The sugar palm tree or "Derm Thnot," Borassus Flabellifer, is a major feature of South-East Asia, particular in Cambodia landscapes. Due to many sugar palm trees have been cut down, Derm Thnot is endangered. 

Nowadays, there are about two and a half millions sugar palm trees. These palm trees should be preserved in order to avoid isolated landscapes and erosion. As the reputation of the sugar palm tree's wood considered stiff and rotproof, has led to a massive export over the past few years. The danger comes form the fact that Derm Thnot grows relatively slow compared to other species and traditionally beneficial to the farmers. Thus, farmers usually sow its fruit at regular intervals along the roads, around houses, and villages. 

The program of Confirel aims at preserving an arboricultural resource by giving opportunity to the farmer to have a decent life in their village without cutting down the sugar palm trees to sell. In fact, Confirel uses only renewable parts of the sugar palm tree, as well as the sap to produce vinegar, sugar, and palm wine. The fruits, leaves and sap of the sugar palm tree can be harvested and used for more than fifty years.

By emphasizing the value of the sap, from which sugar is extracted, Confirel contributes to preserve adult trees from wild cut.