Fastwood Plantations, Economic Concessions and Local Livelihoods in Cambodia

1
Fast-wood Plantations,Economic Concessions and
Local Livelihoods in Cambodia

• Field Investigations in Koh Kong,
• Kampong Speu, Pursat, Kampong Chhnang,
  Mondolkiri, Prey Veng and Svay Rieng Provinces

Environment Forum Core Team
2
Overview over case studies
3
Key findings from selected case studies Pheapimex

• Community Environment
• over 100,000 people affected
• decidious and pine forests, wood and shrub land,
  agricultural land
• adjacent to two protected areas
• livelihood activities wet-season rice, fishing
  and NTFP collection

• Concessionaire
• two continuous concessions totaling 315,028 ha
• eucalyptus plantation and plans for pulp and
  paper processing plant
• clearing of concession area commenced in 2000
  without consultations, EIA or SIA

• Impact of concession on local livelihoods
• 88 percent of interviewees were not happy with
  concession
• main threats resettlement and loss of forest
  for NTFP collection
• concession boundaries unclear
• company failed to provide employment to local
  villagers

4
Key findings from selected case studies Wuzhishan

• Community Environment
• Phnong and Khmer communities in 3 districts are
  affected
• rolling grassy hills with mixed-decidious dry
  forest in valleys
• bordering or overlapping with Seima Biodiversity
  Conservation Area
• livelihood activities shifting cultivation,
  animal husbandry, fishing, NTFP collection

• Concessionaire
• 199,999 ha in principle and 10,000 ha approved
  for testing
• pine trees and plans for timber and resin
  processing factory
• clearing of grassland and forest areas commenced
  in 2004 without consultations, EIA or SIA
• over 16,000 ha planted (07/05)

• Impact of concession on local livelihoods
• two thirds of interviewees reported impacts on
  agricultural activities
• encroachment on areas of cultural and spiritual
  significance
• main threats loss of farmland and loss of
  forest for NTFP collection
• only 21 percent of interviewed HH had members
  employed by company

5
Key findings from selected case studies
Communities

• Community Environment
• large parts of Prey Veng and Svay Rieng province
  
• flat low-lands with poor soil quality and prone
  to flood and drought
• Natural forests cleared many years ago
• livelihood activities wet-season rice, animal
  husbandry, fishing, trade

• Tree planters
• 77 percent of interviewees grew fast-growing
  trees
• acacia, eucalyptus an melaleuca trees used as
  source for firewood and building material
• majority had started tree planting on degraded
  land 1-5 years ago without any training

• Impact on local livelihoods
• 50 percent of interviewees believed that
  fast-growing trees are bad for the soil quality
• only 15 percent of HH not growing trees saw tree
  planting as a problem
• villagers in control of land area, planted tree
  types and use of trees
• example for fast-growing trees as valuable
  resource under scarcity

6
Summary of Findings

• Present and future impacts on environment (forest
  destruction, decrease in wildlife, impact on
  water resources, soil degradation)
• Social impacts
  
• (loss of access to NTFP, loss of agricultural
  land, failing to provide jobs, threats and
  intimidations)
• Violation of national legal standards
• (exceeding the limit of 10,000 ha stipulated in
  2001 Land Law, lack of EIA and SIA, disregard for
  protected areas)
• Overall negative experience of communities
  (alienation from and destruction of the natural
  resources and land upon which communities depend
  on, with few new livelihood opportunities)

7
Recommendations

• Environmental and social impacts
• (need to be adequately considered and addressed
  in the process of approving economic concessions)
• Public access to information
• (including maps, EIAs, investor evaluations,
  contracts and compliance status)
• Land encroachment
• (verification and demarcation of concession
  boundaries)
• Employment
• Accountability of the company
• Legal standards
• (compliance with 2001 Land Law, 1996 Law on
  Environmental Protection and relevant sub-decrees)