University of JoensuuFaculty of Forest Science

Forest Conflict in Cambodia

Case: Forest conflict between local communities and forest industriesin Cambodia

Donal Yeang

Discussion Paper

Joensuu 2009Finland

Abstract

In Cambodia, the majority of the population lives in rural areas, earning theirlivelihood based on forest resources for timber and non-timber forest products.Because the nation’s forests provide great benefit to many people, the forest conflictsare unavoidable in the society. The conflict between forest industries and localcommunities in Tum Ring commune, Kampong Thom province was taken as theexample because it was noticeable forest conflict in Cambodia.After the Royal Government of Cambodia allowed the domestic and internationalcompanies to manage and harvest the forest under forest concession permits, localcommunities in the Tum Ring commune suffered as a result of forest harvestingoperations due to restricted access of forest resources. As a result, there were someconflicts between the local communities and forest concessionaires. Global witness,an international ENGO based in the United Kingdom, started its campaign againstforest industries and the government to draw the attention of national andinternational organizations. The forest conflicts seem not to end yet even thegovernment decided to suspend and cancel some the forest concession permits inresponse to the issues. After forest concession activities were stopped, EconomicLand Concession Projects were introduced by the government and conflicts betweenlocal people and rubber plantation companies occurred again. Under the interventionfrom international institutions and the government, the conflict has been solved byoffering compensation and other alternative solutions to the local communities. Forestconflict in Cambodia can be seen as the lesson learned of government regarding toforest concession and economic land concession scheme. To avoid forest conflicts,environmental and social economic impact assessments at local level need to be donebefore the implementation of any development projects like economic landconcession (e.g rubber plantation).

Key words

: Forest concession, Economic land concession, Indigenous people, Globalwitness, ENGO, Government of Cambodia, Tum Ring Commune, Rubber plantation

Contents

List of abbreviation............................................................................................41. Introduction....................................................................................................51.1. What is forest conflict? ……………………………………………….......61.2. Causes of forest conflict in Cambodia…………………………………….72. Case: Forest conflict between local communities and forest industries inCambodia.........................................................................................................103. Discussion ....................................................................................................124. Conclusion ...................................................................................................15References .......................................................................................................16