The Verdant Botany

12/08/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐲 × 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 🪷

At Verdant Botany, where we specialise in education, consultation, and design across ecological studies, coastal ecology, urban biodiversity, and sustainable landscape architecture, youth are central to our mission. We firmly believe that the expertise, innovation, and passion of the rising generation shape a better future for all.

Happy International Youth Day to youth, future youth, and former youth around the world!

09/08/2026

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲𝘀, 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵: 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗯𝗦 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗪𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱.🌿🌊🏙

From fundamental principles to large-scale implementation, our Nature-based Solutions (NbS) series explored how working with natural systems protects our environment, strengthens our economy, and safeguards our communities.

Here is the big picture:
- The Foundation: Moving beyond "just planting trees" to strategic, standard-driven land and water management (IUCN).
- The Triple Benefit: Proving that ecological infrastructure saves costs, creates green jobs, and protects both people and planet.
- The Connected Landscape: Master planning from mountains down to cities and coastlines, because nature operates without borders.
- The Action: Empowering young leaders and professionals to translate complex science into real-world impact.

This initiative and content series was led by Chansovichea Duch, driving our mission toward ecological design and youth-led climate advocacy! 👏✨

Ready to design with nature? Revisit the full series on our feed and join the movement toward resilient, living infrastructure!

07/08/2026

We’re excited for the initiation of this platform. 🩷💚

04/08/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐔𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 | 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐤 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝐉𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐣𝐮, 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐊𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐚

Hanok Village is Jeonju’s old traditional neighborhood, built with wood, stone, and tile roofs shaped like gentle curves. Narrow streets, low walls, a small stream running through it, and hundreds of years of history packed into a space you can walk end to end in twenty minutes. Some parts are super touristy, hanbok (Korean traditional clothes) rentals and photo spots, but people still actually live there too. It’s not just a disneyfication of a city to attract tourists.

📍 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬

𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐬 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥
Rough granite cobblestone marks the vehicle lanes; flat pavers mark the pedestrian ones. The surface itself slows the cars down and drivers unconsciously slow down while passing through. Yellow tactile paving is built in where necessary as well, so accessibility is not neglected for those who need it.

𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞
A small stream runs beside the main walking path, threading cooling through the village like an artery, making it a smart measure to combat the summer. It’s doing thermal work, not just decoration.

𝐋𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝, 𝐑𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐲
The flower beds aren’t a single decorative species repeated everywhere. It’s styled almost like a naturalized border rather than municipal landscaping. That variation suggests seasonal rotation, nature-oriented solutions and actual planting designs.

𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠
The carbon-operated benches act as cooling seats during summer and heating seats during winter. They are grouped in clusters facing each other under shade trees, inviting socialization, not the single-file benches you’d see on a transit platform. That’s a small tell about who the space is designed for and encourages people to stay, talk, explore and experience the street, not just to pass through.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭
Jeonju’s model isn’t “preserve the old, build the new around it.” It’s building the function out of the tradition. For Cambodia to design its cities, we should work out how heritage and modern infrastructure share spaces. That’s the real takeaway. — Puthpanha Ouk

02/08/2026

As part of our sister initiative, empowering communities that advocate for greener cities and urban trees is at the heart of our mission. Together with our technical partners and future collaborators, we are building an inclusive space for open discussion and community-driven action. A big thank you to all the participants, partners, and organizers who made this possible!

31/07/2026

We’re proud to give a fully support for the launching of the Botanical Rendezvous by the Urban Canopy Project! Join us!

𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 "𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐳𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐬": 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐲 𝐃𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐔𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬!

Are you ready to connect with fellow plant enthusiasts and deepen your understanding of the green world around us? We're thrilled to announce the launch of Botanical Rendezvous, Urban Canopy Phnom Penh's very first monthly meetup for people who love plants! 🌱

Every month, we'll dive into a exciting new topic, explore the wonders of botany, and discover how our green friends are making a real difference in our city.

This Month's Focus: 𝐔𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭

We'll kick off our inaugural meetup with a field visit to Wat Phnom on Sunday, August 2nd, 2026 from 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Join us as we explore the power of urban forests and learn how increasing canopy cover can significantly cool down our city and fight climate change. This topic is especially critical as part of the global FXB Climate Advocate initiative, which focuses on using climate mitigation as a primary tool to combat environmental challenges. 🌳💨

Meet Your Host: The wonderful Savatey Ang will be leading this event. She is an organizing member of The Verdant Awards 2026 and the co-project lead of the Verdant Vanguard Fellowships 2026 at The Verdant Botany, so get ready to learn from an expert, including the team from our technical advisors! See our full list of speakers tomorrow!

A Special Invitation (and an Opening for YOU!)

This first meetup is primarily by invitation only, bringing together a dedicated group of climate advocates and plant lovers. However, we're making a few select spots available for the public!

If you're passionate about plants, climate action, and making Phnom Penh a greener, cooler place, we want to hear from you. Send us a message telling us about your motivation for joining the Botanical Rendezvous community. Don't miss this unique opportunity to connect, learn, share and grow with us.

Let's explore the verdant world together and make a positive impact, one plant at a time!

26/07/2026

🌿 𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐚 & 𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐍 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬

On this International Mangrove Day (July 26), The Verdant Botany highlights Southeast Asia’s ultimate coastal engineers: the MANGROVE.

ASEAN holds over 35% of the world’s mangroves (Becker et al., 2025). Across Cambodia’s around 435-km coastline, from Koh Kong and Preah Sihanouk to Kampot and Kep, these intertidal forests bridge artisanal fisheries and growing coastal settlements (Kozhikkodan Veettil & Quang, 2019).

🔬 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐝𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

𝐎𝐱𝐲𝐠𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬
𝘈𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘢 uses upright roots (pneumatophores) with breathing pores (lenticels) to survive oxygen-deprived mud, while 𝘙𝘩𝘪𝘻𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘢 relies on arching prop roots (Nizam et al., 2022).

𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭
Mangroves exclude up to 90% of salt at their roots or secrete excess salt through leaf glands (Nizam et al., 2022).

𝐕𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬
Seeds germinate directly on the parent tree, dropping as ready-to-root floaters that travel with the tide (Nizam et al., 2022).

🐟 🏙️ 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐚 & 𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐍

𝐅𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 & 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲
Submerged roots serve as nurseries for 75%+ of commercial marine species, securing coastal livelihoods across the region (Afonso et al., 2021).

𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬
ASEAN's mangrove soils store massive amounts of carbon, making them a top climate mitigation tool (Becker et al., 2025).

𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞
Dense root networks break wave energy, protecting villages and urban coastlines from severe erosion and storm surges (Kozhikkodan Veettil & Quang, 2019).

Protecting mangrove botany means safeguarding our climate, fisheries, and coastal communities.

(c) Socheat Kouy and Vathanak Soeun

16/07/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐔𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 | 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐤𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐢𝐞𝐦 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐩

Is it a textbook botanical garden? Maybe.
Is it a brilliant blueprint for new urban greenery? Absolutely.

When examining Siem Reap’s Angkor Botanical Garden, it’s easy to see it doesn't fit the rigid, academic mold of traditional Western botanical institutions. Instead, it functions as a vibrant, high-density hybrid eco-park, and that might actually be its greatest strength for developing tropical cities.

📍 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬

𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨-𝐙𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠
Instead of vast, empty lawns, the space uses interactive "micro-destinations" (Medicinal Gardens, Spice Tracks, and wildlife zones). By layering cultural utility with recreation, the design ensures the space is deeply activated by the local community, not just passive tourists.

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
The layout uses dense, layered planting that mimics natural forest succession rather than clinical grids. Utilizing native varieties reduces the long-term irrigation footprint while actively fighting the urban heat island effect.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐜𝐨-𝐋𝐞𝐢𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐭
While it prioritizes public recreation over strict scientific taxonomy, this democratization lowers the barrier to environmental education. It transitions green spaces from exclusive academic archives into vital, accessible ecological infrastructure.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭
We don't need to copy historical European templates to build successful green spaces. The Angkor paradigm shows us how to blend native biodiversity with high-density human activity, creating spaces where climate resilience and community life actively thrive together. - Vathanak Soeun - សឿន វឌ្ឍនៈ

12/07/2026

🌱 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐚'𝐬 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬-𝐎𝐧 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧! 🌿

Our Verdant Vanguard Fellows 2026 recently kicked off July with an immersive, eco-friendly experience at the "Sustainable Plant Care Workshop: Simple Propagation and Potting Foundations," led by the wonderful fellow, Kimleng Soeun.

The session blended theory and practice perfectly. The Fellows started with an insightful presentation. Then, diving into the hands-on fun:

🍃 Learning the fundamental role of plant in design.
✂️ Selecting and cutting resilient everyday houseplants for propagation.
🪴 Mastering conscious potting techniques.

Beyond learning new green skills, this workshop was a fantastic team-building experience that deepened our Fellows' connection to nature and strengthened their collaborative spirit.

💚 A huge thank you to Borapaut Botanicals - បព៌ត បូតានីខល for generously sponsoring the plants, pots, and soil and SD11 for the venue that made this sustainable workshop possible!

10/07/2026

បន្ទាប់ពីការប្រារព្ធរុក្ខទិវាជាតិ នៅថ្ងៃទី ៩ ខែកក្កដាកន្លងទៅនេះ យើងមានក្តីរំភើបក្នុងការណែនាំសមាជិកដំបូងនៃកម្មវិធី Verdant Vanguard Fellowship ឆ្នាំ ២០២៦ របស់យើង។ សូមចូលរួមស្វាគមន៍គាត់ទាំងអស់គ្នា!

Following our celebration of National Arbor Day on July 9th, we are thrilled to introduce the first fellow of the 2026 Verdant Vanguard Fellowship. Please join us in giving her a warm welcome!