the brewery by the camp.
Each month a percentage of income from beer sales and guest stays help forest rangers reduce illegal poaching, land grabs and riverbank sand dredging. This summer the camp added two new Wildlife Alliance forest rangers bringing the total to 16 now on patrol.
With illegal hunting down by a factor of about 90% over the last seven years or so, sightings of rare wildlife such as Asian elephants, silver langurs, smooth-coated otters and leopard cats have increased in the lowland forest around Cardamom Tented Camp.
Further details about Cardamom Tented Camp activities, package options, booking availability and the lodge’s sustainability work are available at cardamomtentedcamp.com.
About Cardamom Tented Camp
Cardamom Tented Camp is an ecolodge located in the foothills of the Cardamom Mountains in Cambodia. Since opening in late 2017, it has operated with the slogan, “Your Stay Keeps the Forest Standing.” The nine-unit tented camp, with restaurant pavilion, staff dormitory, ecotourism equipment and boat pier, uses solar power to run lodge amenities. The camp has its own waste water filtration process. There is no road access. The camp is accessible only by river boat – or forest hike.
The lodge aims to minimise the human footprint on the natural world and serve as a role model in promoting sustainable ecotourism practices within both the national park and Cambodia as a whole. Located on an 18,000-hectare (180 sq km) concession, the lodge and its surroundings are home to pristine lowland and coastal habitats linking wildlife corridors to the Cardamom Mountains. Eco-friendly trekking and kayaking packages are available for adventure enthusiasts who are keen to be a part of real conservation work.
Cardamom Tented Camp is a three-way initiative between Minor Group, YAANA Ventures and Wildlife Alliance to ensure the land and its biodiversity does not fall into the hands of loggers, poachers and sand dredging operations.
Awards and Accolades for Cardamom Tented Camp
June 2023 – Travel + Leisure Awards for Asia Pacific (Listing)
Oct 2022 – HICAP Sustainable Award for Climate Action (Winner)
Oct 2021 – Green Destinations Top 100 Destination Stories in the World (Listing)
Aug 2019 – UK National Geographic Traveller ‘Earth Collection’ (Listing)
July 2019 – PATA Gold Award for Ecotourism (Winner)
April 2019 – WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow Changemaker (Finalist)
About Cardamom Tented Camp operator YAANA Ventures
YAANA Ventures is an owner, partner and operator of entrepreneurial travel and hospitality ventures in Asia. YAANA Ventures distinguishes itself by sharing real experiences that are grounded in the cultural richness of Asia. The company is the champion of the triple bottom-line. It empowers its ventures with the values to nurture the people with whom it works. Visit https://yaana-ventures.com/
