Forest Tenure in Cambodia

Conference on Forest Tenure and Regulatory Reforms: Experiences, Lessons and Future Steps in Asia

24-25 September 2010 Beijing, People’s Republic of China

Chea Sam AngDeputy Director GeneralForestry Administration

Cambodia

Protected Areas 3 million haFA Protected Forest 1.5 million haCommunity Forestry 0.4 million haForest at present under concessions 3.2 million haProduction Forest 2.6 million ha

Present Forest Function and Expected Forest Re-classification

3

1.5

0.4

3.2

2.6

3 3

2

2.6

0.3

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

PA PF CF FC PDF

Now Future

Present functions of Cambodian forestsProtected

Areas 3 million ha

FA Protected Forest 1.5 million ha

Community Forestry 0.4 million ha

Forest at present under concessions 3.2 million ha

Production Forest 2.6 million ha

Expected re-classification of Cambodian forests

Protected Areas 3 million ha

FA Protected Forest 3 million ha

Community Forestry 2 million ha

Forest at present under concessions 0.3 million ha

Production Forest 2.6 million ha

National Forestry Program 2010-2029

• Demarcation , classification and Registration of Permanent Forest Estate

• Conservation and Forest Resource Development and Biodiversity

• Law Enforcement and Governance• Development of Community Forestry • Capacity and Research Development• Sustainable Forest Financing

Regulatory Framework for Forest Tenure to Local Communities in Cambodia

Forestry Law (2002) Community Forestry Sub-Decree (2003) Prakas Community Forestry Regulation

(2006) National Community Forestry Program

(2006) Protected Area Law (2008) Sub-Decree on Registration of Land of

Indigenous Communities (2009) Community Forestry Program under

National Forestry Program (2010)

Coordination Mechanism and Multi-Stakeholder Involvement

Technical Working Group on Forestry and Environment (TWG F&E)

National Community Forestry Program Coordination Committee (NCFPCC)

National Forestry Program Task Force

National Community Protected Area Network

Forest Tenure Arrangement for Local Communities

Community Forest Agreement (CFA)

Use and management rights granted to communities

15-year agreement (renewable) signed between Forestry Administration (FA) Cantonment and Community Forestry Management Committee (CFMC)

Community Protected Area Agreement (CPAA)- similar as CFA

Collective Title for Indigenous Community

Status of Forest Tenure to Local Communities in Cambodia

430 CFs established covering 380,976 ha, 212 CF Agreements signed

91 CPAs established covering 115,616 ha

4 CPA Agreements signed Collective land titles for

indigenous communities

Lessons and Experiences in Forest Tenure Reform

Forest tenure reform started in early 2000 Slow, gradual and complicated process Involves multiple agencies and stakeholders Covers political, socio-economic, cultural and

institutional dimensions Tenure rights need strong complementary

technical, institutional, and livelihood support Involves conflicting interests and land use

overlaps

Challenges in Forest Tenure Reform

Institutional – Multiple ministries involved Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)-

Permanent Forest Estate by Forestry Administration and Mangrove/Inundated Forest by Fisheries Administration

Ministry of Environment (MOE) for Protected AreasMinistry of Land Management, Urban Planning and

ConstructionMinistry of InteriorMinistry of Rural DevelopmentMinistry of FinanceMinistry of Industry, Mining and Energy

Challenges in Forest Tenure Reform Technical support Community forest management planning and

implementation CF livelihood development Organizational support Strengthening capacities of local FA, district/commune and

NGO staff Building capacities of CF members Benefit sharing Conflict management ( overlapping land uses, etc) Emerging Trend REDD (using community forestry as platform)

What Cambodia can learn from other countries in Asia

• Forest agency reforms/Re-orientation• Community forestry enterprise development

models• Other alternative forest tenure arrangements• Market regulation and liberalization• Sustainable funding mechanisms• Coordinated poverty and social inclusion focus