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 Walking to forest, monks, villagers, and school children participated the celebration of “The Tree Ordination Ceremony” at Anlong Thom community, which it is a part of Bokor National Park. The Association of Buddhists for the Environment (ABE) has started Environmental Education through Pagodas Project around Bokor area
since the beginning of January 2006, funded by USAID through International Organisation WildAid. This project was done by working with Buddhist monks around Bokor National Park, which aimed to raise environmental awareness to local community, and tree ordination is one of raising awareness.
Ordination ceremony is usually performed for men as a ritual signifying their entrance into monkshood. However, in recent years the ceremony has been adapted to sanctify trees. The main purpose of the Tree Ordination Ceremony is to inspire local people to involve in protecting the natural environment surrounding their communities, and also to introduce the role of Buddhism in managing the natural resources.  This ceremony was celebrated on 15th December 2006; and there were villagers from around the pagodas, monks in 5 pagodas (ABE target pagodas), and schoolchildren. Moreover, the event was chaired by the Executive Director of the Association of Buddhists for the Environment (ABE) and Deputy Director of Bokor National Park, who fully supported monks’ activities in working with environment. There are about 150 people to participate in this event. Mr. Ket Sovan, a chief of Anglong Thom community, has presented about the background and some difficulties before establishing community. Anlong Thom community was granted by Ministry of Environment, which measured 2006 hectares and it will soon be starting ecotourism as they hope to receive large number of visitors. This is an example of how community forest is being used by its local people.
 In order to give more clarification to all participants, Venerable Hiek Sopheap, executive director of ABE has presented about the objective of Tree ordination as many people still wondered why we need to ordain the trees. Regarding to Buddha teaching, he introduced the roles of Buddhism in environment, and inter-relationships with natural resources.Regarding to Buddha teaching, he introduced the roles of Buddhism in environment, and inter-relationships with natural resources.The life of the Buddha shows us this. The Buddha was born in the forest, the Buddha reached enlightenment in the forest, Buddha reached nirvana in the forest and the Buddha taught the people in the forest. Even though it is new concept for the tree ordination, but it was showed the carefulness from Buddhism in protecting natural resources. “Ordained trees has been adapted to sanctify trees, and these trees will become like monks. Therefore, if someone destroy ordained trees, it means that they destroy Buddhism, don’t respect monks. In contrast, if someone respect and protect the ordained trees, it means they make the shelter for animals and they will truly make good merit”, said Venerable Hiek Sopheap. Mr. Yin Mony, deputy director of Bokor National Park, was strange to hear about tree ordination, because it was the time but he was very happy to participated this event. He also strongly supported and recognized the role of monks in conserving natural. Tree Ordination Ceremony is the practical way to show smooth process of monks and community to protect and manage environment and natural resources in their community..
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