Rooting Forest Restoration in Science: Australia Awards Alumnus Dr So Thea Contributes to Cambodia's Biodiversity

PHNOM PENH – May 22, 2026 – On the International Day for Biological Diversity 2026, Australia Awards Cambodia celebrates the important contribution of Dr So Thea, an alumnus whose work has helped advance forest restoration and biodiversity conservation in the Kingdom.

Dr So Thea, former Deputy Director of the Institute of Forest and Wildlife Research and Development at the Forestry Administration under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, completed his PhD in Biological Science at Murdoch University in 2010. Through his leadership and technical expertise, he has played a key role in promoting the restoration of degraded forests, conserving priority tree species, and supporting the sustainable use of forest resources.

During his career, Dr So Thea developed project proposals to secure funding from development partners and helped implement forest restoration projects across hundreds of hectares of community forests nationwide. He also trained hundreds of community members in forest restoration techniques, with a strong focus on using quality seeds and improved methods to increase survival rates and tree growth.

To promote best practices, he designed and supervised demonstration plots showcasing different restoration approaches, including direct seeding, high-density planting, and thinning. He also helped establish more than a dozen seed sources in natural forests to conserve important tree species, including socio-economically valuable species, high-value timber species, and vulnerable or endangered species.

His work has contributed to both in-situ conservation — supporting seed production and species preservation in natural forests — and ex-situ conservation through the development of seed production areas for key species such as Dalbergia cochinchinensis, Albizia lebbeck, Fagraea fragrans, Acacia auriculiformis, and Acacia mangium.
Reflecting on his Australia Awards experience, Dr So Thea shared: "The knowledge and skills I gained in Australia strengthened my ability to restore degraded forest land using scientific techniques, including the use of nitrogen-fixing bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi to improve tree survival and growth. After returning to Cambodia, I was able to secure support from development partners and scale up these restoration efforts until my retirement in 2024."

Dr So Thea's journey is a tangible example of how Australian education can equip leaders with the knowledge and skills to deliver lasting environmental impact at home. His work has supported Cambodia's biodiversity, forest resilience, and sustainable development.

Source: Australia Awards Cambodia, May 22, 2026.
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Reported by The Khmer Daily Desk