A New Bunong House at Jahoo: Tradition, Community, and Conservation

A newly completed Bunong house now stands at Jahoo in Andong Kraloeng Village, within Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary in Mondulkiri Province. Built using traditional construction techniques and timber donated from confiscated illegal logging, the house reflects a collaborative effort between community elders, conservation partners, and local authorities.

Over the course of about a month, elders from Andong Kraloeng Village led the construction, carefully following traditional Bunong building practices while younger community members assisted and observed. The process became more than just building a structure. It was also an opportunity to share knowledge, reinforce cultural traditions, and connect community livelihoods with conservation efforts in the surrounding forest landscape.



A House Built by Bunong People

The house was built by Indigenous Bunong elders from Andong Kraloeng Village, who guided every step of the process. Over the course of about a month, they worked together preparing bamboo and grass roofing materials and assembling the structure using traditional Bunong building methods.

Historically, Bunong communities were semi-nomadic, moving their settlements every three to five years as farming areas shifted. Families typically lived together in communal houses built from natural materials such as bamboo, timber, and grass thatch, with several families sharing one structure.

Today, very few of these traditional houses remain. Across many Bunong villages, they have gradually been replaced by modern houses built from brick, mortar, and milled wood. As a result, opportunities to construct and learn traditional Bunong architecture have become increasingly rare.

For the elders involved, building this house was not only about creating a space at Jahoo, but also about keeping knowledge of traditional Bunong construction alive.

Lok Ta Di, one of the elders involved in the construction, described how knowledge is shared through everyday work.

“By our traditions, we farm, build houses, and carry out our customary practices. As elders, we bring the younger generation with us to observe and learn while we work. We teach them through hands-on experience.”
— Lok Ta Di, Bunong Elder

While elders led the construction, younger community members helped by clearing the site and carrying the heavy timber.

“My main role is collecting timber. As elders, we take responsibility for most of the construction work, while the younger members assist by clearing debris and helping to carry heavy timber.”
— Lok Ta Di, Bunong Elder

The house follows traditional Bunong architectural methods, using timber and bamboo for the structure and natural grass materials for the roof.

Keeping Traditional Knowledge Alive

For the Indigenous Community Committee (ICC), preserving traditional skills is an important part of community resilience.

ICC member Ngoych explained that younger generations must remain connected to these practices.

“We teach the younger generation about our traditional practices and actively encourage them to participate. We remind them not to look down on traditional tools compared to modern tools from other cultures, but to value and preserve them.”
— Ngoych, ICC Member

During construction, elders deliberately used traditional tools and methods so that younger villagers could see and learn the process.

“We use the same traditional tools that were used in the past and carefully follow the original construction techniques to ensure authenticity.”
— Ngoych, ICC Member

Projects like this provide rare opportunities for practical learning, where cultural knowledge is shared through action rather than instruction.

Turning Confiscated Timber into Community Infrastructure

The construction of the house was made possible through support from World Hope International - Cambodia

Timber for the structure was donated by the Provincial Department of Environment. Much of it came from wood confiscated during enforcement actions against illegal logging.

Rather than allowing this timber to sit unused, it was repurposed into a structure that benefits the community.

This approach transforms materials originally linked to forest destruction into infrastructure that supports conservation and sustainable livelihoods.

Culture, Conservation, and Tourism

The house now forms part of the experiences hosted by Jahoo in Andong Kraloeng Village.

Visitors who travel to Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary often come to experience wildlife and forest landscapes. Through Jahoo, they also gain insight into Bunong culture, architecture, and the relationship between Indigenous communities and the forest.

Community-based tourism provides additional income opportunities for local residents while encouraging long-term protection of the surrounding forest.

In landscapes like Keo Seima, conservation and community wellbeing are closely linked. When local livelihoods benefit from protecting the forest, both people and wildlife have a stronger future.

Looking Ahead

The Bunong house at Jahoo stands as a small but meaningful example of collaboration between community elders, conservation partners, and government authorities.

Built over the course of a month by four elders, the structure carries more than timber, bamboo and thatch. It carries knowledge, stories, and traditions that continue to shape life in Andong Kraloeng Village.

In Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary, where forests and culture are deeply intertwined, preserving these traditions is just as important as protecting the landscape itself.